I watched him from the doorway, arms folded, amused.
“You know,” I said, “I don’t require this level of effort to impress.”
He smiled over his shoulder. “Too bad. I’ve already committed.”
Dinner turned out surprisingly good. We sat at my small table, knees brushing, candles lit because Ethan had decided that was“a nice touch,” even though one of them was definitely leaning. I was halfway through my second bite when he cleared his throat.
Okay. There it was.
“So,” he said, setting his fork down carefully. “I need to tell you something.”
I smiled. “That sentence never leads anywhere good.”
“I found a house,” he said. “Not far from here.”
I blinked. “A house?”
“Before you say anything,” he rushed on, holding up a hand, “I know it’s fast, and I know I’ve been back at my parents’ place longer than planned, but I can’t live there forever. And Lily, she needs something steady. Something that’s hers. Ours.”
I stayed quiet, letting him talk.
“And,” he added, softer now, “I want privacy. For us. And… structure. For her.” He hesitated, then met my eyes. “And because Dr. Nora said that consistency matters. That if I say I’m staying, I should live like it.”
Something warm settled in my chest.
“I want you to believe me,” he said. “That I’m not leaving again.”
I swallowed.
The truth was, I needed to believe it too.
My house suddenly felt very small around us. Too expensive. Too quiet. Too full of all the math I’d been doing late at night, trying to make my teacher’s salary stretch in ways it didn’t want to.
I had already begun looking for something smaller. Cheaper. Something temporary.
I had not told Ethan yet.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you,” I said slowly, “I might have to move anyway. This place is… not sustainable. Not on one income.”
His brow furrowed. “You’re looking for somewhere else?”
“I’ve been trying,” I admitted. “But everything cheaper is either too far or falling apart.”
He nodded, absorbing that. Then he took a breath, like he was stepping off something high.
“Then maybe,” he said carefully, “you could stay with us.”
I stared at him.
“Only if you want to,” he added quickly. “Only if you trust me. And if you don’t or if you need time, I understand. We can go as slow as you want.”
I reached across the table and shushed him with my fingers.
“Are you serious?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Because you want me there,” I pressed. “Or because you feel like you should help?”
