Chapter 11: Unraveling the Threads

The days that followed dinner felt different. Rebecca couldn't pinpoint exactly what had shifted, but something between her and Ethan had changed. It wasn't just the lingering tension in the air when they spoke, or the subtle glances that seemed to mean more than words. It was the growing awareness in her chest—the realization that her heart was beginning to let go of its guard, one fragile piece at a time.

Ethan had been unusually kind since that night. He hadn't pressed her for details about her past, nor had he made any overt attempts to cross boundaries. Instead, he seemed content to let the silence stretch between them, allowing Rebecca to come to him when she was ready.

Still, the pull between them was undeniable.

One afternoon, a week after the trip to Los Angeles, Rebecca was working late in the office. Ethan had been strangely distant, caught up in meetings, leaving her to handle the final touches on a new marketing pitch. She was focused on her work, her mind buzzing with deadlines and strategy, when the door to her office opened without a knock.

She looked up, startled, and found Ethan standing in the doorway.

His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something that made her stomach tighten.

"Ethan, what's—"

Before she could finish, he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. The quiet click of the latch echoed in the space between them.

He didn't speak at first. He simply stood there, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her pulse race.

"Why did you come in here?" she asked, trying to sound calm despite the growing knot in her stomach.

Ethan didn't answer right away. Instead, he took a step toward her, closing the distance between them with deliberate slowness. The air seemed to thicken around them, heavy and charged.

Rebecca's breath caught in her throat.

"Ethan, don't—"

But her voice faltered as he reached out, placing a hand on the back of her chair. His fingers brushed the side of her neck as he leaned down, his breath warm against her ear.

"I've been waiting for you to stop running from this," he murmured.

Her heart hammered in her chest.

She wanted to pull away, to step back from the edge, but a part of her—the part that had been craving this—wanted to lean into it.

"What do you want from me, Ethan?" Her voice trembled despite her efforts to keep it steady.

He smiled softly, the tension in his features easing just a fraction. "I want you to trust me."

Rebecca shook her head. "You don't understand."

Ethan's expression grew serious. "I understand more than you think. I know what it's like to hide from feelings—hide from things that scare you. But sometimes, Rebecca, running from it only makes it worse."

She felt her defenses crumble in the face of his words, the raw sincerity in his voice stripping her of the armor she'd so carefully built. She wanted to resist, to pull back, but his closeness, the way he seemed to understand her in a way no one ever had, made her hesitate.

"Ethan, I—"

Before she could finish, he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her cheek in a soft, lingering kiss.

Her breath caught, and for a moment, the world around them disappeared. There was only the warmth of his lips on her skin, the heat of his presence making her feel things she wasn't ready to face.

When he pulled away, the distance between them felt impossibly small.

"Rebecca, I'm not going anywhere," he said quietly. "You don't have to be afraid."

The words hung in the air, an invitation and a challenge all at once.

Rebecca stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. She could still feel the heat of his touch, the tenderness in his kiss. But she also knew the danger of it all—the danger of opening herself up to someone again.

This is happening too fast.

But despite her fears, something inside her urged her to let go.

She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath until she exhaled slowly, trying to steady her racing heart.

"I'm scared," she whispered, barely audible.

Ethan's gaze softened. "I know."

They stood there for a moment, the world outside the office fading away.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to be him.

But maybe—just maybe—Ethan was the one who could show her that trust wasn't a weakness. That it wasn't about the betrayal she had suffered, but about allowing herself to be loved again.

And as much as she wanted to fight it, Rebecca realized that she was already falling.