Hidden Flames..

Chapter 27

Ethan, Lily, and Jake decided to spend the afternoon at a local park, a casual hangout Jake had suggested. They strolled along the wide paths lined with autumn-colored trees, Jake enthusiastically recounting stories from his latest project at work. Lily and Ethan played their parts well, nodding and laughing at the right moments.

 To an outsider, it was just a friendly outing, but beneath the surface, a secret current of electricity passed between the two.

As they walked, Ethan occasionally fell behind Jake to walk beside Lily. Their hands brushed ever so slightly, the briefest of touches that sent sparks up Lily's arm. 

She bit her lip to hide a smile and glanced up at Ethan, whose casual expression betrayed nothing to Jake. But his eyes told a different story—a flicker of warmth and mischief just for her.

At one point, they stopped at a small café near the park for coffee. Jake sat at the table, preoccupied with his phone, leaving Ethan and Lily to fetch their drinks. As they stood in line, Ethan leaned in just enough for Lily to feel the heat of his breath near her ear.

"You look amazing today," he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.Lily's cheeks flushed as she tried to maintain her composure. "Ethan," she whispered sharply, glancing over her shoulder toward Jake.

Ethan chuckled softly, stepping back just as the barista called their names. He handed Jake his drink, giving Lily a wink as he passed her hers, his fingers deliberately lingering against hers for a second too long.

Later, as they wandered through the park again, Jake decided to toss a football he'd brought along. "Ethan, catch!" he called, launching the ball toward him. Ethan caught it easily but threw it to Lily instead.

"Think fast, Lil!" he called. Lily caught the ball and laughed, trying to throw it back, but it veered wildly to the side. Ethan chased after it, and when he returned, he walked up to her, their proximity far closer than it needed to be.

"You're terrible at this," he teased softly, handing her the ball. She smirked, her voice just above a whisper. "Maybe I just like watching you run."

Jake called them to join him, breaking the moment. As they jogged over, Lily stole a quick glance at Ethan, whose satisfied grin told her he'd caught her comment loud and clear.

Throughout the afternoon, their stolen moments continued—a brush of fingers, a shared look when Jake wasn't paying attention, a barely concealed smirk when their eyes met. Pretending around Jake was exhausting but thrilling, and neither could deny the charge it added to their secret.

As the day wound down, Jake stretched and yawned. "Alright, I'm starving. Let's grab some food. What do you say?"

"Sure," Ethan said smoothly, his voice steady, though his hand brushed against Lily's once more, hidden from Jake's view.

Lily smiled softly, her heart racing. "Sounds good to me." Ethan caught her gaze, a promise lingering in his eyes. *This isn't over.*