Chapter 14 — Almost Caught
966 Words
Lena Carter
The problem with Ethan Hayes was that he made bad decisions feel dangerously easy.
Like sneaking around school after curfew.
Like making out in locked storage rooms during thunderstorms.
Like pretending Lena wasn’t already getting far too attached to him.
The storm finally stopped close to midnight.
Maintenance eventually unlocked the storage room after finding them trapped inside, though thankfully the old janitor barely looked at them long enough to notice anything suspicious.
Still—
Lena spent the entire walk back to her dorm overthinking every second.
Especially the way Ethan had looked at her before she left.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
Just soft.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
The next few days became impossible.
Because now Ethan touched her constantly.
Not in obvious ways.
Small things.
Dangerous things.
His hand against the small of her back while walking through hallways.
His fingers brushing hers during meetings.
His knee pressing lightly against hers under tables.
Tiny moments.
Tiny disasters.
And Lena reacted to every single one.
Which only encouraged him more.
“You’re smiling at your phone again,” Ava accused during lunch.
Lena looked down immediately.
Ethan’s latest message glowed on her screen.
You looked pretty this morning.
Her heartbeat betrayed her instantly.
“I hate him.”
“You’re literally blushing.”
“I’m stressed.”
“You’re whipped.”
Lena threw a napkin at her.
Unfortunately Ava was right.
Because somehow Ethan had become the best part of her day.
And that was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Especially because they still hadn’t defined whatever this was.
No labels.
No conversations.
Just tension and stolen kisses and feelings neither of them wanted to admit out loud.
Which meant Lena spent most days existing in emotional chaos.
Things got worse Friday night.
Because Westbridge hosted another campus party after the regional qualifiers.
And Ethan looked illegal.
There was no other explanation.
Black shirt.
Sleeves rolled up.
Hair messy from practice.
Lena genuinely considered leaving immediately for the sake of her sanity.
Then Ethan noticed her across the room.
And smiled.
Gone.
Absolutely gone.
He crossed the crowded living room slowly while students danced around them.
“You’ve been avoiding me today.”
“I had practice.”
“You ignored three texts.”
“You counted?”
“Obviously.”
Lena rolled her eyes, though warmth spread through her chest anyway.
Ethan stepped closer.
Too close for a crowded party.
“You look nervous.”
“You make me nervous.”
His expression shifted immediately at that.
More focused now.
Like she’d said something important.
Before he could respond, a loud voice interrupted beside them.
“Hayes!”
Sophia Reed appeared carrying drinks, smiling casually at Ethan.
Lena’s mood dropped instantly.
Wonderful.
Sophia handed Ethan a cup before glancing between them knowingly.
“You two are becoming very interesting.”
“We’re not anything,” Lena answered quickly.
Ethan looked at her.
That answer clearly bothered him slightly.
Sophia noticed immediately.
“So secretive,” she teased before walking away.
Silence settled awkwardly afterward.
Lena looked down at her drink.
Ethan watched her carefully.
“We’re not anything?”
Her stomach tightened.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Lena hesitated.
Because honestly?
She didn’t know anymore.
And Ethan noticed that too.
His jaw tightened slightly before he took her hand suddenly.
“Come outside.”
She followed without arguing.
Again.
God, she really had lost control around him.
The backyard overlooked the dark beach behind the house, music muffled now through the walls.
Cold wind brushed against Lena’s skin immediately.
Ethan stopped near the railing.
Then turned toward her.
“What are we doing?”
The question hit directly into her chest.
Lena swallowed hard.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s becoming your favorite answer.”
“Because this is complicated.”
Ethan stepped closer slowly.
“No,” he said quietly. “You’re just scared.”
She looked away immediately.
Because he was right.
Of course he was right.
“You don’t understand,” she whispered.
“Then explain it to me.”
Lena laughed nervously.
“How?”
“Try honesty for once.”
That irritated her instantly.
“I’m always honest.”
“You hide behind control every time things get real.”
The words hit too hard.
Because somewhere deep down Lena knew he was right again.
She hated that.
“I’m trying,” she admitted quietly.
Ethan’s expression softened immediately.
Then carefully—
he reached up and tucked loose hair behind her ear.
“I know.”
The softness nearly destroyed her.
Because Ethan Hayes wasn’t supposed to be gentle.
Yet somehow he always became gentler around her.
Lena looked up slowly.
And that was Ethan’s final mistake.
Because the second she looked at him like that—
vulnerable and nervous and wanting—
he kissed her immediately.
Hard.
Lena gasped softly as Ethan backed her against the railing, hands gripping her waist tightly.
The tension between them exploded instantly.
Weeks of frustration and confusion poured into the kiss.
Lena’s fingers tangled into his shirt while Ethan kissed her deeper, slower, like he wanted to memorize every reaction she gave him.
A soft sound escaped her throat when his hand slid carefully along her waist.
“Ethan—”
“Tell me to stop.”
Same words.
Always the same words.
And once again—
she couldn’t.
Instead she pulled him closer.
That was all the permission he needed.
The kiss deepened dangerously.
Messy now.
Breathless.
Addictive.
And Lena realized something terrifying:
She was falling in love with him.
The realization hit hard enough to scare her.
Because Ethan Hayes could absolutely break her heart.
And somehow—
she’d already given him the power to do it.
- Writer
