The next few days fell into a pattern. Easy. Comfortable. Almost normal.
Almost.
Because underneath the domesticity, tension simmered.
Ethan had started looking at me differently. Longer. Deeper. Like he was memorizing me.
Like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And maybe he was right to wait. Because I was getting restless.
Not in a bad way. Just. Aware.
Aware I'd been here two weeks. Aware I hadn't made any real decisions. Aware I was existing in a bubble that couldn't last forever.
Linda's business card sat on the dresser. Mocking me. Tempting me.
A real job. Real money. Real future.
But taking it meant committing. To this place. This life. This man and his daughter.
Was I ready for that?
Wednesday morning, Mason called. Again.
Ethan answered. His jaw immediately ti
