Page 60 of Unfolding Ethan

Eveline squealed as soon as I took her in my arms. Her tiny, chubby, and soft arms clutched my T-shirt. I pecked her blond curls, her baby smell wafting in my nose, and smiled down at her.

“I missed you too, Evey.”

“She really did. We could barely calm her after the video call,” Mom said and leaned on her toes to hug me. “How were you?”

Helen, my ma, chuckled, kissing my cheek, and I reddened. “I was fine, Mom.”More than fine, actually.

“Looks like Kiara took really good care of you.” They smirked and Eveline started patting my jaw, babbling in her small voice.

I didn't miss a beat. “Yes, she did.” I blushed and stuttered, “U-uh, I mean, the lunch was pretty good.”

And so was the dessert.

They grinned at my nervousness and after feeding Eveline in my lap, I took her to her nursery room, telling her a story until she fell asleep in her crib. Kissing her cheek for the last time, I adjusted her blankets and walked in the kitchen, clearing my throat because my mothers were flirting with each other.

They asked me about the first day of school, studies, my swim training, how my friends were doing, especially Kiara. I helped cooking the dinner, talking to them about Aunt and her sons but apparently,bothof my heads were somewhere else.

I had to keep my mind from wandering toward Kiara.

???

Later that night, I completed my assignments and organized my clothes for tomorrow morning with my swim duffle bag. I couldn't sleep. I tried counting sheep, crows, and cows, which didn't work. So, I started thinking about Kiara and how many times I had made her come, screaming my name.

Which didn't help me at all. It washarderto sleep now.

I heard the shuffling near my window. I grinned, knowing well who it’d be. I sat up and saw Kiara shuffle through my curtains and walk toward my bed. I turned on the nightstand lamp and gazed at her. She was only wearing a large gray T-shirt and nothing else.Jesus.

“Hi,” Kiara whispered, closing her eyes and standing between my legs. She leaned closer, her cold hands cupping my jaw, making me shiver.

My arms instantly wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, and kissed her cheek. “Hi. Can't sleep?” I murmured, groaning when her hands feathered my hair.

“I slept the whole afternoon and—"

I stopped, looking at her eyes for the first time since she entered my room. They were red and swollen, glistening with tears.

“Were you crying?” I asked, my voice hard.

Kiara froze and looked away, shaking her head. “It's nothing, Ethan. Don't worry.” Her voice was small and hoarse as if she had been crying for a while.

Why didn’t I notice that before?

I gently touched her cheek and made her look at me. “It’snotnothing. Your eyes are red. What happened? And don't you dare lie to me.”

“I am telling you, it's nothing and none of your business.”

My arms tightened around her. “Itismy business if you are in it.” I asked with a soft voice, my fingers brushing her cheek, “What happened, Bella?”

She finally met my eyes and hugged me. A sob pierced from her throat as her arms around my neck tightened. My throat clogged hearing the crack in her voice and I hugged her back.

“Hey, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to.”

I felt like shit making her cry.

“Rachel broke up with Karan,” Kia sniffled, hiding her face in the crook of my neck, and I sighed in relief.

Rachel was Karan’s girlfriend for over three years and for everyone they were theitcouple. Kiara was close to both of them and I knew she took it pretty hard.

After she stopped crying, she told me that her brother cried while telling her that. Kiara cried when Karan hid his face, crying in his sister's lap. As I said before, Kiara would cry with you if you're important to her.Like she did for me. And this time, it was her own brother.

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