The Stalker Between US

Chapter 15

Julia POV

After accepting the position at St. Marys, I was thrown into an array of orientation, do’s and don’ts of the unit. Before I knew it, it was Friday night.

I spent most of the day with a quiet hum of nerves beneath my calm exterior. I went about my shift at St. Mary’s Medical Center, answering patient calls and helping new mothers adjust, but my thoughts kept drifting to the evening ahead. I’d agreed to dinner with Ethan Carter, and the idea of seeing the CEO outside the hospital—just as herself, not as Nurse Reyes—felt both thrilling and surreal.

After my shift, I hurried home, letting the familiar comfort of my apartment steady me. I showered, letting the hot water chase away the fatigue from my muscles, and spent extra time choosing what to wear. Nothing flashy—just a favorite pair of dark jeans and a soft, pale blue sweater that brought out her eyes. I kept my makeup minimal, brushing my hair into loose waves. Catching her reflection, smiling nervously, feeling like I was about to step into someone else’s story.

When Ethan texted that he was waiting outside, I grabbed my purse and slipped on a light jacket. I checked the locks on my door—twice—before heading down the stairs. The sight of his car, sleek but not ostentatious, parked at the curb was reassuring. Ethan greeted me with a warm smile and opened the passenger door, his presence more relaxed than I’d ever seen during their brief encounters at the hospital.

The drive out of the city was filled with easy conversation. Ethan asked about my favorite music, and I teased him for his questionable taste in eighties rock. We laughed about hospital mishaps and shared stories about growing up—his in Queens, hers in Upstate New York. As the city lights faded behind them, the tension that had shadowed my day eased, replaced by anticipation for the night ahead.

Their destination was a small roadside diner, tucked beside a field of wildflowers and strung with twinkle lights. The sign over the door read “Millie’s Place,” painted in cheerful yellow script. It was the kind of spot I might have passed a hundred times but never thought to enter. Inside, the booths were upholstered in cracked red vinyl, the tabletops gleamed from years of careful cleaning, and the air smelled like fresh pie and coffee.

They found a booth by the window, and Ethan insisted I try the house specialty—a towering stack of buttermilk pancakes, served with whipped butter and maple syrup. I laughed, admitting I never had pancakes for dinner before. They ordered milkshakes, and I was surprised to find how easy it was to talk to him, the conversation flowing from favorite books to travel dreams, from hospital hopes to silly childhood memories.

At one point, I noticed Ethan watching her, his expression softer than she’d ever seen. “You know,” he said quietly, “I’m glad you agreed to this. I know it’s… unconventional.” I met his eyes, feeling a flutter in her chest. “I am too,” she admitted. “I needed something outside the hospital—something real.” They smiled at each other, the understanding between them growing deeper with each passing moment.

Dinner stretched on, the hours slipping by unnoticed. The waitress brought them pie on the house, and they split a slice of blueberry, laughing as Ethan tried to steal the last bite. I felt lighter than I had in weeks, the worries and what-ifs melting away under the gentle glow of Millie’s twinkle lights.

When it was time to leave, Ethan walked me to the car, holding the door open and making sure I was comfortable. The drive back to the city was quieter, both of them content to let the silence settle, filled with unspoken possibilities. As they neared my apartment, I glanced over, catching him watching her with those striking green eyes.

“Thank you, Julia,” he said, walking her to her door. “For tonight.” I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest as I promised they’d do it again sometime. In that quiet, moonlit moment, I realized that sometimes the best things in life were the ones she never dared to expect.