Chapter 17
Nicholas POV
Eric got back from the gym that day, the faint scent of sweat and effort still clinging to him as he stepped into the house.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
I had been waiting.
"Can we talk?" I asked as he walked in.
He didn't slow down.
"I'm busy," he replied, already moving past me as if I wasn't standing there.
My eyes followed him.
"It won't take too much of your time."
He paused but only slightly.
Not enough to turn fully. Not enough to stay.
I reached for the small box I had prepared earlier and held it out toward him.
"I brought something for you."
That got his attention.
His eyes shifted down to the box, then back to me.
"What is this?" he asked.
"A gift."
"For what?" he said, his tone flat.
"Your birthday," I answered.
Eric let out a small breath through his nose, not quite a laugh, not quite irritation.
"That was a month ago."
He tilted his head slightly.
"And besides… you don't need to gift me anything. It's not like we're close enough for that."
His words were simple.
But they landed harder than expected.
I nodded slightly, accepting the distance he was putting between us.
"You're Laurel's younger brother," I said.
"And I think that makes you close enough."
He looked at me for a moment longer than necessary.
Then scoffed lightly.
"That's your reason?"
I didn't respond immediately.
Because the truth was… it wasn't just that.
But saying more would only complicate things I wasn't ready to explain.
I adjusted my grip on the gift.
"Hey," I said quietly.
"I know I might be going beyond my boundaries in ways you don't like… and I'm sorry for that."
Eric's expression shifted slightly.
Not soft.
Not warm.
But less guarded than before.
"You're being weird today," he said, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Did you have a fight with Laurel?"
"No," I replied.
A pause settled between us.
"I will be leaving soon," I added after a moment.
"I just… don't want to leave on bad terms with anyone this time."
The words came out more honest than I intended.
But I didn't take them back.
Before Eric could respond, movement caught my attention.
Eun Woo stepped out of the guest room.
He straightened immediately upon seeing Eric.
"Good evening, sir," he said, bowing slightly.
Eric mirrored the gesture, though less formally.
"Good evening."
"I am Eun Woo, Miss Davis' secretary," he introduced himself.
Eric shook his head slightly.
"I'm Eric. Laurel's younger brother. Seriously, you can drop the formalities around me."
Eun Woo hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, sir...Eric."
He stepped aside, and Eric continued down the hallway toward Laurel's room.
He knocked twice.
"Who is it?" Laurel's voice came from inside.
"It's Eric. I'm back."
"Okay. I'll be out in ten minutes," she replied.
"Alright."
He turned and walked away without another word.
I watched him go.
As always, his presence lingered longer than his physical movement.
The house settled into quiet again.
Not empty.
Just… still.
Evening arrived faster than expected.
Laurel came out shortly after, dressed simply but neatly, her usual composed expression in place.
"Let's order dinner," she said casually.
We gathered around the table.
The atmosphere was calm.
Routine.
Familiar in a way that didn't require effort.
While we ate, Laurel's phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at it briefly before answering.
"SEO hee?"
I continued eating, but my attention shifted slightly.
Not eavesdropping.
Just… aware.
"I saw your gift," SEO hee's voice came through.
Laurel made a small sound, almost like a chuckle.
"Figured."
"It's not nothing," SEO hee replied.
Laurel leaned back slightly in her chair.
"Don't overthink it."
There was a brief pause on the other end.
Then SEO hee spoke again.
"How did you remember?"
Laurel didn't hesitate.
"Because I have a brain that works well."
SEO hee laughed softly.
I watched Laurel as she spoke.
There was something about her tone
Calm.
Unbothered.
Effortlessly composed.
Not overly expressive.
Not overly warm.
But not cold either.
Just… controlled.
And yet
In small moments like this…
She showed something different.
Something softer.
Sometimes Laurel could be the sweetest person…
…in the coldest form.
She ended the call shortly after, placing her phone back on the table.
Dinner continued in silence.
Not uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
I sat there, observing everything.
Eric.
Laurel.
The distance between people in the same space.
And for the first time in a long while
I realized something clearly.
I didn't want to leave things unfinished this time.
Not with them.
Not with Eric.
Because whatever this was
It wasn't just proximity anymore.
It was something that had already begun.
And whether or not he accepted it…
I had already stepped into it.