Chapter 7 Unwritten Rules

The morning after the heated argument with Ethan, Clara woke up to a quiet apartment, soft sunlight filtering through the curtains.

Though the tension still hung in the air from the night before, as she stretched beneath the covers, a strange sense of calm washed over her. Maybe she needed some space to think things through, but the thought of losing Ethan left her with an ache she couldn't ignore.

It was half a week since the fight. They had talked a few times, but only for a minute or two, and they never dwelled on the issue at hand. No one made any big attempts at apology. It was as if they were both waiting on the other to make a move but the silence was becoming unbearable.

That afternoon, Clara was in her studio, sketching out new ideas for an upcoming exhibition. It was a weird time of day for Ethan to text her, but the message made her smile, despite herself.

Ethan: "I have an idea. I think I owe you a date night. Dinner at your favorite restaurant, no tech allowed, and no talk about work. Deal?"

She looked at the message for a moment, and her face started to spread into a smile. It was just like Ethan, though a little cheesy to have come up with some sort of fix-it plan.

Clara: "Mm. You think dinner is going to make everything all right? I'm not buying it."

Ethan: "Okay, fine. Dessert after dinner. A whole slice of your favorite cake, extra frosting. And I will even let you pick the place. How about that?"

Clara burst out laughing. This was the most sweet gesture made to her-sweet, as in, actually cake and as in, in a nice sense. She knew what counted here was that Ethan was trying, and he came out to reach her with humor and sweetness. It was the Ethan she'd fallen for, the one who could make her smile even on her worst days.

Clara: "Fine, I will give you a chance. But it better be a good cake."

Ethan: "It will be. Promise. How about 7?"

Clara: "7 it is. But you're still going to have to make up for what you did."

Ethan: "I'm counting on the cake to do most of the heavy lifting."

The evening unfolded, and for the first time in days, Clara felt excitement. She dressed down, put on a soft blue dress, and felt comfortable yet beautiful. Ethan had suggested that they go to a quiet little bistro, one of her favorite places in the city, where the staff knew her name, and the food always felt like a warm hug.

When she arrived, she was surprised to see Ethan already waiting for her at a corner table, looking effortlessly handsome in a tailored suit. He stood up as she approached, a sheepish grin on his face. "I'll admit, I might've been a little eager to make up for things."

Clara raised an eyebrow, smiling playfully. "You look like someone trying a little too hard. Did you not want to just have an excuse to get out of the office for a few hours?"

Ethan chuckled and stood up to pull out the chair for her. "Guilty. But I also wanted to see if I could make you laugh again," he said with a wink. "And I'm starting to think cake is a good first step."

The waiter brought menus, and Clara ordered the salmon with a side of roasted vegetables. Ethan ordered the same thing, although he seemed to hesitate over which wine to choose, staring at the wine list for a moment too long.

Clara leaned back in the chair, her eyes showing a softer side as she gazed at him. "So, so?" She asked her question, her voice slightly softer now, as if dipping her toes in the conversation they'd been avoiding for so long.

Ethan sighed, setting the menu down. "Honestly? I've been terrible. I hate how we left things last week. I shouldn't have let my pride get in the way. I let things fester, and it made you feel like I wasn't taking you seriously. I hate that I made you feel that way."

Clara blinked, surprised by his honesty. He was usually so guarded with his feelings, always managing to keep things just at arm's length. But tonight, he was laying it all out in front of her, and something about it made her heart swell.

"I didn't mean to make you feel like I was doubting you," Ethan said. "I was just scared, okay? Scared that you might outgrow me or that you'd get tired of the whole. Ethan Blackwood thing. I didn't want that."

Clara reached across the table and put her hand over his, squeezing gently. "You're not just Ethan Blackwood, the billionaire, the tech mogul," she said softly. "You're Ethan.

The guy who can't cook without setting off the smoke alarm, the guy who makes me laugh even when I don't want to, the guy who sees me as more than just an artist or your girlfriend. That's the person I fell for."

Ethan smiled, his thumb lightly brushing over her hand. "I'm glad you still feel that way. Because the more I get to know you, the more I realize that I'm not the one who's out of your league, Clara. It's the other way around."

Clara's heart fluttered. "Stop it," she teased. "I'm not the one with a billion-dollar empire."

"But you're the one who has me completely figured out," he said with a wink, his eyes gleaming with affection. "That, my dear, is far more impressive."

Just then, the waiter returned with their drinks, and the conversation turned back to lighter matters the latest show Clara had binge-watched and the hilarious mishaps that had occurred at one of Ethan's company retreats. They laughed together, the easy camaraderie returning between them like it never left.

After dinner, Ethan brought Clara to the bistro's dessert area as promised, with a small glass case showcasing mouthwatering cakes and pastries. He pointed to them like he was holding the world's greatest treasure before her face.

"So, you choose a cake, dear, since the whole world is a cake oyster."

Clara laughed, pointing to the dark, rich chocolate cake with visible layers of cream and raspberry drizzle. "That one," she said, her voice firm. "It's practically calling my name."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Chocolate? Really? Are you sure you're not just trying to sabotage me with sugar?"

Clara grinned mischievously. "I trust you to handle it. It's just cake, Ethan. No need to make a big deal out of it."

He looked at her mock-offended. "I'm only here to make sure your dessert experience is perfect, Clara. No one will leave here with a less-than-satisfied sweet tooth."

As they sat down again with pieces of cake in front of them, Clara forgot everything around them. There was something beautiful in the simplicity: the way Ethan could make her feel so free, even if everything else was chaotic.

She wasn't anxious for the first time in days. She was no longer pondering if love was enough to keep them alive. She just was with him.

And for tonight, that was enough.

As they finished the last crumbs of cake, Clara felt a warm sensation spread through her. She looked at Ethan, her heart swelling with affection, and he met her gaze with a look that sent a flutter of butterflies through her chest.

"You're amazing, you know that? she said softly.

Ethan reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "You're not so bad yourself," he replied, his voice playful yet full of sincerity.

And just like that, the night was full of promise. They weren't perfect, and there were still challenges to face, but together, they could tackle anything.