A Promise kept

CHAPTER NINE

Ethan's pov

7:30 PM. MY ROOM

My phone buzzed.

MARCUS

`Report sent to email.`

I opened it.

Photos. Griffith Park. Her laughing. Her and Cory on a blanket.

Then one: Cory leaning in. Her turning her head.

Then one: Her looking sad after.

My chest hurt.

There was a knock. Luca.

"You good?"

"No."

He sat down. "Marcus sent you the report?"

"Yeah."

Luca sighed, pissed. "I told him not to. That’s crossing a line, Ethan."

"I was making sure she was safe," I said.

"Bullshit," Luca said. "You were making sure she didn’t kiss him."

I didn’t answer.

Luca ran a hand through his hair. "She told me he confessed. She rejected him."

My jaw clenched. "Good."

"Yeah," Luca said. "Then I asked her if there was anyone she did like, like that."

I looked up. "And?"

"She said 'maybe, I don't know yet.'" Luca shrugged. "Then she got out."

I stared at the wall.

Maybe.

I don't know yet.

Nox was pacing again.

9:00 PM. LIVING ROOM

Movie night. Parents gone.

I sat in the armchair. Far.

Sweats. Tee. Trying to be normal.

She was on the couch. Hoodie. Socks. A whole couch between us. I told myself it was better this way. Halfway through the movie, I heard her shift. Then: nothing. Quiet. I glanced over. She’d fallen asleep. Curled up. Blanket pulled up to her chin. Head tipped toward me. Nox unclenched instantly. Not angry. Not pacing. Just... quiet.

Mine.

I should’ve stayed in the chair. I didn’t. I crossed the room. Sat on the edge of the couch by her feet. Watched the movie. Watched her breath.

An hour later she stirred. Mumbled something. Shifted in her sleep. And rolled. Right into me. Head tucked into the space under my jaw. Like she’d done it a hundred times. My whole body froze. Then slowly, I let my arm come around her. She sighed and curled in closer.

I didn’t move for the rest of the movie. My arm was asleep. I didn’t care. When the credits rolled, Luca was already gone. Or so I thought. I looked down at her.

Lashes on her cheeks. Mouth slightly open. Still asleep on my chest.

Footsteps.

Luca was standing in the doorway. Arms crossed. Watching us.

"She rolled into you about 20 minutes ago," he said quietly. "You didn’t move."

I didn’t answer. Couldn’t.

Luca sighed. Ran a hand through his hair. "Ethan."

"Don’t," I said, voice low so I wouldn’t wake her.

"I’m not gonna lecture you," Luca said. "I’m just gonna say this once."

He looked at Aurora. Then back at me.

"Whatever this is... you either do something about it before she leaves for Davis. Or you let her go."

He turned and walked away.

"Night, Reed."

The house went silent. I looked down at her again.

"Come on, Principessa," I whispered.

She mumbled and held onto my shirt. I picked her up. She weighed nothing. To her room. Set her down. Blanket up to her chin. Brushed hair from her face. She looked 14 again. And 18. And mine. I leaned down. Pressed a kiss to her forehead. Soft. Chaste. Everything I wasn’t allowed to do.

"Night, Milla," I whispered. "Sleep good."

I turned off the light and closed the door.

In the hallway, I leaned my forehead against it.

Nox wasn’t snarling anymore.

He was waiting.