I wasn't supposed to notice him.
That was the rule.
Unspoken… but understood.
Ethan Cole wasn't just anyone.
He was my best friend's brother.
And that alone should have been enough to keep my eyes, my thoughts, and definitely my feelings in check.
But somehow… it wasn't.
"Lara, hurry up!" Maya's voice echoed from downstairs. "You're literally the slowest person alive."
I rolled my eyes, dragging my suitcase across the wooden floor.
"I'm coming!" I shouted back.
The moment I reached the top of the stairs, I paused.
Something felt… different.
Maybe it was the quiet.
Maybe it was the strange feeling in my chest.
Or maybe—
it was him.
Leaning casually against the wall like he owned the entire house, Ethan stood there, arms crossed, watching me.
My breath hitched.
It had been years since I'd last seen him. Back then, he was just Maya's annoying older brother—the one who teased us, ignored us, and acted like we were invisible.
But this?
This version of Ethan?
He was… different.
Taller. Broader. Sharper.
And his eyes—
they weren't just glancing at me.
They were studying me.
"So," he said slowly, his voice deeper than I remembered, "this is the friend you've been talking about nonstop?"
My grip tightened on the suitcase handle.
Maya appeared beside me, grinning. "Yes! This is Lara. Try not to scare her away, please."
"I don't scare people," he replied, but his gaze never left mine.
I swallowed.
"You used to," I muttered under my breath.
One corner of his lips lifted.
"Used to?"
He pushed himself off the wall and took a step closer.
Then another.
And another.
Until he was standing right in front of me.
Too close.
Way too close.
My heart started racing—and I hated that he could probably see it.
"You don't look scared," he said quietly.
I forced a small smile. "Maybe I grew up."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Interest. Amusement. Something I couldn't quite name.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I can see that."
"Okayyy…" Maya clapped her hands, completely unaware of whatever was happening. "This is already weird. Can we not make things awkward on day one?"
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
"Right. Sorry."
Ethan stepped back, but not before his shoulder brushed lightly against mine.
It was such a small touch.
So small it should have meant nothing.
But it didn't feel like nothing.
It felt like a spark.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of unpacking and laughter.
Maya talked endlessly, showing me around like I hadn't already been here a hundred times before.
But everything felt… different now.
Because I was aware of him.
Every time he walked into a room, I noticed.
Every time he spoke, I listened.
Every time his eyes landed on me—
I felt it.
Later that night, I stood by the kitchen counter, pouring myself a glass of water.
The house was quiet.
Maya had gone to bed early.
I thought I was alone.
"Can't sleep?"
I froze.
Of course.
I didn't even need to turn around to know it was him.
"I could ask you the same thing," I replied, trying to sound calm.
I turned slowly.
Ethan was leaning against the doorway, wearing a simple black t-shirt and grey sweats.
Effortless. Relaxed.
Dangerous.
"I live here," he said. "What's your excuse?"
I shrugged. "New place."
"This isn't new for you."
"No," I admitted softly. "But it feels like it."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why?"
I hesitated.
Because of you.
But I couldn't say that.
So I looked away instead. "I don't know."
There was a pause.
Then—
"Lara."
My name sounded different when he said it.
Lower. Slower.
Like it meant something.
I looked up.
Big mistake.
Because now he was closer again.
I hadn't even seen him move.
"You should be careful," he said quietly.
My heart skipped.
"About what?"
"About me."
My breath caught.
I let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the tension. "You're my best friend's brother. What exactly am I supposed to be careful of?"
His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before meeting my eyes again.
And this time—
there was nothing playful about it.
"Crossing lines," he said.
The air between us shifted.
Everything suddenly felt too close. Too intense.
Too real.
I swallowed hard. "That won't be a problem."
"Oh?" he challenged softly.
"Yes."
Because it couldn't be.
Because it shouldn't be.
Because if it ever did become a problem…
I could lose everything.
My best friend.
This home.
Everything that mattered.
Ethan studied me for a long moment.
Then he stepped back.
Just like that.
Like none of it had happened.
"Good," he said.
But something in his voice told me…
he didn't mean it.
That night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, one thought refused to leave my mind.
I had just gotten here.
And already—
things were starting to change.
Because the truth was…
I wasn't supposed to fall for him.
But something told me
I was already in trouble.