Chapter 6 A moment between us

Chapter 6: A Moment Between Us

The air was heavier between them than it ever had been. Ava could hardly focus on the figure across from her in the empty room. The storm had knocked out the power, and the only thing that disturbed the silence of the moment was the even hum of rain against the window. Flickering candlelight cast shadows on the wall, dancing across their faces in dim light to expose at least some of the tension.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, relaxed as always, but the habitual nonchalant smile played a bit wryly on his lips. And yet Ava could feel that something had subtly shifted between them: the way his eyes lingered a little longer on hers, the softening of his voice when speaking to her, and the undeniable flutter in her chest with each closeness to him.

"You scared?" Ethan asked, breaking the silence. His voice was low, teasing, but with an edge to it.

Ava shook her head, well beyond determined to keep things light. "Please. You think a little storm is enough to scare me?"

He chuckled-the sound deep and rich, sending a shiver down her spine. "Could've fooled me."

She rolled her eyes, trying to hide how much his presence was affecting her. "I've survived worse."

Ethan's eyes managed to cloud at her words, and he leaned forward on his elbows, resting upon his knees as his eyes locked onto hers. "Like what?

Ava hesitated; her breath caught. She knew not why then, but she knew she needed to be forthright with him. Perhaps it was the storm outside, the poor light, or perhaps it was because they were well and truly alone for a minute. Whatever the case, she could not help but let the words tumble from her mouth.

"I know how that's like, when you're feeling lonely," she said softly, and her eyes fell to the floor. "Like nobody's really there for you."

For a moment, the playful mask Ethan always wore slipped. The action in his jaw tensed and something immeasurable crossed his face. He looked away, running a hand through his hair, and replied a little stiffly,.

"Yeah," he muttered. "I understand that."

The vulnerability in his voice caught Ava off guard. She looked up startled to find Ethan wasn't looking at her but was staring at the floor, all confidence knocked from his gaze.

The room seemed to shrink between them, as if every unspoken word suddenly had turned electric in the air. Ava swallowed hard, trying to press down the sudden surge of emotion rushing inside of her. Why was it this way? Why did he always make her feel this way-like the whole world was spinning when he was near?

In an instant, the room shook, its walls vibrating with a loud rumble of thunder boomed outside. Ava winced. The racing in her heart came with the growing storm outside. She had not thought he had moved this close until he touched her hand-warm, steady, and comforting.

"OK?" he asked-softer now.

Ava didn't dare trust herself to speak. She nodded, her gaze still fixed on their joined hands. His touch sent a jolt of electricity racing through her, and in that instant, everything else receded-storm, outside world, Leah's warnings. None of it mattered but the heat of his hand on hers, the pounding race of her heart.

She knew this wasn't a good idea. Leah had told her to be cautious, to keep him at arm's length, but sitting here with Ethan, it felt impossible to ignore what was going on between them.

"I'm fine," she whispered; her voice was weak against the racing thoughts.

Ethan didn't say another word but let his thumb circle tiny circles on the back of her hand. His touch was light, yet it sent spirals deep inside her, spirals of emotions buried for weeks.

"Are you?" he asked softly, his eyes ablaze with intensity, delving into hers.

She glanced up at him, her breath catching in her throat. She knew what he was really asking-if she was okay with this, with the way things were shifting between them. But how was she to answer that when she wasn't so sure herself?

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

Ethan's eyes softened, the edges of his usual playboy façade cracking enough to reveal the boy beneath-the boy that had been hurt much the same as her. He leaned in closer and his warm breath danced across her cheek.

"For whatever it's worth," he said, the depth of his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't either."

Time froze. It was just the span of a heartbeat. The rain, the thunder, all that outside world faded into a silent hum in the background. This was them alone, caught in one moment of time that was way too real, raw.

Ava's heart started racing in her chest as Ethan leaned closer and closer into her face. It was the touch of his skin against hers, that little hint of cologne on his body, the darkening of his eyes every passing second-.

Then it was that, just as his lips almost touched hers, a shrill knock at the door echoed through the house, and they were released back into reality once again. Ava jumped away, her heart thundering against her ribs as the spell was broken between them.

Ethan swore under his breath. Popping to his feet, he said, "I'll get it."

Ava stared after him, dumbfounded. What just happened? She put a shaking hand to her lips, the ghost of his almost-kiss still humming on them.

As Ethan vanished around the hall corner, Ava leaned back in her chair, her heart still racing. Whatever this was between them, it wasn't going anywhere. And she didn't know how much longer she could fight it.

Ethan leaned back against the couch; his usual casual expression softened, his gaze never leaving hers. There was something in the way he looked at her tonight-something different, warmer, more intense. She wondered if he too could feel the difference between them-if he felt this invisible thread drawing them closer with each passing moment.

She tried to focus on the movie playing, but the plot was lost on her now. She couldn't think of anything else, but how near he was, the presence that always overwhelmed her senses-just the smell of his cologne intoxicated her, every breath she took. Her hands betrayed her at being in her lap, clutched tightly into fists to cease the shakes that would not go unnoticed by him.

Ava, Ethan's voice came low and drew her from her reverie. She looked up to find his gaze darkened, the expression unreadable. The air was heavier now, weighted with tension.

"Yes?" Her voice came softer than she had intended, a clear betrayal of nerves running through her.

He was quiet a moment, his voice little more than a whisper as he broke the silence. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like... if we didn't have to pretend?

She caught her breath. She hadn't expected him to say that. She wasn't even sure how to respond, if he'd meant to imply what she thought he had-to feel that same gravitational pull she'd tried so desperately to ignore.

"I...". She trailed off, her lower lip caught between her teeth as her brain whirred in circles. So many years actively suppressing that feeling for him, telling herself it was wrong, but hearing the vulnerability in his voice, she wasn't quite so sure how much longer she could hold it all inside.

Ethan inched closer, his knee lightly grazing hers. A light touch, but enough to cause her system to quiver. He leaned in a little bit more into her, and she felt the warmth radiating from him. Too much tension, too much proximity. She wasn't sure how long she was going to keep fighting her emotions anymore, and that really scared her.

I don't know how not to think about it," he said, his eyes clinging to hers as if releasing would tear his world apart. His voice was raw, almost imploring. It was a side of Ethan she had never seen before, and it pulled at her heart in a way that felt almost unbearable.

The room seemed to close in on them, the air thick with expectation. Ava's heart hammered against her chest, her resolve slowly weakening. Was it truly possible this was something she could let herself feel? Let herself give in to after struggling so hard against it?