CHAPTER 7
ETHAN
That week,she basically lived at my place.
Not officially.
But unofficially?
Yeah.
Her toothbrush shows up.
Her shampoo sneaks into my shower like it pays rent.
Her shoes end up kicked under my bed like they’ve always belonged there.
Every night it’s the same rhythm.
Dinner somewhere cheap or we cooked in. Trying new recipes and falling in love to the smell of frying vegetables and the sound of The Dave Matthews Band playing on my favorite station. I told her chicken piccata was my favorite low carb, high protein meal.
She perfected it.
Made it with love and decorative green garnish.
She noticed the little things. How I cooked my eggs, how many splashes of creamer I liked in my coffee. How I tucked the corners of my blanket under the mattress when I made my bed.
No one ever noticed or cared about the details. And the details are what always made me tic.
After we cooked and cleaned up my tiny kitchen we’d go for walks hand in hand in the city or rent some stupid movie we both knew we’d never finish.
Her curled into me like gravity only works in my direction.
Wake up.
Coffee.
Gym.
Work.
Repeat.
Too easy.
Like we skipped the awkward middle and jumped straight into the part couples don’t hit until year three.
And I loved it.
Which is exactly why what happened last night bugs me.
We were brushing our teeth side by side when I said it, casual.
“Hey — why don’t we go to your place tomorrow night?”
She paused.
Just for a second.
