Chasing the Flame

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

KIMBERLY

I woke up with a storm of butterflies swirling in my stomach, even though I'd barely slept for two hours. The whole morning had felt like a dream. Saturdays were already stressful, with night shifts at the chicken shop and helping Mom out at the cafeteria. Yet today felt... different.

The butterflies didn't ease, even after my bath. They only intensified. Ethan was like the sun—so warm, so big, so incredibly bright that I couldn't help but be drawn to him, even though I knew getting too close meant risking everything.

What happens if you get too close to the sun? You burn. You turn to ashes, scorched by its intensity.

I couldn't help but wonder: What if he was just another David? What if I was setting myself up for another heartache, another wrong man? I had no luck when it came to men.

He had asked me if I was in love, and I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth—that it was him who now haunted my dreams, him who had claimed every corner of my thoughts. My knight in shining armor. But what if I was simply attracted to the image of perfection he projected? What if this wasn't love at all, but something else... something fleeting?

Yet, deep down, I knew it was different with Ethan. It wasn't like the love I thought I had for David. Ethan stirred something new, something dangerous. Maybe he was the better version of David, the man I had always wished for.

But what would happen if I let myself fall for him completely? What if he didn't feel the same? I felt like I was walking a tightrope, constantly teetering on the edge, with no one to guide me through this mess of emotions I couldn't untangle.

I craved everything about him—his touch, his voice, the way he looked at me. But we lived in different worlds. My imperfect past would only ruin his seemingly perfect life. Maybe the only way to stop these feelings from spiraling out of control was to stop working for him.

That was the rational thing to do... right?

By 10 a.m., after a long shift at the chicken shop where I'd spent the night, I finally made it home. They had fast internet there, so I took advantage, studying an online course, applying for jobs, and making a list of businesses hiring in person. When I got home, exhaustion took over, and I crashed onto my bed for a nap.

Barely had I closed my eyes when a loud knock echoed through the apartment.

Ugh. Who could it possibly be now?

With a deep sigh, I dragged myself to the door. When I opened it, Isabelle burst in, her excitement lighting up the room.

"Surpriseee!!!"

"Isabelle!" I couldn't help but smile as she pulled me into a tight hug, her energy contagious.

"I've missed you so much, Kimberly!" she squealed, squeezing me so hard I thought she'd never let go.

"I missed you too," I laughed, trying to catch my breath.

"Guess what?!" Isabelle beamed, heading straight for the kitchen with what seemed like six shopping bags.

"Uh... what's all that?" I asked, eyeing the bags suspiciously.

"I got ingredients for pancakes, cake, and ice cream... we're baking, baby!" She unloaded the bags onto the kitchen counter, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

Seriously? Just when I was about to catch some much-needed sleep.

"You're doing all that by yourself," I warned, already feeling the exhaustion creeping back in. "I've been working all night."