Owned In Secret: Daddy & Son

Chapter 11: Snowshoeing with Ethan

The Wi-Fi cut out for the third time in ten minutes. Ava stared at her laptop screen, watching the loading icon spin like it was mocking her patience. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, then dropped uselessly to her sides. Are you kidding me? she muttered, hitting refresh again. Nothing.

Just a blank page and a weak signal bar blinking in and out like it couldn’t make up its mind. She leaned back in her chair with a frustrated groan, dragging her hands down her face. This is ridiculous. How does anyone survive out here?

From across the room, Liam barely looked up from where he lounged on the couch. We call it living. Ava shot him a look. You call this living? No signal, no internet, no anything?

No stress, he added with a smirk. That’s because you don’t have deadlines, she snapped. She turned back to the screen, typing again, only for the page to freeze halfway through loading. Her jaw clenched. Come on… come on…

The cursor blinked at her, taunting, waiting. Useless. Ava slammed the laptop shut with a sharp snap. I can’t do this. The words came out louder than she intended. The cabin fell quiet for a beat. Then, Good. Ethan’s voice cut through the space, low and firm.

Ava turned, frowning. He stood near the doorway, already dressed for the cold, heavy jacket, boots, gloves tucked into one hand. His expression was unreadable, but there was something decisive in the way he held himself. What do you mean ‘good’? she asked.

I mean, he said, stepping closer, you’ve been fighting that thing for an hour like it’s going to suddenly cooperate. It won’t. Ava crossed her arms. I have work to do.

And you’re not doing it, he replied simply.

She opened her mouth to argue, but stopped. Because he wasn’t wrong, that only irritated her more. There’s nothing else to do here, she muttered instead. I’m literally stuck. Ethan studied her for a moment. Then he nodded, like he’d come to a decision. Get up. Ava blinked. What?

You heard me, he said, already turning away, Get up. She didn’t move. And go where, exactly? He glanced over his shoulder, one brow lifting slightly. You ask too many questions. Maybe because you don’t give answers. A flicker of something, amusement, maybe, touched his expression. Five minutes, he said. Warm layers. Waterproof boots. Gloves. Hat.

Ava stared at him. Ethan, Five minutes, he repeated, more firmly this time, then he walked away Just like that, no explanation, no room for argument. Ava sat there for a second, caught between annoyance and curiosity. What’s that about? she muttered.

Liam stretched lazily on the couch. No idea, but if my dad’s telling you to dress like that, you’re going outside. Ava groaned, tipping her head back. In this storm? Is he serious?Liam shrugged, you wanted something to do. She exhaled slowly. He had a point, and honestly? Anything was better than staring at that screen again.

Fine, she muttered, pushing herself to her feet. Five minutes. The cold hit immediately, even layered up, even prepared, it still found its way through. Ava stepped carefully onto the snow, boots sinking slightly as she adjusted to the uneven surface. The world outside looked endless, white stretching in every direction, trees dusted in snow, the sky a muted gray.

Ethan stood a few feet ahead, adjusting something on the ground, Snowshoes. Ava blinked, you’ve got to be kidding me. Ethan glanced up. Problem?, I’ve never used those before.

Then it’s a good time to learn. She hesitated. Where are we even going? He straightened, meeting her gaze. You’ll see. Ava narrowed her eyes, that’s not an answer. It’s the only one you’re getting.

She huffed under her breath, but stepped forward anyway. Ethan crouched slightly, motioning for her foot. She lifted her boot awkwardly, balancing as he secured the snowshoe in place. His hands were steady, efficient, brushing against her ankle briefly as he tightened the straps. Other one, he said. She complied, watching him work.

His fingers brushed above her knee as he tightened the strap. The accidental touch sent a shiver through her that had nothing to do with the cold. Ethan noticed. His eyes flicked up to hers for a brief, charged moment before he looked away and finished the job. Up close, everything about him felt… solid, grounded. Like he belonged here in a way she never could. There, he said, standing. Try walking, Ava took a step, then another.

