Chapter:14
1263 Words
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Later, after they ate, Alex tossed a blanket over the couch and found an old romantic movie playing on TV — something cheesy but comforting.
They both curled up — not too close at first — but as the night deepened and the room grew cooler, the distance between them shrank.
Little by little.
Without even thinking about it.
At some point, Alex ended up leaning her head against Ethan’s shoulder.
He didn’t move away.
If anything, he shifted just a little closer, the smell of her hair — something soft and clean — filling his lungs.
The movie droned on, two characters arguing on screen, only to fall into a desperate kiss moments later.
Alex smiled faintly at the scene.
Cheesy. Predictable.
But kind of sweet, too.
When she looked up at Ethan to make some sarcastic comment about it, she found him already watching her.
Their faces were close.
Closer than she realized.
Neither of them spoke.
For a breathless second, everything just...hung there.
And then, slowly, Ethan leaned down.
Alex met him halfway.
The kiss was soft at first — tentative, almost questioning.
But then it deepened, slow and searching.
Warmth flooded through Alex, making her toes curl.
Ethan’s hand found her waist, fingers brushing lightly against her side.
She moved closer, almost climbing onto his lap without thinking—
And that’s when he winced sharply, sucking in a breath.
Alex froze, pulling back instantly.
"Oh my God — Ethan, I’m sorry!" she gasped.
Her hand had brushed against his injured arm, right where the bullet wound had been hastily bandaged.
Ethan shook his head quickly, biting back the pain.
"It’s okay," he said through gritted teeth.
"You didn’t know."
But Alex was already on her feet, flustered, grabbing the first-aid kit she’d stashed under the sink earlier.
"Sit still," she ordered, voice shaking a little as she rummaged through the box.
"You’re bleeding again."
Ethan leaned back against the couch, watching her hustle around, her forehead creased with worry.
Even with pain flaring in his arm, he couldn’t help the tiny smile that tugged at his mouth.
Somehow...
in this messy little room,
with this stubborn, kind girl taking care of him —
he finally felt something he hadn’t in a long time.
Hope.
---
Alex knelt beside him, her hands surprisingly steady as she peeled away the blood-soaked bandage.
Ethan hissed quietly through his teeth but didn’t pull away.
"You should’ve gone to a hospital," Alex muttered under her breath, dabbing at the wound with a clean cloth.
Her fingers were light, careful, but there was heat behind her words — frustration mixed with concern.
"I couldn’t," Ethan said simply.
He watched her profile — the way her eyebrows knit together in concentration, the faint bite to her bottom lip.
"Too risky."
"For you or for them?" she asked, glancing up briefly.
Their eyes met.
"Both," he said.
She didn’t push him for more.
Instead, she grabbed a fresh roll of bandages and started wrapping his arm neatly, tucking the end in with a precision that made him wonder how many times she’d done something like this before.
"You’re good at this," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
Alex gave a small, almost shy shrug.
"Three sisters. Someone’s always breaking something."
A faint smile tugged at her mouth.
"And...well, I volunteered at a clinic for a while."
Ethan leaned his head back against the couch, studying her.
She was full of quiet surprises.
Not just some random student who stumbled into his chaos — she had grit, warmth, instinct.
When she finished, she sat back on her heels and blew out a breath.
"All done," she said, and for the first time that night, her voice wobbled just a little.
"Alex," Ethan said quietly.
She froze, looking at him.
"I’m sorry," he said, meaning it in a way that went deeper than just tonight.
Sorry for dragging her into danger.
Sorry for the fear she must’ve felt.
Sorry that she was now part of something he couldn't even explain yet.
Alex swallowed, her eyes shining slightly under the warm light of the lamp.
Then she gave a tiny shake of her head.
"You didn’t choose this," she said.
"And...I didn’t choose to help you."
She smiled — a little sad, a little brave.
"I just...did."
Ethan stared at her for a long moment, something tight and unfamiliar stirring in his chest.
Then he reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
His touch lingered just a second longer than necessary.
Neither of them said anything after that.
They didn’t need to.
The quiet wrapped around them like a second blanket, warm and heavy, as the storm outside started to softly tap against the windows.
---
The sunlight crept in slow and golden, slipping through the thin curtains and pooling across the living room floor.
Ethan stirred first, groaning quietly as he shifted on the couch. His arm throbbed, but it was a duller, more manageable pain now.
He blinked a few times, adjusting to the morning light — and to the unfamiliar ceiling above him.
For a moment, the events of the last twenty-four hours sat heavy on his chest.
Then he turned his head and saw her.
Alex was curled up in the armchair across from him, a blanket pulled over her knees, her head resting awkwardly against the cushion.
She must’ve fallen asleep watching over him.
A small smile tugged at Ethan’s mouth before he could stop it.
She looked peaceful — younger somehow, softer.
Carefully, he pushed himself up, trying not to wake her.
But the slight creak of the couch was enough.
Alex’s eyes fluttered open, bleary and confused for a second.
Then she straightened up quickly, pushing her messy hair out of her face.
"Morning," she croaked, her voice still thick with sleep.
"Morning," Ethan said back, voice low and rough.
For a second, they just looked at each other, both a little awkward, both very aware of everything that had happened — and almost happened — between them last night.
Alex glanced at the clock on the wall and groaned.
"Crap. I have to get ready for work," she muttered, dragging herself up from the chair.
"Work?" Ethan echoed, still trying to shake the sleep from his body.
"Yeah," she said, rubbing her face. "I’m a cleaner at the Central Centre Hotel — the same place where you, uh... barged into my life last night."
She gave him a crooked smile, teasing but a little shy underneath.
Ethan blinked, realization hitting him.
"Right. That explains the uniform."
Alex chuckled under her breath.
"Yeah, glamorous, right?" she said, grabbing her work bag from the corner. "Not exactly the dream job, but it pays rent."
Ethan pushed himself up carefully, wincing at the pull in his arm.
"I don't want you getting into trouble because of me."
Alex paused by the door, turning back to him with a soft look.
"You won't," she said firmly.
"Just...stay here. Lock the door after I leave. Rest up. I’ll bring back some stuff after my shift, okay?"
He hesitated, that strange warmth curling in his chest again.
"Okay," he said finally.
Alex smiled — a real, bright smile this time — then slipped into her room to change.
Ethan sank back down on the couch, staring at the door she'd closed behind her.
Somehow, against all odds, this girl — a stranger — had become the only person he could trust.
And that scared him more than he cared to admit.
---
- Writer
