a strong, steady heartbeat against my chest. Shocked, I looked into Ethan’s eyes, searching for answers. He seemed equally surprised, but there was something else—a flicker of vulnerability I hadn’t seen before.
We stayed like that for a moment, as if time had paused just for us. My heart raced, both from the fall and the sudden realization that there was more to Ethan than I had been led to believe. The warmth from his body seeped into mine, and I wondered how someone so alive could appear so detached.
“I’m sorry,” I managed to say, trying to sit up, but his hand gently held me in place.
