Chapter 6

Ethan’s POV

The café was empty and the night outside stretched endlessly but inside, under the soft glow of the lamps, it felt like we existed only for each other.

Golden light spilled across the small table, catching the edges of Adrian’s face, tracing the subtle shadows under his eyes. I couldn’t stop looking at him. There was something about the calm way he observed the world that made me feel… exposed, yet strangely safe.

“I like you” he whispered softly

I didn’t know how to reply so I just stared but honestly I do like him, he didn’t press or talk further he just took my hand and gave a light squeeze.

“I… I don’t usually feel like this,” I said quietly changing the topic, my voice barely audible over the music.

Adrian tilted his head slightly. “Like what?”

“Like… I’m not just a stranger,” I said. “Like you actually want to be here with me.”

A faint smile curved his lips. “I do, I’ve wanted to be here since the first night.”

My heart raced, a warmth spread through me that I couldn’t name.

I watched him closely, noticing the subtle movements that made my heart twist—the way his fingers brushed the edge of the cup, the way his eyes caught mine for just a second longer. He leaned in slightly, and our knees brushed under the table. A small touch, but enough to make me pause.

“You’re… different,” he whispered, voice low, almost reverent. “From anyone I’ve ever met.”

I swallowed hard. “I could say the same about you.”

Then his hand reached across the table, brushing my fingers lightly. I didn’t pull away instead my hand lifted instinctively, intertwining with his. It was a small gesture, subtle, but it carried the weight of everything unspoken—the curiosity, the desire, the trust slowly forming between us.

My breath caught as he leaned a little closer, our foreheads almost touching. “I—” I started, but the words failed me.

His hand lifted to cup the side of my face gently. Our eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, the rest of the world fell away—the music, the empty café, even the city outside. There was nothing but us.

Then our lips met.

Soft at first, careful but searching. The unspoken feelings of the past days—the trust, the longing, the curiosity—flowed into that single kiss. My hands rose to his shoulders, holding on gently, grounding myself in the moment.

His hands rested lightly on my arms, steadying me, making everything feel quiet and right. The kiss deepened just slightly, but enough to convey everything we’d been feeling.

When we finally pulled back, foreheads resting together. We were both breathing heavily, hearts racing, eyes locked.

I felt… seen, and it made my chest ache with relief and longing. I knew, even without words, that Adrian felt the same—a quiet trust, a surrender to letting someone in.

The café was empty. The night outside stretched endlessly. And in the golden glow of the lamps, it was just us.

Adrian’s POV

The studio smelled faintly of coffee. The camera lights were set low, casting soft shadows on the walls and making the space feel intimate and private, like a world built just for the two of us.

I watched Ethan adjust the tripod for the photoshoot, glancing at him from the chair. He looked distracted. The way his fingers moved over the camera, the slight tension in his shoulders, the way he kept looking at me without realizing it—it made something in my chest tighten.

“You really do have a way of making a studio feel… different,” I said softly, breaking the silence.

He swallowed. “You’re just here,” he admitted, trying to keep his hands steady as he adjusted the lens. “That’s all it takes.”

A faint smile formed on my lips. I leaned forward slightly, curious, watching his hands move carefully over the camera.

He stepped closer to adjust the lighting near me. Our knees brushed, and I felt the sudden jolt run through me. I lifted my eyes and held his gaze.

“Stop,” I whispered, almost a breath. “Don’t… move away.”

He froze. I could see the hesitation in his eyes, but I also saw something else—something softer, something that didn’t want to leave either.

We leaned in at the same time. His face was only inches from mine now. I could see the faint curve of his lips, the small rise and fall of his chest. The studio lights stretched our shadows across the walls, blending them together, making the space feel even more private.

Just as our lips were about to meet, my phone buzzed sharply on the table. The moment broke instantly.

I groaned before walking over to check it.

“It’s my manager,” I muttered, picking it up. My voice tightened slightly as I answered. “Daniel? … I’ll be there soon… yes… alright.”

I hung up and turned back to Ethan. I knew he saw the guilt on my face.

“I need to be at a show,” I said quietly. “I forgot Daniel called earlier—he was checking my house because I wasn’t there. The show’s starting soon.”

He frowned slightly. “It’s okay, you can go. We will meet tomorrow.”

I shook my head immediately and stepped closer to him.

“No. I don’t want to leave. I want you with me.”

He hesitated. “I don’t… I don’t like crowds,” he admitted softly. “Too many people, too loud… I won’t enjoy it.”

I reached out and brushed his hand lightly with my fingers.

“Please,” I whispered. “I promise. I’ll keep you somewhere private. You won’t see any of it if you don’t want to. Just… come with me.”

He studied my face carefully, searching for something. When he didn’t find anything but sincerity, his voice softened.

“Alright,” he whispered. “Somewhere private.”

A grateful smile formed on my lips.

“Somewhere private,” I repeated, leaning in just enough for him to feel how close I was, and peck his lip.

The car ride was quiet. He kept glancing out the window, clearly nervous about where we were going, while I tried not to reach for his hand too often. Every time our fingers brushed, I felt the same quiet spark again.

When we reached backstage, I guided him carefully to a small private room reserved for VIPs. Soft couches, dim lighting, and a quiet hum from the air conditioner made it feel completely separate from the chaos outside.

“Here,” I said softly. “You’ll be completely safe. I’ll be right outside.”

He sank into the sofa, still nervous but trying not to show it.

A few moments later, Daniel opened the door slightly and frowned.

“You brought him here, he whispered close to my ear?”

My jaw tightened, but I kept my voice calm.

“Yea”. He’ll stay here and no one will bother him.” I whispered back.

Daniel stared at me for a second, then finally nodded and left. I closed the door gently and leaned against it for a moment, taking a slow breath.

The show went on.

Lights, applause, music. Everything loud and chaotic, exactly what Ethan had been afraid of, but I kept thinking about him in that quiet room, waiting. Every minute felt longer than it should have.

Hours later, the crowd finally disappeared. The adrenaline faded, leaving everything quiet again.

When I opened the door, Ethan had fallen asleep on the sofa, curled slightly under a soft throw.

I stood in the doorway without moving.

The soft light in the room made his face look calmer than I had ever seen it—the relaxed jaw, the slight curve of his lips, the gentle rise and fall of his breathing.

I didn’t even realize I was speaking until the words came out.

“How can he be this… cute and hot?” I whispered quietly. “I… I’m definitely in love with him.”

He stirred slightly and opened his eyes slowly. Our eyes met.

“I… I’m in love with you too,” he murmured, his voice trembling just a little.

I crossed the room in a few quick steps, closing the distance between us. Neither of us said anything else.

Our lips met in a kiss that was long and intense. It was gentle careful, steady, like neither of us wanted to break the moment.

When we finally pulled back, it was only slightly. Our foreheads rested together. The silence said everything.

The world outside didn’t exist anymore.

It was just us.

Ethan curled slightly against me, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close, not wanting the moment to end.