It felt strange at first, clunky, unfamiliar but after a few moments, she found a rhythm. Okay, she admitted. Not as bad as I thought. Ethan gave a small nod. Stay behind me. And then he started walking, Ava followed. At first, it was quiet. Just the sound of their footsteps crunching through snow. The wind had softened slightly, though the cold still lingered in the air.

Ava focused on her footing, careful not to trip as they moved through the trees. Every now and then, she glanced up, taking in the view. It was… beautiful, in a way she hadn’t expected, peaceful, untouched. You bring everyone out here? she asked after a while. No. She frowned. Just me, then?

A pause. Then, You needed it. Ava blinked, she hadn’t expected that answer. Did she? Maybe. Still… You don’t even know me, she said. I know enough, Ethan replied. She studied his back as he walked ahead of her.

What does that mean? He didn’t answer right away. You think too much, he said finally. You stay in your head. Ava scoffed, wow, insightful. You complain when things don’t go your way, he continued, ignoring her tone. But you don’t know how to let go of them either. She opened her mouth to argue. Then closed it. Because, again. He wasn’t entirely wrong.

That doesn’t mean dragging me into the freezing wilderness is the solution, she muttered. Ethan’s shoulders shifted slightly. You’re not thinking about your laptop right now. Ava hesitated. She wasn’t, fair.

A faint hint of a smile touched his voice. exactly. They walked a little further. The trees began to thin. the ground sloped gently upward. And then, Ethan stopped.

Ava nearly walked into him, What, She stepped around him, and froze. The view opened up completely. A wide, untouched clearing stretched before them, surrounded by towering snow-covered trees. The sky above was brighter here, the clouds parting just enough to let light spill across the snow. It looked like something out of a painting.

Ava’s breath caught. Okay… she said softly. You win. Ethan glanced at her. I usually do. She huffed a quiet laugh. For a moment, neither of them spoke, they just stood there, taking it in.

Then Ava took another step forward, and her foot slipped. Whoa! The snow beneath her shifted unexpectedly. Her balance went off, and suddenly, she was falling. Careful, Ethan reached for her at the same time, Too late, Or maybe. Exactly in time. Because instead of hitting the ground alone, she collided with him. Hard.

The impact knocked them both off balance. And the next thing she knew, they were on the ground. Together. Ava landed first, the snow cushioning her fall. Ethan followed a second later, bracing himself just enough to keep his full weight off her, but not enough to stop the closeness, too close.

Her breath caught, his hands were planted on either side of her shoulders, caging her in. His body hovered over hers, close enough that she could feel the heat of him even through layers of clothing. For a second, neither of them moved.

Ava’s heart pounded in her chest, loud and fast. Ethan’s gaze dropped to her face, their eyes met. And something shifted, again. The world around them faded, the cold, the snow, the storm. None of it mattered in that moment. Just this, just him. Just the way his breath came slightly heavier now, just the way her pulse raced under his gaze.

You okay? he asked quietly. Ava nodded, though her voice didn’t come, not right away. Yeah, she managed. I’m… okay. Neither of them moved, not yet, not when they probably should have.

Her gloved hand tightened slightly against his jacket, his gaze flickered, not to her eyes this time, lower. Then back again, Ava swallowed, the air between them felt different, charged, unsteady.

Like something was about to happen, something neither of them had planned, Ethan’s jaw tightened slightly. Then, slowly, he pushed himself up, stepped back.

Creating distance. The moment broke, just like that. Ava sat up, brushing snow off her sleeves, trying to steady her breathing. That was… smooth, she said lightly, though her voice was still uneven. Ethan exhaled, running a hand through his hair. You need to watch your footing.

She glanced at him. Or you need to catch me better. A beat, Then, a small, unexpected smirk tugged at his mouth. I did catch you. Ava felt her lips curve despite herself, debatable.

He shook his head slightly, but the tension from before had shifted, softened into something lighter, something… almost playful. He held out a hand. Come on, Ava looked at it for a second, then took it.