Chapter 35: Noticing Him
Laura barely slept that night.
Lily's words kept echoing in her mind, no matter how much she tried to dismiss them.
"You and Brother Ethan… you looked really happy."
It was ridiculous. Impossible. Not happening.
And yet, as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, she realized something unsettling.
She was noticing Ethan now.
Not just as some guy who had helped her escape. Not just as someone offering her shelter. But as a person. A man.
Her mind kept pulling up little details she had previously ignored.
The way he carried himself—not just with confidence, but with a quiet kind of strength, like nothing in the world could shake him. The way his voice was always steady, reassuring, like he had everything under control.
The way he moved, completely at ease, but dangerous—like a predator that didn't need to remind others it was the strongest in the room.
Laura exhaled sharply and rolled onto her side. Nope. Not doing this.
But she was already doing this.
Her traitorous mind kept analyzing him, going deeper.
Ethan had put himself between her and danger multiple times now. But he had never once acted like he expected something in return. He had never pushed her, never tried to force his way past her walls.
Even now, under the same roof, he didn't act like she owed him her trust.
And that… that was rare.
She had spent her life dealing with people who wanted something—who expected something. Even the good ones. But Ethan was just there, steady, unwavering. He gave her space, but somehow, his presence still felt solid. Reliable.
For someone like her—someone who had been on her own for so long—it was disorienting.
And annoying.
And maybe a little nice.
Laura groaned, pulling the blanket over her head.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
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Ethan's Side
Ethan was also still awake.
Lying on the couch, hands behind his head, he stared at the ceiling, listening to the faint sounds of the city. But his focus wasn't on New York.
It was on her.
Laura.
After hearing Lily's words, he had expected her to brush it off completely. Maybe even laugh. But she hadn't. She had gone quiet.
And that meant something.
He had spent enough time around people to understand reactions. Shock. Denial. Anger. But Laura? Her silence told him she had heard Lily.
And now, she was thinking about it.
Ethan smirked slightly.
Laura was sharp. She was cautious, always thinking five steps ahead. But she wasn't heartless.
He had seen the way she looked after Lily, how protective she was. He had seen the way she studied people, analyzing them, trying to decide whether to trust them or not.
She had been doing the same thing with him.
She didn't trust easily. And she definitely didn't open up easily. But something had shifted tonight.
He wasn't going to push.
But he wasn't going to ignore it either.
For now, he would let her figure things out in her own time.
Because Ethan already knew one thing for sure.
Whatever this was—whatever it could be—it was worth waiting for.