sugar & shelves.

Chapter 8: A Change of Scenery

Sophie licked the last bit of chocolate off her spoon and let out a contented sigh. The ice cream was sweet, and the evening air had grown cooler, but she was warm in a way that had nothing to do with the temperature. Ethan was sitting beside her on the bench, his gaze fixed on the street ahead, but there was something in the way his fingers tapped lightly against the cone, something almost restless.

Sophie stole a glance at him, the way the streetlights reflected off his dark hair, casting a soft glow around him. His profile was quiet, but she could still see the smile playing at the corners of his lips, like he was holding back something, but not in a way that felt guarded. It was more like he was savoring something—a moment, maybe.

"You know," Ethan said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence. "I was thinking... we could go back to my place. If you want. I mean, I've got movies, and we could just relax, no pressure."

Sophie raised an eyebrow, her heart skipping at the thought. She'd been to his house a few times, but those were brief visits, usually just to grab something he'd borrowed. Nothing that felt like... this. She hadn't expected the offer to come up, not so casually. Not tonight. The thought of being alone with him, without the distraction of the ice cream shop or the park, made something in her chest tighten.

"Movies?" she asked, trying to sound casual, but her voice was softer than she'd intended.

Ethan smiled, leaning back against the bench, his arm brushing against hers. "Yeah. Or we could just talk. Or... do nothing. Whatever you want, Sophie. I just thought it might be nice to hang out, y'know, without the whole 'let's get to know each other' thing. We already did that."

Sophie looked at him, his eyes warm but with a hint of uncertainty, like he was waiting for her to say something, anything that would tell him he hadn't overstepped. Her stomach fluttered, unsure of how to respond. But the way his smile softened, the way his eyes lingered on hers, it was clear that he was offering her something more than just a casual invitation. He was offering comfort.

"Alright," she said quietly, her heart beating faster. "Let's go to your place. But I'm warning you, I'm a terrible movie picker."

Ethan chuckled, his grin widening. "I'm sure I can handle it. Besides, I think I'd rather watch whatever you choose than sit through another superhero marathon on my own."

Sophie laughed softly, the tension between them dissolving. She stood up, smoothing out the front of her jacket. "Alright, let's go. Lead the way."

They walked side by side again, the evening quiet around them, the cool air now settling into their skin. The walk to Ethan's place was short, but Sophie noticed the way he kept glancing at her, his steps slightly slower, like he was waiting for her to say something, or maybe just... like he was trying to figure her out, just as she was trying to figure him out.

When they reached his building, Ethan paused before the door, looking down at her. His eyes searched her face for a second, his lips parting like he was about to say something, then he simply pushed the door open, gesturing for her to enter first.

After a moment of hesitation, Sophie stepped inside, the warmth of the apartment enveloping her. It was small but cozy, the faint smell of something sweet—baking?—drifting through the air. She glanced around, noting the way the space was decorated with a mix of casual comfort and subtle personality. Books stacked haphazardly by the window, a guitar leaning against the wall, and a shelf full of movies that gave the room a lived-in, comfortable vibe.

"I know it's nothing fancy," Ethan said, rubbing the back of his neck, a little self-conscious as he noticed her surveying the room. "But I like it here."

Sophie smiled, trying to ease the tension she could see creeping up on him. "It's perfect. I like it." She wandered further into the living room, picking up a framed picture of Ethan and a younger girl. "Is this your sister?" she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Ethan followed her, and for a moment, Sophie noticed the way his expression softened as he looked at the picture. He took it from her gently, his fingers brushing against hers, and placed it back on the shelf. "Yeah. Her name's Clara. She's... she's away at college right now."

Sophie nodded, not pressing further, but the small shift in his mood didn't go unnoticed. He cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair. "Want to sit down? I'll put on the movie," he suggested, his voice lighter again, the earlier seriousness slipping away.

Sophie smiled, her nerves from earlier starting to fade as she flopped down onto the couch. "Sure. You pick the movie. I'll just be over here, failing to be a good guest."

Ethan chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

As he started flipping through his DVD collection, Sophie looked around again, feeling like she was in a place that somehow belonged to them both, even if she didn't fully understand why. She was with him, and that was all that mattered right now.

Ethan paused, one of the DVDs in his hand, and glanced back at her. "You sure you're good with whatever?" His voice had a hesitant edge, like he was still checking in with her.

Sophie nodded, resting her chin on her hand, trying to push away the quiet nerves still fluttering inside her. "Yeah, I'm good. Whatever you want. It's your place."

He grinned at her, his eyes lighting up with something more than just amusement. "Alright, then. You're in for a wild ride." He slid the DVD into the player and sat down beside her, his shoulder brushing against hers.

Sophie leaned back into the couch, the warmth of his body beside hers making her feel oddly at ease. The movie started, but she wasn't really paying attention to it, not with the way Ethan's presence was filling up the space between them. It was different than before, more intimate in a way that made her heart race just a little faster.

They didn't speak much as the movie played, but every so often, their hands brushed, and Sophie couldn't help but notice how his touch lingered a little longer than it needed to.

There were moments when she caught him looking at her, his gaze soft but intense, like he was trying to read her, understand what she was thinking. And in those moments, Sophie couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. Was he feeling the same things she was? Or was she just overthinking it all?

Finally, she turned her head to meet his gaze, her heart thumping in her chest. "Ethan..." she started, her voice barely above a whisper, but he was already looking at her, his expression unreadable.

"Yeah?" he asked, his voice low, like he was trying to keep the air between them from shifting too much.

Sophie hesitated, but there was something in the way his eyes were holding hers that made her want to say it. "Do you ever wonder if we're just making this more complicated than it has to be?"

Ethan's gaze flickered, and for a moment, he looked almost uncertain. But then, that familiar, crooked smile tugged at his lips, and he shook his head. "Honestly? I don't think we're making it complicated at all. I think we're just figuring it out. Together."

Sophie let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, feeling the weight of his words settle in her chest. He wasn't rushing her, wasn't asking for anything more than what she was willing to give. And somehow, that made all the difference.

They sat there in silence, the movie forgotten, just the two of them, quietly navigating the space between them. And Sophie realized that maybe, just maybe, this wasn't as complicated as she'd thought. Maybe it was just about being in the moment.