CAUGHT IN HER EYES

HELD WITHOUT ASKING

Breakfast passed in fragments.

Even sat at the table, food untouched, nodding when expected, responding when spoken to. Martin talked easily—about work, about errands he needed to run later, about small things that filled the room with normalcy. Lucy listened while seated across from Even, posture relaxed, movements unhurried.

Even didn’t look at her.

She didn’t need to.

She could feel Lucy’s eyes on her, steady and deliberate, like a hand resting against her back. It made it hard to think, harder to focus. The kiss from that morning replayed uninvited, vivid and persistent.

At some point, Martin mentioned his mother.

“She might be back next week,” he said casually, sipping his coffee. “She called yesterday.”

Even hummed in response, the words barely registering. Her thoughts drifted elsewhere—too tangled, too loud.

Lucy finished her breakfast quietly. She stood, gathering her mug. “I’m going to work in my room for a bit,” she said. “I’ve got things to finish on my computer.”

Martin nodded. “Alright.”

Lucy walked away without looking at Even.

That almost hurt more.

Martin turned his attention to Even, studying her for a moment. “You okay?” he asked gently. “You seem distracted.”

Even forced a small smile. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

He accepted that easily—too easily—then stood. “I should get ready for work.”

When he left, the house changed. The silence returned, heavier than before.

Even sat there for a moment longer, staring at her plate. Her heart wouldn’t slow down. The longer she waited, the worse it felt—like the moment would slip away, unfinished and unresolved.

You can do this, she told herself. Don’t lose focus. Don’t become weak.

She stood and went upstairs.

Lucy’s door was half-closed.

Even stopped in front of it, heart racing uncontrollably. Minutes passed. Her hand lifted, lowered, lifted again. She inhaled, exhaled. Tried to steady herself.

Just as she thought she’d found her composure—

“Come in,” Lucy said calmly.

Even froze.

Lucy hadn’t turned around. Flustered and stunned, Even opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind her.

Lucy sat at her desk, focused on her desktop computer, fingers moving easily across the keyboard.

Even walked closer, stopping right beside her, still standing.

“I… I wanted to talk about something,” Even said softly.

Lucy hummed. “Go on. I’m listening.”

She didn’t look up. Even had the words ready—she’d rehearsed them in her head—but now they tangled, refusing to come out.

Silence stretched between them.

Lucy finally looked up.

Straight into Even’s eyes.

She licked her lips slowly, deliberately.

Even couldn’t look away.

“Even,” Lucy said softly.

No response.

Lucy reached out, pulled Even closer, and placed her gently on her lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“When you already have your words,” Lucy said calmly, “you can talk. Let me finish my work.”

She turned back to her screen and continued typing.

Even sat there, stunned, breath shallow, body still. Lucy’s arm rested securely around her waist, grounding and steady. The familiarity of it made her chest ache. She studied Lucy’s face from this close. She saw it every day. And yet she never got used to it. Lucy was beautiful—dangerously so. Her sharp jaw, calm expression, eyes deep like oceans that could pull you under if you stared too long. Her dark pink lips, her neck bones, the quiet confidence in every line of her. Her scent surrounded Even, weakening her with every breath.

No wonder Martin can’t keep his eyes off her, Even thought. This woman is a Greek god. God took His time. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice Lucy looking back at her.

“If you keep looking at me like that,” Lucy said quietly, “I might do worse than I did this morning.”

Even flushed immediately and looked away. “You kissed me,” Even said, barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” Lucy replied without hesitation. “I did. And I was in my right mind.”

She glanced at Even knowingly. “Someone else wasn’t.”

Even squirmed. “Lucy…” Even said softly, almost pleading.

Lucy smiled faintly. “Are you okay with it?” she asked. “I want to take things slow.”

Even hesitated, then asked quietly, “What about Martin?”

Lucy paused her typing. “What about him?”

“I think he has feelings for you.”

Lucy turned fully toward her now. “So.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Lucy’s voice remained steady. “Even, I kissed you. Not Martin. And Martin’s feelings—if they exist—are those of a best friend. If he feels more, he’ll have to understand that I don’t.” She softened then. “I like you, Even. No—I love you. I’m sure of that. But if you’re not ready, I won’t force you.”

Even’s breath caught. She nodded quickly. “I’m fine. I just… want to keep things slow.”

Lucy smiled and kissed her forehead gently before turning back to her work.

The day went by.

And nothing—absolutely nothing—felt the same again.

The next morning unfolded like all the others.

Breakfast was quiet, familiar. Martin scrolled through his phone while drinking coffee. Lucy sat across from Even, composed as ever, already dressed for work. They spoke lightly about schedules, traffic, small things that filled the space without touching what lingered beneath.

Soon after, Lucy and Martin left together—separate companies, separate lives—closing the door behind them.

The house fell silent again.

Even didn’t like the quiet today. By late morning, she invited Neo over. She needed the distraction. Neo arrived bright and energetic, filling the house with chatter almost immediately. They talked about nothing important—old memories, random gossip, things that didn’t require thought or courage.

Time slipped easily until the front door opened. Lucy stepped inside. She looked tired. Not just physically drained, but worn in a way Even had never seen before. Her shoulders were tense, her movements slower as she dropped her bag by the door.

Lucy smiled faintly. “Hey.”

Neo stood up immediately. “You look exhausted,” she said, concern obvious. “What happened?”

Lucy exhaled. “I don’t have a personal assistant yet. Everything falls on me for now.”

Neo’s eyes lit up. “I can be your personal assistant!”

The words barely finished leaving her mouth when Even stood up. She moved without thinking, placing herself squarely between Neo and Lucy. “I’m the personal assistant,” Even said quickly. “You just forgot.”

Lucy blinked. “What?”

Neo stared. “Since when?

“I’m starting next week,” Even added, heart racing. “You know I had to work eventually, and I found something I like.”

Neo frowned. “You never liked working.”

Even shrugged, forcing calm. “People change.”

Lucy hadn’t said a word yet. She was still watching Even, something unreadable in her eyes.

Even reached for Lucy’s suitcase—the one Neo had instinctively picked up when Lucy entered—and took it from her hands.

Then she turned back to Neo with a polite smile.

“You should go,” Even said. “It’s getting late.”

Neo glanced at the clock. “It’s afternoon.”

“I’m sleepy,” Even said quickly. “I want to rest.”

Neo hesitated, then gathered her things. Before leaving, she glanced at Lucy one last time, lingering just a second too long, then walked out.

The door closed.

Even exhaled.

She turned—and realized Lucy was right behind her.

Awkward laughter slipped out of Even before she could stop it. “That was—”

“You’re jealous,” Lucy said calmly. “And it’s obvious.”

“I’m not,” Even protested, too quickly.

Lucy raised an eyebrow.

Even reached for Lucy’s coat instead, slipping it off her shoulders. Then the tie. Her hands trembled slightly as she focused on the task.

Lucy watched her with amusement. “Are you planning to undress me now?”

“Please stop,” Even muttered, flustered.

Lucy leaned down to Even’s height, close enough that her voice dropped naturally. “Since you made yourself my personal assistant,” she whispered, eyes locked onto hers, “why don’t you help me take a bath? I’m exhausted.”

She bit gently at Even’s earlobe.

Heat rushed through Even like electricity.

She froze completely.

Lucy chuckled softly and straightened, already turning toward the stairs. “I’ll be upstairs.”

Even stood there long after Lucy disappeared, breath shallow, heart pounding.

If this is taking things slow in Lucy’s mind… She swallowed hard.

What happens when she decides to go fast?

Even pressed a hand to her chest, still breathless, knowing she was already far deeper than she had planned to be.