Hidden Between Us

Chapter 6: Unexpected Heat

“Some people arrive and leave your mind scrambling before they even speak”

Sienna's Pov

I had been awake for hours, just existing, not doing anything that really counted. Liam was on the couch, sprawled across it like he owned the place, controller in hand, eyes glued to the TV. I was sitting cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through my phone and sneaking bites of snacks when Sophie called.

“Hey,” I said, answering lazily

“Hi! Just reminding you about the book” she said, excitement in her voice. “I’ll show you the novel I told you about today, too. My mini library is finally organized.”

I smiled. “Cool. I’ll be there soon.”

Liam groaned beside me. “Why do you even go to her house for a book? Can’t you just… I don’t know, read it digitally?”

“Because, genius, it’s a physical copy and I also forgot my literature textbook in her bag” I said, tossing a cushion at him “Plus, I get a free tour of Sophie’s ‘mini library’”

“Fine,” he muttered, resuming his game, clearly unconcerned with my plans.

By the time I arrived, it was just past one. Sophie’s street always looked different calm, quiet, houses neat without being showy. I rang the bell and the door opened almost immediately.

“Sienna!” Sophie greeted, her arms wide. “Come in”

Her home smelled faintly of citrus and something sweet. Not too much, not overpowering just… rich. Clean lines, soft lighting, plush but not obnoxious furniture. A place that whispered money without screaming it.

“I’ve been dying to show you this,” she said, tugging me upstairs. “My mini library”

Her room was bigger than I remembered, walls lined with shelves stacked high with books, some old, some new, all carefully arranged. She picked one from the middle shelf that looked new.

“This one’s spicy,” she said with a grin

“Guaranteed to keep you awake at night.”

I laughed “You always say that. Are you trying to ruin me?”

“Maybe,” she said, handing it to me. I flipped it open, the pages crisp and inviting, the story already promising chaos.

She took me to the lounge where we stayed there a while, talking, laughing, Sophie occasionally pausing to hand me a drink she’d made. It was comforting, familiar. A rare kind of ease I didn’t get to feel often

Then footsteps reached us. Slow, measured, almost… deliberate.

The conversation paused. Sophie glanced at me, a smirk tugging at her lips, then excused herself briefly said she forgot the textbook at the library

I didn’t look right away, but something in my chest made me and then I saw him

Tall, broad-shouldered, walked like he owned nothing but every step demanded attention. Dark hair that fell perfectly without trying. Eyes sharp and steady, poker-faced, but with a kind of intensity that made me pause mid-breath.

He held a folder in one hand, scrolling on his phone with the other, calm, composed, every gesture deliberate.

Damn this man was hot

Oh my freaking God

I blinked

He looked up then, eyes meeting mine for the briefest moment. My chest stuttered. My brain did the stupid thing it does when someone is simultaneously too hot and way out of my league.

Sophie returned with my book

“ah, you're still here?” she asks him

“yea just came to see if you are still alive” he replied as he leaves the lounge

“Here. The reason you came” sophie said as she handed my textbook over

I held it, grounding myself, but my mind couldn’t help but keep going back to him. The tilt of his jaw, the way his phone slid smoothly into his pocket. Calm, Controlled, Hot enough to make my knees weak. Then he showed up after a few minutes, back in the lounge and this time Sophie wasn't here again

Whyyyyy!

He sat down and used his phone

“Oh,” he said finally, voice low, measured. “You must be Sophie’s friend”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah… I’m Sienna.”

“I’m-” He paused, then shook my hand briefly, firm but not lingering

“Damian”

It clicked, the resemblance. Not exact, but the sharp features, the calm intensity… Sophie’s face in a taller, broader, hotter package. My chest fluttered in a way I hadn’t planned.

Sophie came back and then she dragged me to the sitting room

“you were literally drooling sienna” she chuckled as we walked away from the lounge

“i know, it kinda happened” I dramatically said as I placed my palm on my head. She knew her brother was hot and I couldn't help it. I tried to focus on Sophie, her chatter and all the gossip but I couldn't

Ugh f**k you Damian

I was supposed to leave soon but I wasn’t rushing. Not yet because now, leaving felt impossible.