Chapter 6

Connor still wore that mocking smile when he left.

His laughter stopped the moment the door closed. The room went quiet, and I rubbed my eyes hard.

I picked up my phone to tell my best friend that Connor didn't like me at all. Before I finished typing, a call came through.

Ethan.

Ever since I'd sprained my ankle, he'd been at my place almost every day, bringing food he'd made himself.

He'd gone out of town for work the day before. Before leaving, he'd even prepared today's meals and given them to Grandma to keep in the fridge.

I answered.

His voice was low and gentle as always, with a slight graininess over the phone. It made my ears feel strangely warm.

“How are you feeling today, Nora? Does it still hurt?”

I tapped my foot on the floor, then remembered he couldn't see me.

“It's fine. Almost healed.”

“That's good.”

There was a long silence. I thought he was about to hang up, but he spoke again, hesitating a little.

“Nora, can you... can you see the moon?”

Surprised, I reached over and pulled back the curtain.

“Yes. It's really full tonight. Why?”

Another brief silence. Then I heard him laugh softly.

“We're looking at the same moon.”

I didn't understand what he meant, but I answered anyway.

“Yes. We're looking at the same moon.”

He fell quiet again, though he seemed happy.

I leaned against the headboard and yawned. Then I remembered the question I'd been holding in.

“Ethan?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you like me?”

His easy breathing abruptly caught.

I waited a long time, then checked the screen. The call was still connected, but he hadn't answered.

The answer seemed obvious. I didn't want to wait anymore.

Then his voice came through, certain and clear.

“Yes.”

Just that one word. I froze, completely unprepared.

He paused, then spoke with even more certainty.

“Nora Bennett, I like you. Very, very much.”

No one had ever told me they liked me before. Not once in my whole life. And he'd said it so directly.

My heart beat so fast it almost hurt. I didn't even know how I was supposed to react.

Ethan quickly realized I was overwhelmed. He didn't press me. When he spoke again, his voice was gentle.

“It's late, Nora. Good night.”

My face was burning. I couldn't get off the phone fast enough.

“Okay. G-good night. Get some sleep.”