Chapter 17

Ethan’s POV

The morning light was soft, spilling across the bed where Adrian and I lay tangled together. I stirred slightly, feeling his arms still wrapped around me. There was a warmth there that made the world feel quiet, safe, and like nothing could touch us.

Adrian shifted slightly, his lips brushing my hair as he murmured, “Morning… sleepyhead.”

I smiled against his chest. “Morning… you’re warm.”

He chuckled, a low, comforting sound, and tightened his hold just a little. “Good. That’s the plan.”

We stayed like that for a few moments, neither of us moving. I played with the sleeve of his shirt, teasing him lightly. “You know,” I said softly, “I could get used to mornings like this.”

“I’d like that,” he replied, his voice husky but gentle. “No alarms, no rushing… just us.”

I tilted my head up and looked at him, catching his gaze. The soft expression in his eyes made my chest swell. “Promise me,” I whispered, “we’ll keep mornings like this whenever we can.”

He smiled, pressing a slow kiss to my forehead. “I promise. As often as we can.”

Later, we finally got up and made our way to the kitchen. Adrian insisted on making breakfast, as usual, and I sat on the counter, swinging my legs lazily. He kept glancing at me with that same soft, protective expression, occasionally brushing a hand over my hair or shoulder.

“I feel… better,” I admitted quietly, watching him flip the pancakes he had been making. “Thanks to you for everything.”

Adrian set the plate down in front of me and came to stand beside me. “You don’t have to thank me,” he said, smiling. “I like taking care of you.”

I nudged him playfully. “I know but I like it too.”

He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. “Good,” he said. “Because I’m not stopping anytime soon.”

We ate slowly, laughing at little things—the way I kept trying to sneak maple syrup straight from the bottle, the way he always pretended to be annoyed but secretly found it adorable. It was simple, It was peaceful, and I felt like we could just… be.

After breakfast, Adrian suggested we go out for a short walk, just to get some fresh air. I agreed, feeling playful again. As we stepped into the sunlight, hand in hand, I realized just how much I had missed these small, ordinary moments.

“Race you to the corner,” I said suddenly, tugging at his hand.

Adrian laughed and let me pull him along. “You’re on,” he said, and we dashed a few steps before collapsing into laughter, leaning against each other to catch our breath.

Even in the middle of the city streets, surrounded by noise and strangers, I felt like I was home—because I was with him.

And Adrian? He just smiled down at me, brushing hair back from my face. “I missed this,” he said quietly. “I missed us.”

“Me too,” I whispered back, squeezing his hand.

Adrian’s POV

The sunlight was streaming through the windows as Ethan and I were finishing our coffee, our legs tangled on the couch. The apartment was quiet, calm, almost too perfect after everything we’d been through.

Then my phone buzzed on the table.

I frowned when I saw Daniel’s name flashing on the screen. My chest tightened.

“Hey,” I answered quickly, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Adrian,” Daniel said immediately, his voice sharp and serious. “I need you to come to the office today. Something’s come up with a meeting and our sponsors. It’s… urgent.”

I exhaled slowly, glancing at Ethan. He looked up at me, concern in his eyes.

“I’ll go,” I said, though my mind hesitated. I hated leaving him so soon after everything.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked quietly, his fingers brushing mine.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just… stay here. Relax. I’ll be back soon.”

He nodded, though I could see the worry lingering. I kissed his forehead softly. “I’ll call you the moment I’m done.”

The drive to the office was tense. Daniel didn’t say much on the phone after explaining the urgency, and I didn’t want to give away how much I was thinking about Ethan. My fingers tapped the steering wheel unconsciously as I tried to prepare for whatever awaited me.

When I arrived at Harmonia Music Company, Daniel met me at the entrance, looking uneasy. His normally calm face was tight, as if he was bracing himself for bad news.

“Adrian…” he said quietly, lowering his voice. “This could get messy.”

I nodded, trying to mask the unease in my own chest. “Tell me.”

Inside the conference room, the sponsors were already seated. Their expressions were sharp and calculating. I caught a glimpse of the video they had been shown—Ethan and I on the street, holding hands, laughing, leaning close.

I felt my jaw tighten. “That’s… not what it looks like,” I said firmly, my voice steady. “We were just walking. The angle made it look… more.”

One of the sponsors raised an eyebrow. “You need to understand, Adrian. Being seen with someone like him—”

I cut him off sharply. “Do not call Ethan ‘someone like him.’ He is important and he is the only person I care about. This is my private life, and no one has the right to dictate who I am with.”

The room went quiet. I could feel the tension rising, but I refused to back down.

Daniel placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing slightly in support.

“If it happens again,” one of the sponsors said coldly, “there will be consequences. We may have to reconsider our partnership.”

I exhaled slowly, meeting their eyes with a steady glare. “If anyone threatens the person I love, that’s where I draw the line. End of discussion.”

After the meeting, Daniel and I stepped outside into the bright afternoon. I rubbed my face, trying to release the tight knot of anger and frustration that had built up.

“You’re… intense,” Daniel said quietly, shaking his head. “But I understand. I’ve never seen you like that.”

I leaned back against the car, letting the sunlight warm my face. “I don’t care about deals, Daniel. I care about Ethan. That’s it.”

Daniel nodded slowly, clearly realizing there was no changing my mind. “Okay… just make sure he knows that. Don’t push him away by being too rigid.”

“I won’t,” I said, thinking of Ethan waiting at home, probably worried, probably playful, probably sleeping and for a second, I allow myself to smile. My world messy, chaotic, and still perfect in some ways was right where it needed to be.