Chapter 15 — The Secret Between Us
652 Words
Ethan Hayes
Ethan knew something changed after the party.
Because Lena looked at him differently now.
Softer.
More careful.
Like she was trying not to feel too much.
Unfortunately Ethan had the exact same problem.
Which meant both of them were basically doomed.
By Monday, their “secret” relationship was becoming impossible to hide.
Not because they were careless.
Because Ethan physically couldn’t stop staring at her anymore.
“You’re smiling during swim practice,” Noah informed him suspiciously.
“That’s creepy.”
“You’re creepy.”
“No, seriously,” Noah continued. “You look happy. It’s disturbing.”
Ethan ignored him completely.
Mostly because Lena had texted him twenty minutes earlier:
Meet me after practice.
And Ethan had been distracted ever since.
The volleyball gym sat mostly empty that evening except for Lena organizing equipment alone.
Ethan entered quietly through the side doors.
Lena looked up immediately.
And smiled.
Small.
Private.
Only for him.
God.
He was so screwed.
“You’re late,” she said softly.
“You still waited.”
“Unfortunately.”
Ethan smirked before walking toward her slowly.
The second he reached her, Lena grabbed the front of his hoodie and kissed him first.
Ethan froze briefly in surprise.
Then immediately kissed her back harder.
Because apparently Lena initiating things ruined his self-control completely.
His hands settled against her hips while she backed him toward the equipment shelves without breaking the kiss.
“Someone’s impatient tonight,” he murmured against her mouth.
“Shut up.”
He laughed softly before kissing her again.
Slower this time.
Long enough to make both of them forget where they were.
Lena’s fingers slid into his hair while Ethan pulled her closer until there wasn’t space left between them at all.
Everything about this felt addictive now.
Her lips.
Her voice.
The way she melted against him every time he touched her.
Ethan honestly didn’t remember how he functioned before this.
Before her.
The gym remained silent except for uneven breathing and distant rain outside.
Lena rested her forehead lightly against his chest afterward, trying to steady her heartbeat.
“This is becoming a problem,” she admitted quietly.
“A big one.”
“We almost got caught twice last week.”
“Three times.”
She looked up sharply. “THREE?”
Ethan grinned.
“You didn’t notice Coach Ramirez walking past the storage room.”
Lena looked horrified.
“Oh my God.”
“He didn’t see anything.”
“That’s not comforting.”
Ethan laughed softly before brushing his fingers lightly along her jaw.
His expression changed slightly afterward.
More serious now.
“Lena.”
The tone alone made her nervous.
“What?”
He hesitated.
Which immediately surprised her.
Because Ethan Hayes never hesitated.
Then finally—
“I don’t want this to just be secret hookups.”
Her heartbeat stopped completely.
The air changed instantly.
No teasing.
No flirting.
Just honesty.
Dangerous honesty.
Ethan looked almost nervous now.
Which somehow affected her more than confidence ever could.
“I know we’re a mess,” he continued quietly. “But I like you. More than I planned to.”
Lena stared at him speechless.
Because hearing Ethan say it out loud made everything suddenly real.
Terrifyingly real.
“You don’t have to answer right now,” he added quickly.
But Lena already knew.
She knew every time she searched for him in crowded rooms.
Every time his texts made her smile.
Every time kissing him felt less physical and more emotional.
She was completely gone too.
Lena reached for his hand slowly.
Then whispered—
“I think I’m in trouble too.”
Ethan’s expression softened so completely it almost hurt to look at.
Then he kissed her again.
Not rushed this time.
Not desperate.
Just warm.
Careful.
Real.
And for the first time since meeting Ethan Hayes—
Lena stopped fighting what she felt.
- Writer
