The Road Back to You

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Violet stirred in the bed, stretching lazily as her fingers reached across the sheets, only to find them empty. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the emptiness beside her. Ethan was already up.

She pushed the covers off and sat up, glancing around the room. The realization settled in, they were leaving today. The past weeks had been nothing short of a dream, a bubble of time where nothing but them existed. But reality was waiting.

She stepped out of the room, following the faint aroma of coffee. Ethan stood by the kitchen counter, dressed in a plain white shirt, sleeves rolled up, and a pair of dark jeans. He turned when he sensed her presence, his expression softening as he handed her a steaming mug.

"Morning," he murmured, his voice husky.

"Morning," she took the cup, her fingers brushing against his. 

"Are you ready?" Ethan exhaled, resting his hands on the counter. 

"Not really," she admitted. "I wish we could stay here forever," Violet took a sip of her coffee, avoiding his gaze. 

His lips twitched, but there was something sad in his eyes. "Me too," he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "But we have to go back."

"Yeah. Back to work, back to life," she nodded, forcing a small smile. 

Ethan watched her for a moment before stepping closer. He cupped her face, his thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. "No matter where we are, this doesn't change," he whispered, his forehead pressing against hers.

"Promise?" Violet closed her eyes, savoring the moment. 

"I promise."

They packed in silence, each movement feeling heavier than it should. The house that had been filled with laughter, teasing, and quiet intimacy now felt hollow as they prepared to leave. As they stepped outside, Violet took one last look at the beautiful place that had given them a world of their own.

Ethan placed their bags in the trunk before turning to her. "Come on," he said gently, opening the car door for her.

Violet sighed, stepping inside, and Ethan soon followed, starting the engine. The drive back was quieter than before. The easy laughter, the playful teasing, they were there, but muted. Ethan occasionally reached over to squeeze her hand, silently reminding her that this wasn't the end of them. As they neared the city, the skyline appearing in the distance, Ethan exhaled deeply.

Reality was waiting for them.

Violet finally met Jade, Kathy, and Liam after what felt like ages. The moment she stepped into the café where they had arranged to meet, she was pulled into a tight hug by Kathy, followed by an excited Liam who ruffled her hair like an older brother. Jade, as usual, rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.

"You finally decided to return from your secret vacation, huh?" Jade teased, raising a brow.

"Jealous, Blackwood?" Violet smirked. 

"Maybe a little," he admitted, before they all burst into laughter. The group spent hours catching up, exchanging stories, and sharing knowing looks every time Ethan's name was mentioned.

Meanwhile, Ethan kept himself busy at work, slipping seamlessly into his usual routine. He acted as if nothing had changed, keeping his composure in check, even when he was with Violet. He smiled at her the same way, spoke in his usual calm voice, and didn't let any of his inner turmoil show.

But there were moments, when she wasn't looking, that his gaze lingered a second too long. When she laughed freely with the others, he found himself gripping his pen a little too tightly. And when she casually placed her hand on his arm while talking, he felt a familiar warmth spread through his chest, one that he stubbornly ignored.

For now, everything was fine. Or at least, that's what he kept telling himself.

Time passed, and their days together seemed like a dream Violet never wanted to wake up from. Ethan remained as composed and controlled as ever, yet there were moments, subtle, fleeting, where she could sense the war raging within him. He still looked at her like she was the most mesmerizing thing in his world, but there was something else behind his gaze now. Something she couldn't quite place.

Violet ignored it. She didn't want to think about anything but the fact that she was with him.

In the city, work consumed them both, yet they found ways to steal moments, Ethan slipping his hand into hers beneath the table during meetings, Violet leaving little sketches on his desk when he wasn't looking. The warmth between them remained, but a change loomed beneath the surface, waiting to break free.

One evening, Violet met Jade, Kathy, and Liam again after a meeting. The trio immediately noticed the way her eyes sparkled, how her energy felt different, lighter.

"Someone looks like they've been living in a fairytale," Jade teased, nudging her playfully.

"Maybe just a very beautiful chapter of it," Violet laughed, shaking her head. 

 "So? Are we finally allowed to say that you two are official?" Kathy leaned in, grinning.

"It's… complicated," Violet bit her lip, her gaze flickering away. 

"With Ethan, of course it is," Jade snorted. 

Meanwhile, Ethan sat in his office, staring at his laptop screen but reading nothing. His mind was a battlefield. He had always known this moment would come, the moment where reality would catch up with him, where the fear would grip him so tightly that he wouldn't be able to breathe.

He had told himself that he could have this, just for a little while. That he could let himself fall without worrying about where he would land. But now? Now he was terrified that he had allowed Violet too close, that he had allowed himself to need her in ways he shouldn't.

That night, he watched her across the dinner table, laughing at something Liam said. Her laughter was a melody he never wanted to forget. But what if he was the reason it stopped one day?

His grip on his glass tightened.

He needed to make a decision soon.