Chapter Five – A New Distraction

Lily

I don't know how it happens, but suddenly, Ethan is part of my study session.

I try to focus, really, I do. I stare at my open laptop, reread the same sentence in my textbook three times, even take a deep breath like that's going to help me suddenly absorb information. But it's impossible with him sitting across from me.

And the worst part? He's not even doing anything.

He's just there.

Sipping his coffee, scrolling on his phone, existing in the same space as me—and somehow, that's enough to make my brain short-circuit.

I sigh, leaning back in my chair. "So, do you actually have something to do, or are you just here to be a menace?"

Ethan looks up, lips twitching. "Menace?"

"Yes." I gesture toward him. "Sitting at my table. Distracting me. Existing in my general vicinity."

He tilts his head, considering this. "You're saying my existence is distracting?"

I blink. Realize what I just said. "That's not—ugh. You know what I mean."

He smirks like he's enjoying this way too much but doesn't push it. "I was just grabbing coffee." He shrugs. "Didn't know I'd run into you."

I eye him suspiciously. "And yet you sat down anyway."

"I was curious."

"About what?"

His gaze lingers on me for a moment before he answers. "What you look like when you're not behind a register."

My brain stutters to a stop.

That was... not what I expected him to say.

For a brief, ridiculous moment, I forget how words work.

Then I clear my throat, forcing my voice to stay even. "And?"

He hums, like he's actually thinking about it. "Less customer-service-y."

I narrow my eyes. "Wow. Such a glowing review."

He grins, but I can tell he's studying me in that quiet way he does sometimes. Like he's taking in every little detail—my oversized hoodie, the way my hair is thrown into a messy bun, the barely touched coffee beside my laptop.

I should be annoyed, probably. But instead, I feel something warmer, something I don't really want to name.

I clear my throat and turn back to my work, hoping he'll get bored and leave so I can actually get something done.

He doesn't.

Instead, he just sits there, sipping his coffee, perfectly content to be a presence in my space.

It's not bad, exactly. I should be more irritated than I am. But there's something weirdly... easy about it. About him.

And that's dangerous.

Because I barely know Ethan.

He's just a guy who buys lollipops and makes sarcastic comments and somehow became part of my routine. But now, here he is, sneaking his way into other parts of my day, like it's the most natural thing in the world.

And maybe that should scare me more than it does.

But before I can spiral too far into that thought, his phone buzzes.

Ethan glances at the screen, sighs, and shoves it back into his pocket.

I watch him for a second, debating whether to ask. "Work?"

"Something like that."

His expression shifts slightly—nothing dramatic, just a subtle tension in his jaw, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

I don't push.

Because as much as I want to know more, I can tell he doesn't want to talk about it.

Instead, I just watch as he stands, tossing his empty coffee cup into the trash.

"See you around, Lily."

And before I can say anything, he's already heading for the door.

I stare after him for a long moment before shaking my head, turning back to my laptop.

And for the first time all morning, I realize I've barely gotten anything done.