Ethan shot me a grateful look, but then, as if remembering something, his expression turned a little more serious. “Actually, speaking of talking . . . my mom has been asking about you. A lot.” He laughed, the embarrassment still lingering. “Apparently, Laura told her all about our date, and now she’s convinced we’re a thing.”
I laughed at his awkward confession. “She sounds lovely,” I said, my tone light. “And very . . . interested.”
“Oh, she is,” Ethan replied with a grin, rolling his eyes in a way that showed both affection and mild exasperation. “She’s just excited for me, you know? But it can be a bit much sometimes.”
I raised an eyebrow playfully. “And you didn’t introduce us because?”
Ethan’s smile turned bashful again, and he shifted on his feet. “Well, after what Lily said, I figured you might need a little break from hearing about how much I talk about you.” He joked, but then his expression softened. “But really, I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I know how my mom can be, and I didn’t want you to feel like you were getting the third degree. Plus, she’d probably linger and ask you a million questions about . . . us. And I wasn’t sure if you were ready for that, or if you evenwantedto meet her yet.” His words started tumbling out in a bit of a ramble, his nerves showing through, and he laughed at himself, shaking his head. “Sorry, I’m making this sound way more complicated than it is.”
I laughed, touched by how much thought he’d put into it. “It’s fine, Ethan. Really. Maybe next time?”
Ethan’s eyes softened, and he smiled, relieved. “Yeah,” he said, his voice gentle and a little more confident. “Next time.”
Just as the moment settled between us, Lily’s voice rang out from inside the fort. “Ethan, I’m hungry!”
She poked her head out, her big brown eyes expectantly fixed on her brother. Just like that, the intensity of our moment was shattered, replaced by the everyday reality of a six-year-old’s priorities.
Ethan sighed dramatically, though his smile gave him away. “Well, can’t keep the princess waiting, can we?” He shot me a quick glance that made my heart flutter, before turning his attention fully to Lily. “What are you in the mood for, Lil?”
Her eyes sparkled as she thought about it, and then she grinned. “Pizza! And ice cream!”
He laughed, glancing back at me with a look that clearly said:This is my life. “Pizza and ice cream it is.”
Ethan ordered the food with the ease of a man who had clearly done this many times before, rattling off their usual order while Lily hovered nearby, practically vibrating with excitement. As soon as he hung up, she turned her big brown eyes on me with a determined expression.
“Okay, Vinnie,” she said, hands on her hips like a tiny drill sergeant. “You have to change into your onesie now. No one is allowed in the fort unless they’re properly dressed. It’s the rule.”
I laughed, charmed by her seriousness. “Well, I wouldn’t want to break the rules,” I teased, glancing at Ethan, who was watching the exchange with an amused grin.
Ethan pointed down the hallway. “Bathroom’s right over there. Your onesie’s on the counter.”
With a mock salute to Lily, I headed off to change. When I emerged a few minutes later in a fluffy pink unicorn onesie that matched hers, a delighted squeal greeted me. “You look awesome, Vinnie!”
She took my hand and practically dragged me back into the living room, where Ethan had already started setting up the fort for movie night. She declared the fort hercastle, and announced that no one could enter unless they were prepared to follow the royal rules—which, as it turned out, included having a spa night. Ethan tried to protest, but one look at Lily’s determined face, and he was laughing and shaking his head, resigned to his fate.
Before long, we were all nestled in, surrounded by a mountain of pillows and blankets, andHocus Pocusflickered on the small TV, casting a soft glow over the room. The scent of popcorn mingled with the sweet smell of face masks, as Lily convinced Ethan to join us in the spa portion of the evening.
“You know, this is not what I had in mind for tonight,” he joked, his voice muffled slightly by the green mask slathered across his face. His hair was a mess of half-done braids and tiny clips, all thanks to Lily, who was currently sitting in his lap, concentrating fiercely on adding more decorations.
“Are you kidding?” I teased, adjusting my own face mask. “You’re the one who said this fort was the best one yet. And besides, it’s not every day you get to be pampered like this.”
Lily giggled, her hands busy tying a bright pink ribbon into Ethan’s hair. “Yeah, Ethan! You’re supposed to be having fun. This is a girls’ night! So stop complaining and let me finish.”
“You’re doing a great job, Lil,” I said, encouraging her as she added another clip. “I think he could use more glitter, though. Really make him sparkle.”
“Good idea!” she agreed enthusiastically, reaching for the glitter gel. Ethan shot me a playful glare.
“You’re not helping, you know,” he said, his tone mock-serious. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
I grinned, shrugging innocently. “Sorry, but I’m team Lily on this one.”
“See? Vinnie knows what’s up.” She beamed at me, pleased.
Ethan sighed dramatically, but couldn’t hide his smile. “Well, I guess I’m outnumbered.”
Lily paused in her work, tilting her head. “You should always join us for girls’ night, Vinnie. It’s way more fun with you here.”
The sincerity in her voice caught me off guard. “I’d love that,” I said softly, touched by her invitation.
