Step into love

of a coffee maker downstairs, and a low murmur of voices from the kitchen. It would take her a second to reme

e still w

ook at getting dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt seemed like it should get her downstairs without too much awkwar

thought about knocking. Why would I do that? she chided herself, hurrying down the

ach the stairs, his doo

s if hed been waiting for her. His hair was still messy, and he wore a

ar too breathless for her liking. She turned a

g it with a beaming smile as she flipped pan

a seat at the kitchen i

le, a friendly smile on his face. "Glad

stairs. Ethan ambled into the kitchen, as laid-back as ever. He snatched up a plat

ifling the silly tumble of her stoma

s nice and curious. He was trying-they all were. But

was thinking of unpacking some mo

don't forget, we're having a little family dinner tonight. Ju

"That's right. Thought it'd be a good

, looking at Ava "Bondi

hadn't gotten a good enough read on him yet, couldn't tell w

mile. "Yeah, s

ting, trying to pull Ethan and her into the conversation. She nodded along, but her mind was e

gain and over again. Annoyingly, he was already occupying a good size of space in her brain. Yet, she hardly knew him, yet w

r door snapped her

rt sinking a little when the d

ozing with sincerity.

lhouetted by the hall light. His eyes searched mine, his brows furrowed in concern. For a mom

orcing a smile that didn't qu

g the door softly behind h

e-that my chest constricted. I had to look away, my hands fidgeting wit

itted, my voice small. "New house,

but close enough in that I could feel the warmth emanatin

e. I could feel the weight of his eyes on

y weird. Trust me, it's not exactly what I had plann

than it should. Something in his offer soothed me; so

ng he wouldn't hear the sta

ine smile-and flipped

was supposed to work when I couldn't stop thinking about him like this...]. He le

e casual, but there was a hint of somet

olding a shirt and putting it

you know," he said, further step

she thought but didn

a little too high-pitched to be belie

could see right through

er arms in a defensive manner

like he knew precisely what she s

before she could catch them, her face burning with embarrassment.

wing some surprise for the sudden boldnes

he could feel his gaze on her and it caused a stir

"Look, I get it. This whole step-sibling thing-it's weird. But we've

his tone. Maybe he wasn't teasing her after all. May

wly, facing him again. "Y

inked before turning to leave, but just as he reached the door, he paused. "Oh, an

p the small smile that tugged at her

thing about him that made her feel... different. Li