Chapter 13

Ethan and Lily sat on the floor playing scrabble. Sun streamed in through the window and wide balcony, casting a warm glow over the wooden floor.

It was Saturday.

After an entire week of Miles being almost everywhere Lily went, Ethan could finally spend time with Lily— just the two of them. No extra person. No interruptions.

He leaned back against the bedpost, watching as Lily chewed her lips, deep in thought as her eyes drifted between her rack and the board, planning her next move. She looked really cute.

Ethan smirked. “We should have played with a timer. In an official game, you’d have lost 10 points.” 

“I was strategizing my ultimate move.”

Ethan raised a brow. 

Lily went to work and placed all seven tiles on the board. “Bingo.” She yelled with a treiumphant grin. “Fifty extra points for me.”

She picked up the pen to record her score.

His gaze drifted to the pen Lily was using.

A sleek, pink fountain pen with a silver tip.

Miles had given it to her.

It was well in line with her taste.

His smirk faded slightly.

Lily looked up and caught his expression. “What? Jealous?” She teased, poking his arm. “You always go for the complex words, but sometimes, the simple ones are better. Be like me.”

Ethan raised a brow. “Yes, word master,”

She giggled and stuck her tongue out.

Knock. Knock.

A sudden knock at the door interrupted their play.

A maid peeked in. “Young miss, you have a guest.”

Lily perked up. “Oh, I’ll be right down.”

Ethan frowned slightly. “I didn’t know you were expecting someone.”

“Oh, it’s just Miles,” she replied breezily, standing up. “He said he wanted to paint my garden. I told him about the chocolate cosmos bush.”

Just Miles? Have they gotten close enough for him to be visiting?

Ethan placed a tile on the board without looking. “You guys have a lot in common,” he said blandly, playing with the tile left in his hand.

“Hmm, you’re right.” She walked to the door. “I’ll be right back. Don’t cheat.”

She toosed an air kiss at him before going out the room.

Ethan stared at the closed door, his thoughts drifting.

Miles. Again.

Ethan let out a slow breath and leaned back against the bedpost, squeezing the tile in his hand.

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Lily rushed down the stairs with Ivy hot on her heels, the dog’s tail wagging in excitement.

In the living room, Miles sat on a couch, sketchbook on his lap, sketching away.

“Hey hey, you came earlier than expected,” Lily greeted, plopping onto the couch beside him. 

Miles looked up and grinned, flipping his sketchbook closed. “Well, I want to make the best of the sunlight.” 

He croached down to pet Ivy, who was already jumping around his legs. 

“You must be Ivy.”

 Ivy barked happily in response, nuzzling against his hand.

Lily giggled. “Awwn, she likes you.”

“Well, I guess I’m a dog person,”  Miles joked, scratching her belly. “Shall we?”

Lily led Miles to the side door and into the garden and pointed out the different flowers to him, the fresh scent of blooming flowers filled the air. 

The chocolate cosmos bush stood in between the Peony and Hydrangea bushes, its burgundy petals standing out against the bright colors of the other flowers.

“It’s more beautiful in person, isn’t it?” Lily said, pointing. “I don’t think I can fully capture it on paper.”

Miles took a step closer, his gaze sweeping around the garden.

“You did a good job,” he murmured. “Your garden is really beautiful.”

Lily crossed her arms and grinned. “Thank you. my mom and cousin did everything. I don’t really know much about flowers.”

Miles set his sketchbook on the garden table, opening his pencil case. “I already feel inspired.”

Before he could begin, Ivy suddenly jumped up and grabbed the sketchbook in her mouth, bolting across the grass.

“Hey!” Miles yelled in surprise.

Lily gasped.”Not again. Ivy, drop that now.”

But Ivy didn’t listen.

Instead, she seemed to be injected with more energy, darting between bushes her tail wagging excitedly. 

“She always does this.” Lily apologised to Miles before they both chased after her, trying to get the sketchbook back.

Ivy barked with joy, zooming between them like it was a game.

“Ivy, how many times would I tell you a book is not a toy?” Lily huffed as she lunged for her, but Ivy darted away just in time, leaving Lily to fall into the peony bush.

Miles laughed. “Are you okay?” He helped Lily up. “She’s got quick reflexes.”

You have no idea,” Lily muttered.

Ivy stopped suddenly, stepping closer as if to check if she was okay before taking off again.

Lily and Miles exchanged glances before taking off after her again.

Crash. 

An empty flower pot shattered on the floor as the dog darted past.

“Oh my God, Ivy,” Lily shouted. “Mom is gonna be so angry.”.

Ivy finally slowed down under a tree, wagging her tail as she stood. Miles managed to catch up from behind and reached down cautiously. This time, she didn’t run. She laid on her belly, expecting a rub.

Miles gently pried the sketchbook from her mouth, lifting it up to inspect the damage.

There were two teeth marks near the edge.

Lily winced. “How about I get you a new one?”

Miles flipped it open, and surprisingly, there wasn’t a single bite mark on any of the pages.

“Huh,” he mused. “She didn’t cause any damage.”

They both stood, catching their breath.

Ivy, oblivious to the chaos she had caused, happily ran around their feet, wagging her tail and looking up at them as if waiting for another round.

*************************************************************************************************************

Ethan moved to the balcony outside Lily’s room, drawn by the laughter from the garden. 

He looked down.

Lily and Miles were running across the garden.

Lily’s voice rang out, tinged with laughter.

He had run around with her in that same garden multiple times.

But this time, it was with someone else.

Miles.

Ethan gripped the railing, jaw tightening.

For the first time, Ethan felt something gnawing at his chest.

A strange, foreign feeling.

Jealousy.