Jace closed his laptop with a click and leaned on the counter, still warm from the call with his family.
"You saw my mum's face?" Jace asked.
"She was glowing, really glad she got better"
Jace's mouth curved. "They really adore you. I'm just the guy who happens to be sitting next to you."
She laughed, flicking a tea towel at him. "They practically begged me to keep you in line."
He caught the edge of the towel, eyes dancing. "Then you'd better start practising."
Before she could answer, he lunged. Amy shrieked and bolted, laughter bouncing off the walls as he chased her round the kitchen island table. He managed to catch her wrist, she spun out of his grip, ducked around the sofa.
"You're supposed to be tired from work!" she called over her shoulder, breathless.
"I'm never too tired for payback," he grinned, blocking her path to the kitchen. She ducked under his arm, darted for the hallway.
Just then,the doorbell rang.
They both froze, still laughing.
"Saved by the bell," he declared. she panted and smoothed her sweater and went to the door while Jace flopped onto the couch with a satisfied sigh, stretching his long legs out and propping an arm behind his head.
Amy opened the door and blinked surprised. "Ethan!..…"
He stood there, as casual as ever, a bottle of wine cradled in one hand. "Hey, awkward neighbour," he said with a crooked grin. "Thought I'd bring the usual peace offering. Figured you could use a refill after the last time."
She felt her stomach dip. "Oh....hi. It's been… a while."
"Yeah," he said, shifting on his feet. "I was passing by. Didn't want to bug you, just thought we could have a glass like we used to.....couldnt stop thinking how awkward I was the last time."
She stepped aside automatically. "Come in."
He walked in with that same easy gait he always had, but stopped short when he saw Jace sitting on the couch. Jace straightened a little, still relaxed but his eyes intent.
"Oh," Ethan said quietly.
Amy cleared her throat, her nerves flickering. "Right. Ethan, this is Jace,my boyfriend. Jace, Ethan."
Jace rose from the couch, unfolding himself with deliberate calm, and held out his hand. "Good to finally meet you."
Ethan shifted the wine to his other hand and shook. "Yeah. Likewise."
There was a beat, then Jace's mouth tipped in a small, almost amused smile. "So you're the neighbour who brings the wine."
Amy shot him a look, but he only kept smiling, that slight glint of triumph in his eyes which sort of says 'sorry,but I'm the one she chose'.
Ethan's fingers tightened slightly on the bottle. "It was… uh… meant for Amy. Just like old times."
"Well, thank you," Jace said lightly. "We'll definitely open it."
Ethan gave a small awkward, polite smile. "Actually, I should get going. Long day." He set the bottle on the counter, gave Amy a small nod and another toward Jace. "You two enjoy it."
"Thanks, Ethan," Amy murmured.
"Anytime. Take care, awkward neighbour," he said softly, then slipped out, the door clicking shut behind him. Amy turned back toward the living room. Jace was still lounging on the couch, one arm draped over the backrest, one eyebrow raised in quiet amusement.
"So," he said, voice casual but edged with something funny, "that's Ethan."
Amy came back toward the couch, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "That's Ethan," she echoed. "Neighbour slash occasional wine buddy."
He tilted his head, watching her. "The one in the birthday picture."
She stopped mid-step, caught the glint in his eyes, then rolled hers. "You're enjoying this way too much."
He gave a small, crooked smile and patted the cushion beside him. "Come here and tell me how long he's been dropping by."
Amy crossed the room slowly, her heart still drumming from the awkwardness at the door. Jace patted the space next to him again, eyes glinting.
She sank down beside him. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
He leaned back, looking at her sideways. "I'm ridiculous? You forgot to mention your wine-delivering neighbour. Who calls you 'awkward neighbour,' by the way. That's… cute."
Amy smiled tucking her legs under herself. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Jace turned slightly toward her, one arm draped across the back of the sofa, fingers brushing her shoulder. "I'm not impossible. I'm just… interested."
"In what?" she asked, though the answer was already clear in his eyes.
"In knowing why some guy has been bringing my girlfriend wine." His tone was light, but there was a flicker of genuine curiosity under it.
She nudged his knee with hers. "Don't do that. Don't make it sound like more than it was. I didn't forget you existed just because I had a glass of wine with my neighbour, I started getting to know him around the Gina incident. Sometimes we hang out, sometimes he brings wine. That's it."
Jace tilted his head, watching her over his shoulder. "You two have a usual?"
"It's not a usual," she said quickly. "More like… a neighbourly gesture. Our first conversation was when the elevator was broken and he helped me carry my groceries upstairs"
He raised a brow, a mock-serious expression on his face. "Uh-huh. And all this time I was worried that Gina ruined everything for us."
Amy dropped her hands and gave him a look. "Don't be ridiculous. Ethan's just a friend. He helped me with groceries that once, then my car died, he helped again. Sophie's birthday, he came through. He's nice. That's all."
Jace's expression softened. "I'm teasing," he said quietly. "Mostly. I saw his face when he walked in."
She hesitated. "That's cause I told him about you."
"I figured." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not mad. It was just… surreal to put a face to the name from the photo. That's all."
Amy reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his. "I should've told you sooner. I forgot about him the past few days because I was busy thinking about you."
Jace's thumb brushed over her knuckles, slow and warm. "Good answer."
She smiled faintly. "You're jealous."
He gave a short laugh. "Maybe a little. But mostly curious. You're allowed to have friends, Amy."
"Good," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Because I only want one boyfriend."
He laughed under his breath and kissed the top of her head. "That's all I needed to hear."
They sat like that for a moment, the bottle of wine glinting on the counter, the soft rain still tapping against the windows. In the quiet, their fingers stayed twined, her head tucked under his chin, his arm firm around her shoulders.
He smiled then brushed his thumb over her knuckles. "You know,its just us," he echoed. "And the bottle of wine your awkward neighbour left behind."
Amy laughed, leaning back into the couch. "We might as well open it. It's technically a peace offering."
"Technically?" he asked, feigning suspicion.
She grinned. "Technically." She reached for the bottle. "Glasses?"
Jace stood and went to the kitchen, still shaking his head with a half-smile. "You know, I thought tonight was going to be simple. Pizza, you, a movie. Instead I'm meeting the infamous Ethan."
"Welcome to my life," she called after him, teasing.
When he came back, he handed her a glass, settled back onto the sofa, and they sat shoulder to shoulder while the city drummed quietly outside, their earlier funny tension melting into a warmth that felt like home.