Hidden Flames..

Chapter 12

It had been a week since that night, and Ethan and Lily hadn't crossed paths since. But today, Ethan found himself back at Lily's place, joining Jake for a bit of fun. As they entered the house, Jake called out, "Hey, Lil! I'm back!" but there was no response. Jake glanced over at Ethan, a bit puzzled. "What's up with her? Why isn't she answering?"

Curious, they both headed into the living room and found Lily, completely oblivious to their arrival, wearing headphones and singing along to the music playing in her ears. She was deeply focused on her work, her voice loud as she belted out, "So marry me, Juliet..."

Jake and Ethan couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight and sound of her enthusiastic singing. Jake walked over to Lily, gently pulled off her headphones, and asked with a grin, "What are you doing?"

Lily looked up, slightly startled but laughing as well. "I'm working."

Jake shook his head, still chuckling. "Please, don't sing next time. The neighbors might think someone hijacked our house."

Ethan joined in the laughter, and Lily, in mock irritation, threw a pillow at Jake. "You're the worst!" she said with a playful glare before storming off, leaving her laptop behind.

Jake and Ethan settled on the sofa, intending to watch something on TV, but Ethan's attention was quickly drawn to the work on Lily's laptop. As he skimmed through her project, he was genuinely impressed by her efforts.

A few minutes later, Lily realized she had left her laptop in the living room. She returned to retrieve it, and as she picked it up, Ethan looked at her with a smile. "Impressive, Lil. You've done a great job. But if you want, I can help you make it even better."

Lily's face lit up with excitement. "Really? You'd help me?"

"Of course," Ethan replied, noticing how serious she was about her career.

"I'd love that!" Lily said enthusiastically. "Shall we go to the backyard? It's quieter there."

As they started heading out, Jake, who had been listening to their conversation with growing impatience, narrowed his eyes at Ethan. "Really, Ethan? You came over to watch a movie and hang out, and now you're ditching me?"

Lily, quick to defend Ethan, turned to her brother with a pleading look. "Please, Jake, let him help me. After we're done, you can have your friend back." She added a playful puppy dog face for good measure.

Jake sighed in defeat, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, don't make that face. You two can go. But don't take too long."

Lily flashed a grateful smile at her brother before leading Ethan out to the backyard. Ethan followed, feeling a mix of amusement and anticipation as they stepped outside. As they began working together, the atmosphere between them grew more comfortable, but the underlying tension was still there—unspoken, yet palpable.

Ethan tried to focus on Lily's work, offering suggestions and advice, but he couldn't entirely ignore the way her enthusiasm and dedication drew him in even more. And Lily, though outwardly focused on her project, couldn't help but steal glances at Ethan, her mind drifting to the night they'd spent together and the growing connection between them.