A Promise kept

CHAPTER FOUR

Time froze.

Green eyes. Black hair. Cedar.

Ethan Reed was sitting on Luca’s bed. In Luca’s room. In my house. Wearing a black tee and sweats like he owned the place.

"Ro?" Luca’s voice snapped me out of it. He was leaning against the closet door, arms crossed.

I blinked. "I— I thought you were home alone. "Luca frowned, then grinned. "Nah. Ethan’s here." And then he was in front of me.

"Hey Principessa, how was Bio?" he hugged me. Warmly.

His hug filled me with comfort. Like nothing had changed even though he was away at Stanford most of the year. He was my only brother. My person.

I melted into it. "Easy," I said against his shoulder. "Valedictorian stuff." He laughed and squeezed me tighter before letting go.

"That’s my girl. Proud of you. "I pulled back and my eyes betrayed me. They went straight to Ethan.

Ethan stood up. Tall. Too tall. 22 and he carried it like he knew it. He kept it simple. Just a nod.

"Milla."

My name. In his voice. Low. My stomach flipped. Stupid. It’s just a crush. Get over it.

"Hi," I managed. "Ethan."

I hugged him too. Brief. Awkward. He smelled exactly like I remembered. Cedar. Expensive. His smell.

He stiffened for half a second, then patted my back once and pulled away.

"Sup," he said, and went right back to Luca’s desk. Sat down. Opened the laptop. Done. Like I wasn’t standing there trying not to combust. Luca didn't notice or he pretended not to.

"So," he said, checking his phone. "Graduation Principessa?" I shook my head. That was the one I actually wanted. Animal Science. Close to Lena.

"I got into UCLA and NYU. But I’m still waiting on Davis."

Luca nodded. "You’ll get in, Principessa. You always do."

Then he looked at Ethan. "Dinner’s on her tonight. We’re heading out. Back by 8. Don’t burn the house down."

My eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"

"House rules," Luca said. "You live here, you cook. And Ethan’s staying for dinner, so make enough."

Ethan didn’t look up from the laptop. "Cool."

Cool. That’s it? The whole time Luca was talking, I felt Ethan’s eyes on me. Not staring. Just... there. Heavy. Like he was cataloging me. Beverly Hills pink nails. Spa-day hair. The sundress I’d worn to The Grove.

Stop it, I scolded myself. You’re trying to get over your silly crush on Ethan Reed. He’s Luca’s best friend. He’s 22. You’re 18. He’s probably bored.