Lily took a deep breath, her fingers brushing his hand as she gathered the courage to speak. "Maybe...maybe we don't have to figure it all out right now," she said softly, her eyes meeting his with a nervous but hopeful look. "We could just...keep it to ourselves. See where this goes without anyone else getting involved."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, studying her face. "You mean keep it a secret?" he asked, a hint of amusement and surprise in his voice.
She nodded, her cheeks flushing. "Yes. Just for now. I don't want things to get complicated with Jake, or with anyone else. We'd take it slow, figure things out without everyone watching."
Ethan hesitated, his gaze fixed on her. The idea was tempting—more than tempting. It would give them time to understand this unexpected pull between them, without the weight of everyone's expectations. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, a small smile forming on his lips."Alright," he agreed, his voice low. "Just between us. We'll take it one day at a time."
A smile broke across Lily's face, and for a moment, the tension between them softened, replaced by something warmer, more exhilarating. They sat there, fingers intertwined, both aware that they were crossing into something new and uncharted. But in that moment, the secrecy felt like freedom, like a small promise to explore something they both wanted but didn't fully understand.
As they lingered in each other's gaze, Ethan finally broke the silence. "Just between us," he repeated, his voice steady, as if reassuring them both. "We'll keep this ours—for now."
YOU ARE READING
Hidden Flames..
RomanceLily had always harbored a secret crush on her brother's best friend, Ethan. As children, they shared countless memories, but he remained oblivious to her growing feelings. When Ethan left their small town to pursue a high-profile career, Lily thoug...
