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Chapter 4: The Morning After
The smell of bacon and pancakes drifted through the house, pulling Mia awake. Sunlight poured in through the blue curtains of the guest room, warm and cruel.
Her eyes fluttered open, heart immediately lurching.
Mia blinked awake, disoriented, heart already racing before she even remembered why.
Last night.
His hands.
That look.
The way he said her name like it meant more.
She sat up slowly. The room was quiet. Her body was warm — too warm — as if it still remembered the weight of Ethan's stare, the heat of being so close to something she wanted but couldn't have.
Mia dressed quickly — oversized tee, soft shorts — and padded barefoot into the hallway. Voices floated from the kitchen, casual, familiar. She forced her face into something neutral and padded down the hall toward the kitchen
Zara was flipping pancakes. Lila was dancing to something playing on her phone. Eli leaned against the counter with a mug of coffee in his hand.
"Morning, sleeping beauty," Zara called. "We made pancakes. You're welcome."
"I can't believe you're up before noon," Lila teased, handing her a plate.
Mia smiled faintly. "I couldn't really sleep."
"Too much sugar last night," Zara said. "I told you not to eat that third brownie."
Eli looked up and gave her a friendly grin. "You look tired."
"I am."
"You want the first hotcake or should I take it like a gentleman?"
She smirked. "You're not a gentleman."
"I could be."
"No, you couldn't."
He laughed and slid the plate toward her anyway. "There. Take it before I change my mind."
Mia was halfway through pouring syrup when Jade breezed in — wearing a tiny cropped tank, short shorts, and a full face of "no-makeup" makeup.
"Morning, everyone," she said sweetly, flipping her hair as she walked over to grab a fork. "Has anyone seen Ethan?"
"He's out back," Lila said. "Fixing the patio light."
"Oh," Jade said, perking up. "I'll go help him. He might need someone to hold a ladder."
"You've never held a ladder in your life," Zara muttered under her breath.
Mia glanced down at her plate, suddenly not hungry again.
Jade flounced out the back door, hips swaying like it was a fashion show. The silence that followed was almost funny.
Lila snorted. "Someone's desperate."
"She's been like that since the eighth grade," Zara added. "Ethan literally carried her off a trampoline once and she swore they were soulmates."
Mia gave a dry laugh, but her heart wasn't in it.
"She's not his type," Eli offered, nudging her shoulder gently. "You don't have to worry."
Mia blinked. "Worry?"
"I mean, if she's bothering you."
"Oh. Right. Yeah. She's just… a lot."
"She's exhausting," Zara confirmed.
"I think she's funny," Lila added, then winced. "In a dangerous way."
Eli gave Mia a sideways glance. "You good?"
She nodded. "I'm fine."
They sat in silence for a moment before he leaned back, stretching his arms.
"Summer's off to a weird start," he said, looking out the window. "Everything's changing. Doesn't feel bad, just… different."
Mia looked at him — the way his eyes drifted out toward the trees, peaceful and easy.
"Different can be good," she said softly.
He smiled at her, slow and warm. "Yeah. I think so too."
The back door opened. Ethan stepped in, wiping his hands with a towel.
Mia looked up instinctively — and caught his eyes just for a second.
He looked away quickly. Cleared his throat. "Light's fixed."
"Good job, handyman," Zara said.
"Jade help?" Eli smirked.
Ethan didn't answer, just walked over to pour himself coffee.
Mia stared down at her plate again.
Everything looked the same.
But nothing felt the same.