Page 43 of Falling for Them

I frowned, confused by his certainty. “What’s going on?”

Ethan shook his head, trying to reach around me for the doorknob. “It’s complicated. I’ll handle it.”

But I couldn’t walk away. Not when Libby sounded so distraught. I gently knocked on the door before pushing it open, ignoring Ethan’s frustrated sigh.

The beam from my phone’s flashlight cut through the darkness, revealing a sight that made my chest tighten. Libby was curled up in a ball on her bed, her body shaking with sobs. Her hair was a mess, sticking to her tear-stained face, and she looked so small and vulnerable that it physically hurt to see her like that.

“Libby?” I called out softly, taking a step into the room.

Before I could get far, Ethan shoved past me, making a beeline for the bed. Without hesitation, he climbed in next to Libby, pulling her into his arms. She immediately latched onto him, burying her face in his chest.

“Shh, it’s okay,” Ethan murmured, his voice taking on a gentleness I’d never heard from him before. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

Libby’s words came out in a jumbled mess between sobs. “The lights... they’re out... I can’t... Ryker... please...”

I stood there, frozen, feeling like an intruder in this intimate moment. It was clear that Ethan knew exactly what to do and how to comfort her. It was equally clear that I had no place here.

As I watched Ethan stroke Libby’s hair, whispering soothing words into her ear, a mix of emotions swirled inside me. Confusion, concern, and a twinge of jealousy. I wanted to be the one comforting her, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t even know what was wrong.

“It’s just a power outage,” Ethan said softly, his eyes meeting mine over Libby’s head. There was a clear message in his gaze: I told you I’d handle this.

I nodded, feeling useless and out of place. “Do you... do you need anything?” I wanted to help in some way.

Ethan shook his head slightly, still cradling Libby against him. “We’re good. Thanks, Leo.”

I couldn’t bring myself to leave, so I stood there, watching as Libby’s sobs gradually subsided into hiccups. It was obvious that this was far more than a fear of the dark.

Ethan scooted down in the bed until they were both lying there entwined in each other’s arms. They settled into the mattress, their bodies intertwined in a way that told me this wasn’t his first time holding her like that.

Before I could second-guess myself, I made a decision. I wasn’t going to give up so easily.

Taking a deep breath, I approached the bed. Ethan’s eyes widened as he realized what I was about to do, but I ignored his warning glare.

I set my phone on the nightstand, the flashlight casting a soft glow across the room.

“Leo, what are you-” Ethan started, but his protest died on his lips as I climbed onto the bed behind Libby.

Her body stiffened as I positioned myself behind her, and for a moment, I worried I’d made a huge mistake. But I was there now, and I had to see this through. “Is this okay?”

“No,” Ethan said firmly, at the exact same moment Libby whispered, “Yes.”

I was unsure of how to proceed. Libby’s body was still rigid against mine, but she hadn’t pushed me away. Ethan, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to throttle me.

The silence that followed was possibly the most awkward I’d ever experienced in my life. I swallowed hard, wondering if I should say something, do something, or get up and leave.

“We didn’t have electricity sometimes when I was younger… and I’d wake up to noises in the middle of the night and it wouldbe so dark…” Libby’s body relaxed, and the movement wedged Ethan’s hand between her back and my bare chest. “Ryker would tell me stories until I fell back asleep.”

I ran a comforting hand down her arm. “Where were your parents?”

“Never knew my dad, and my mom…” She sighed and leaned back into me, uncaring that she was causing Ethan’s arm to rub right against one of my nipples. I could have moved away but didn’t.

“You don’t have to tell me more if it makes you uncomfortable.” I honestly hadn’t expected her to say anything about what had caused her to yell for her brother.

“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable as much as it makes me sad for that little girl and boy… my mom was usually either high or out securing her next fix.” Libby rolled onto her back so she could see me. “I haven’t had a nightmare in a long time, and waking up to my nightlight being out… I thought I was right back in that place.”

I moved some stray strands of hair behind her ear. “The stress from two idiots probably didn’t help.”

“No… it didn’t.” She took my hand, held it to her cheek, and reached for Ethan’s hand. “Thank you.”

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