Chapter 9

Jacqueline

The room was dark except for the faint blue light coming from my laptop across the room. I frowned, trying to remember why it was still on.

I reached toward the nightstand beside my bed and felt around until my fingers found my glasses.

I quickly put them on.

The room snapped into focus. And then, I saw him.

I froze.

My heart stopped.

He was standing beside my desk.

My mouth fell open. For several seconds, I couldn’t make a single sound.

He turned toward me—our eyes met.

I stared at him.

He stared back.

Then my brain finally caught up. “What…?” My voice came out embarrassingly small.

Ethan smiled. “Hey.”

I blinked.

Once. Twice. Three times.

Maybe I was still dreaming.

I rubbed my eyes.

He was still there.

Oh my God.

He was actually there. In my room. At mid-night.

My eyes darted toward my laptop.

My stomach dropped.

The folder was still open.

Oh no. no, no. He had seen it. Everything.

My pictures. My notes. My ridiculous little files about him.

I slowly looked back at him.

He looked at me with an amused expression. “What?”

I wanted the floor to open and swallow me whole.

I swallowed. “Why are you here?”

He shrugged casually. “I wanted to see how you were doing.”

My heart did something ridiculous inside my chest. “You… wanted to see me?”

He smiled. “You sound surprised.”

“Oh.”

I didn’t know what else to say.

He chuckled. “Oh?”

I quickly looked away.

Then I remembered the obvious question. “But how did you—”

My gaze moved toward the open window. “You came through my window?”

“Yeah.”

“At midnight?”

He nodded.

I stared at him for a moment. “You could’ve just asked Claire.”

“I could have.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

He took a step closer towards my bed. “I wanted to ask you myself.”

My stomach flipped.

I immediately looked away. “Oh.”

Why did I keep saying that? I needed better vocabulary.

He took another step. “You’re quiet.”

“I’m always quiet.”

“Not when you’re with Claire.”

I glanced at him. “You’ve noticed?”

He smiled. “Of course.”

My heart skipped.

He noticed me?

I tried desperately not to smile. I looked down at my blanket instead.

“So…you climbed through my window just to check on me?”

He took another step. “Ofcourse “

I shrink

He was getting closer.

He looked down at me. “You’re really okay?”

I nodded.

“Your hands?”

“They’re fine.”

“Still hurting?”

“A little.”

His eyes moved to my glasses. “And these?”

I touched the frame. “New.”

He smiled. “They look good on you.”

I tried not to smile. “Thanks.”

His smile widened. “You’re blushing.”

“No”

“You are”

I pulled the blanket slightly higher, trying to hide my face.

He laughed quietly.

I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly acting like this.

Why was he standing beside my bed in the middle of the night, teasing me like we’d known each other forever?

He leaned closer, one hand resting on the mattress beside me as he looked into my eyes.

My smile disappeared. Only then did I realize how close he was.

My heart began beating faster.

He noticed. “Why are you nervous?”

Without thinking, I shifted backward until my back rested against the headboard. “I just…”

I hugged my pillow against my chest. “Maybe you’re just too close.”

He smiled. “Too close?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t move away.

Instead, he reached toward me and gently placed a hand around my waist.

My breath caught.

Before I could say anything, he pulled me slightly closer to the edge of the bed.

I froze.

I could feel the warmth of his breath against my face.

My heart was pounding so loudly I was convinced he could hear it.

He looked into my eyes. I couldn’t look away.

For some reason, I didn’t want to.

His gaze dropped to my lips for a brief second.

My stomach fluttered.

Then he looked back into my eyes. Slowly, he leaned closer.

He was going to kiss me. Ethan Walker was actually going to kiss me.

My heart raced. I stopped breathing.

I didn’t move. I didn’t want him to stop.

His face came closer. Closer.

I could almost feel his lips against mine.

I closed my eyes.

And waited.

One second. Two.

Nothing.

I slowly opened my eyes.

He had stopped.

He was still incredibly close. But he wasn’t kissing me.

I stared at him, completely confused.

Then he pulled back, a small smile playing on his lips.

My heart sank “Why did you stop?”

The words slipped out.

The moment I heard myself, I wanted to disappear.

Ethan’s smile widened. “Because I think you’re enjoying this too much.”

I immediately grabbed my pillow and pressed it against my face.

“Oh my God.”

He laughed out loud, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

I lowered the pillow just enough to glare at him. “You’re annoying.”

“And you’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”

My face burned

For a few seconds, he remained crouched beside the bed, looking at me.

Then he straightened up and stood beside my bed.

I watched him curiously as he turned toward my wardrobe.

He walked over to it and stopped in front of the doors.

“What are you doing?” I asked.