Hidden Flames..

Chapter 4

As they walked out of the house together, Lily's mind raced. She could hardly believe Ethan was standing next to her after all these years. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light across the driveway as Jake locked up the house behind them.

Ethan fell into step beside her, his presence both comforting and intimidating. She could still feel the weight of his gaze from earlier, and it made her acutely aware of how much had changed since they were kids. She tried to focus on something—anything—other than how close he was or how the crisp scent of his cologne lingered in the air between them.

Jake unlocked the car and gestured for them to get in. “Shotgun!” Lily called out reflexively, quickly slipping into the passenger seat before anyone could protest. She didn’t trust herself to be so close to Ethan without losing her composure, and the safety of the front seat gave her a moment to breathe.

Ethan chuckled and slid into the backseat, stretching out comfortably. “Some things never change, huh?” he teased.

Lily glanced back at him, offering a sheepish smile. “Old habits die hard, I guess.”

Jake started the car, pulling out of the driveway as he began chatting animatedly about his work at the hospital. Lily tried to listen, but her thoughts kept drifting to the man sitting behind her. She stole a glance in the rearview mirror, and their eyes met again. There was something different in his gaze this time, something that made her heart skip a beat.

“So, Lily,” Ethan said, breaking the silence that had settled between them, “what have you been up to? It’s been, what, six years?”

“Yeah, six years,” she echoed, trying to keep her tone light. “I’m in my final year at college now, majoring in marketing. It’s been…busy, to say the least.”

Ethan’s eyes lit up with interest. “Marketing, huh? That’s great. Maybe you could help me out with some ideas for NexGen sometime.”

The thought of working with Ethan, of spending more time with him, sent a thrill through her. She forced herself to stay calm. “I’d love to. I mean, if you think I could be of any help.”

Jake glanced over, grinning. “You kidding? Lily’s top of her class. She’s a natural. Ethan, you’d be lucky to have her on your team.”

Lily blushed at the praise, but Ethan’s approving nod made her heart flutter even more. “I don’t doubt it. It’s always the quiet ones who surprise you.”

His words lingered in the air, filled with a subtlety that made Lily wonder if there was more behind them. She looked out the window, hiding the smile tugging at her lips. The drive to campus was short, but it felt like an eternity with the charged atmosphere in the car.

When they finally arrived at the campus, Jake pulled up to the curb. Without missing a beat, Lily grabbed her bag and stepped out of the car, flashing a quick smile at Ethan before heading toward the entrance. Her heart was still racing from their earlier conversation, and she needed to steady herself before facing the day.

As she walked away, the morning sun casting a soft glow around her, Ethan found himself unable to look away. There was something captivating about the way she moved, a grace and quiet confidence that hadn’t been there before. He watched her, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure, until she finally disappeared into the building.

Jake, still in the driver’s seat, noticed the way Ethan’s eyes were fixed on his sister. “You good, man?” he asked, breaking Ethan’s trance.

Ethan blinked, finally tearing his gaze away from the entrance. “Yeah,” he replied, his voice a little distant. “Just… she’s really grown up.”

Jake chuckled, shifting the car back into drive. “Yeah, she has. Hard to believe, right?”

Ethan nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. As they drove away, he couldn’t shake the image of Lily from his thoughts. The girl he once knew had become a woman, and something about that realization stirred feelings in him he hadn’t expected.