I woke up the next morning lying on Ethan's bare chest. He was still asleep, his messy hair falling across his forehead, cheeks tinged with a soft flush, and lips slightly parted in that way that made him look so heartbreakingly beautiful. "How can anyone be this gorgeous?" I wondered to myself, resisting the urge to kiss him awake.
As if sensing me watching, he shifted beneath me, murmuring, "Morning, princess," in a sleepy, husky voice that made my heart skip. "Morning, handsome," I replied, leaning up to give him a quick kiss.
"You're in a good mood today," he teased, a warm smile touching his lips.
"How could I not be?" I said, smiling back. "I'm with you."
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes filled with that soft look that was so rare for him. "You're so cute, you know that?" he murmured.
I felt a blush rising in my cheeks as I traced small shapes on his chest, savoring the warmth of his skin. "Really?" I whispered, leaning up to plant a kiss on his cheek.
He chuckled, pulling me closer. "Of course. It's one of the reasons I like you so much."
His words made me freeze, and I hid my face in the crook of his neck, laughing nervously. "This... this is what I wanted for so long," he admitted quietly. "But I always thought you just saw me as a friend."
I lifted my head, meeting his gaze, unable to keep the truth in any longer. "Ethan, I've liked you since the first day I saw you in film studies. I wanted to tell you, but... I was insecure. Your friends are so much more attractive than me," I confessed, a tear slipping down my cheek.
"Hey, look at me," he said softly, gently brushing away my tear. "Tell me, who was it that I stayed with last night? Tara? Sam? Anika?" He shook his head, smiling. "No. It was you. I wanted it to be you because you're the most amazing person I've ever met. Last night was special because it was with someone I trust completely, someone who means everything to me."
My heart ached as he pulled me close and kissed me deeply, his lips lingering against mine, warm and reassuring. When we finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against mine. "If you ever doubt yourself again, just know that I'll keep reminding you how incredible you are until you believe it," he murmured. "You're perfect, Y/n."
I ran my fingers through his curls, overwhelmed by the tenderness in his voice. "That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me," I whispered, smiling up at him.
He chuckled softly, looking deep into my eyes. "Do you still think my friends are prettier than you?"
I hesitated, glancing down. "Maybe..."
"Stand up," he said suddenly, throwing on his pants and gently tugging me to my feet. He handed me some pajamas, and once I'd slipped into them, he led me to the mirror.
"Now," he said, his voice firm yet kind. "Look at yourself and describe what you see."
I hesitated, crossing my arms. "I... I look like a mess," I muttered.
"Just try," he encouraged, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind and kissing the top of my head.
Taking a deep breath, I met his gaze in the mirror and spoke, "I'm small, with soft, h/l, h/c hair, bright e/c eyes, and... I have a great figure."
He smiled, giving me a gentle squeeze. "Now, tell me what you like about each part."
Feeling a bit silly, I continued, "My hair is soft, my skin's smooth, my eyes sparkle, and... I have an amazing smile. And there's an amazing person right behind me."
Turning in his arms, I looked up at him with a grin. "You always know how to cheer me up."
"I just want to see you smile," he murmured, brushing his lips against mine. "It kills me when you're upset." Without warning, he picked me up bridal style and gently placed me back on the bed.
"Since it's Saturday and we barely have any work," he began, lying down beside me, "how about a movie date?"
"Yes!" I squealed, excitement bubbling up.
"What should we watch first?" he asked as I hopped off the bed and scanned my DVDs.
"Crawl," I said, pulling it from the shelf and popping it in the player.
"What's that about?" he asked, leaning back with interest.
"It's about a woman and her dad who get caught in a hurricane with a bunch of crocodiles," I explained before heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?" he called, laughing.
"To grab snacks from the shop," I said, poking my head back in to give him a quick peck before running off.
"But you're still in your pajamas!" he shouted after me, but I only rolled my eyes playfully.
---
Ethan's POV
I laughed, flopping face-first onto one of the fluffy pink pillows on Y/n's bed. That girl drove me crazy-in the best way possible. As I lay there, my phone buzzed, and Chad's name flashed on the screen.
"Hey, man, where were you last night? You didn't come back," Chad's voice sounded worried.
I couldn't help but grin. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you. I stayed over at Y/n's place."
"What?" he exclaimed, his tone shifting to excitement. "What happened?"
I felt a blush creep up as the memories replayed in my mind. "We were supposed to just grab her pajamas and come back, but... we got a bit distracted."
Chad practically yelled, "Dude, you hooked up with Y/n?"
Laughing, I admitted, "Yeah... and it was amazing. She's... incredible. I think I'm falling for her."
"One night and you're already head over heels? You serious?" Chad's voice was a mix of surprise and disbelief.
"More serious than I've ever been," I replied, my voice steady. "We talked this morning, and I realized just how much I like her. She's smart, cute, everything I could ask for... I think I might actually love her."
"Love?" Chad echoed, taken aback. "That's a big word, man. Are you sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything," I said, smiling softly to myself. "I just hope she feels the same."
Chad's voice softened. "Then tell her, man. She deserves to know how you feel."
"I already told her how much I like her, but... I don't think she fully believes it. She's so unsure of herself, but I just want to be there for her. I'll show her how much she means to me until she believes it."
"Then do it, man," Chad encouraged. "If anyone can make her believe it, it's you."
