A Distraction // Bangchan

Chapter Seventeen

For the rest of the evening, they stayed wrapped up in each other, the movie forgotten as they enjoyed the newfound closeness between them. By the time the night winded down, Lauren found herself curled against Chan, her head resting on his chest as he played with the ends of her hair. Her eyes were slowly closing, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

Lauren hadn't realized she'd dozed off until she felt a soft shift beneath her. The room was quiet now, the movie long since finished, and the only sound was the gentle hum of the night outside.

Chan's voice, soft and warm, pulled her from the edge of sleep. "Lauren..." he whispered, his breath brushing against her hair. He gently shifted, his hand still resting on her back, but there was a hesitation in his movements, like he didn't want to disturb her too much. "I should probably head home."

Lauren stirred, blinking awake as she lifted her head slightly. She felt groggy but comfortable, still wrapped up in the warmth of the moment. Chan was looking down at her, his expression soft but a little conflicted, like he didn't want to leave but also didn't want to assume too much.

"I didn't want to wake you," he murmured, his fingers lightly tracing circles on her back.

His words were laced with sincerity, and Lauren felt a gentle warmth spread through her at his consideration. Even though they had shared something special tonight, she appreciated that he wasn't rushing anything, that he was still being mindful of the pace they were setting.

She smiled softly, sitting up a little and rubbing her eyes. "Sorry" she reassured him, her voice still a little sleepy. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Chan sat up fully, his arm still loosely wrapped around her. "I'm glad you did. You need rest from working so hard lately."

Lauren's heart fluttered at his words and she could see the care in his eyes.

"Thanks Chan," Lauren said softly, reaching out to rest her hand on his. "Tonight was... perfect."

Chan smiled at her words, his eyes softening with relief. "I'm glad you think so," he murmured, his thumb gently brushing over her fingers. "I've been wanting this for a while."

Lauren's heart swelled at the tenderness in his voice, but she could also sense his hesitation—the careful way he was handling the moment, not wanting to assume he could stay the night just because of what had happened between them.

She shifted slightly, leaning her head against his shoulder for a moment. "We can take it slow," he said quietly, his voice calm and reassuring. "There's no rush."

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the warmth between them still present but softened by the quiet understanding that they were both on the same page. The connection they had built over the past few weeks had only deepened tonight, and even though there was a part of her that didn't want him to leave, she knew that taking things at this pace was important.

Chan shifted slightly, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'll see you soon," he whispered, his voice low and filled with warmth. "I don't think I can stay away for long."

Lauren smiled, feeling her heart flutter at his words. "Me either," she replied softly, her eyes meeting his with a quiet promise.

With a final, gentle squeeze of her hand, Chan stood up, pulling on his jacket as he glanced around the room. "I'll text you tomorrow," he said, his smile playful but still filled with affection.

"Drive safe," Lauren said, watching him as he headed toward the door.

He paused for a moment, turning back to look at her, his eyes lingering on hers in the dim light of the room. "Goodnight, Lauren," he said softly, his voice filled with meaning.