Elle’s POV
I walked back into the house, leaving Ethan behind in the forest.
The door closed behind me with a soft click, but the sound echoed in the quiet house. I stood there for a moment, my hand still on the doorknob, trying to collect my thoughts.
The walk back had felt longer than usual. Maybe it was the silence, or the way my chest felt tight the entire time. I didn’t know. All I knew was that my heart still hadn’t calmed down—not since that moment in the woods when I’d nearly fallen and he caught me.
His arms.
His voice.
The heat of his body.
I shook my head quickly, like I could physically throw the thoughts away. I couldn’t let myself go there. Not again. Not with him.
I moved to the kitchen, deciding to cook dinner. It was better than sitting around overthinking every
