16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
“You two are killing it! Slay, sister! Slay!” Kaylor’s voice burst through the phone with the kind of high-octane energy that made Paige wince.
She pulled the device away from her ear and turned down the volume.
“Honestly, I’m wondering if you’re actually dating.
That video of you and Ethan locking lips on the escalator? Sick.”
“Sick?” Paige crossed the busy street, shuffling along with a group of pedestrians through the crosswalk. “Like . . . disgusting?”
“No! Sick, as in amazing .” Kaylor gave a theatrical sigh. “You two looked like you were about to sneak off for a tryst in the archives.”
“Well, we didn’t,” Paige said flatly. Though I wouldn’t have minded.
But Ethan had gone quiet later that day—he was more reserved, like he’d retreated into himself.
After she came back with coffee, he hadn’t flirted, hadn’t lingered close as he usually did.
Instead, he’d buried himself in books while she wrote.
And he hadn’t texted her later in the evening either, like they had been.
“Well, could’ve fooled me.” Kaylor’s voice snapped her back. “Whatever you’re doing, keep it up . Pre-orders are exploding! This book might actually hit the New York Times list. It’s all anyone at the office is talking about. This is bound to get me a promotion.”
The news of the pre-orders should’ve sent Paige dancing down the sidewalk. She was excited about the growing buzz of their book. No doubt about that. But Ethan’s quiet distance was weighing on her. “That’s great,” she said, though her tone didn’t match the words.
Kaylor didn’t notice. “Now everyone’s obsessed with the clue hunt. It’s viral. People think they can crack it themselves. Even Ethan’s ex commented on one post— OMG, it’s a dream! ”
Paige’s stomach clenched. She’d seen it too.
Tatiana had replied to the escalator kiss video with, Didn’t take you long to move on, and tagged Ethan.
Her comment shot to the top, pulling in likes and side-eye emojis.
Paige had scrolled through the replies, torturing herself with the crazy commentary from internet trolls.
She also glanced through, looking for a response from Ethan, even though she didn’t want to find one.
He hadn’t replied. Yet.
The attention had helped the book, sure.
But it had also carved doubt into her brain.
Was Ethan truly over Tatiana? If she reached out, would he reply?
Go back to her? After all, they’d seemed crazy about each other on Survivor .
At least, until the end. And Tatiana was Hollywood beautiful.
Her wheat-blonde hair and perfect curves were the exact opposite of Paige.
“Kaylor,” Paige started, wanting to shift the subject to her own books, a topic that would take her mind off Ethan and her doubts.
“I have something I want to run by you about Love, Lies & Alibis . I’m working on a bonus chapter for the last book, explaining why I killed Hans.
I think we should do a re-release with the bonus chapter included. ”
“Really? Hmm. Send it my way.” Kaylor sounded interested. “I’ll take a look. That might be possible with all the attention you’re getting right now. Maybe even do a special edition.”
Paige smiled, finally feeling some relief. “I’ll email it to you by the end of the weekend.”
“Perfect. Now go kiss your fake boyfriend a few more times at the library. Preferably in front of a camera.” Kaylor laughed. “We want a museum kiss next! In front of the exhibit!”
Paige rolled her eyes, ending the call just as she reached the bagel shop down the block from the library. There, like he had the last few mornings, Ethan waited with a to-go bag in hand.
“Morning,” Paige said, trying to keep her tone light as she approached. “Did they have our favorite again? Apple Cinnamon?”
Ethan handed her the bag with a quiet smile. “They did. And I got you the brown sugar cream cheese. I know better than to mess with your breakfast carbs.”
His words were playful. But the warmth behind them? Missing. Like someone had dimmed his light. She didn’t like it one bit.
“Thanks.” Paige tucked the bag in her messenger bag. She studied his face as they walked side by side toward the library. The concrete beneath her sneakers was much steadier than the swirling thoughts in her head. Is he just tired? Or is it me? What is going on? “Breakfast is on me tomorrow.”
He nodded, and they walked in silence. Paige wanted to ask what was wrong, but before she could, they stepped through the front doors of the library and stopped short.
It looked very different from yesterday.
The library was buzzing . People milled around the main floor like they were waiting to be let into a concert.
Cell phones suddenly whipped out of pockets.
Chatter started. There was pointing. Eyes followed them, and then they were being encircled.
A group of teenage girls called Ethan’s name loudly before immediately turning and snapping selfies. “Are you going to kiss her on the escalator again?” one said, and then breathlessly added, “So sexy!”
From the opposite direction, a man eagerly asked, “You guys here to look for the next clue? Where do you think it’s hidden?”
“Yeah, tell us!” a few people in the crowd piped up.
Paige’s feet anchored to the ground, and she was suddenly feeling like a trapped animal, but Ethan took hold of her arm and broke her free. He guided her through the chaos.
“We’re just here to work,” he said, waving a hand, dismissing the endless questions.
As they neared the escalator and got on, Ethan put himself between Paige and the crowd that followed them.
Camera flashes continued, but Paige was more concerned about the way people were shouting questions about the clue and the necklace.
Their stares bored right through her, like all they cared about was the treasure.
Ethan’s jaw tightened. He still had a hand on her arm, protective. “We should get out of here.”
Paige leaned into him. “Yeah, I don’t think we’re going to get a lot of writing done here today.” She scanned the packed escalator behind him. Most were staring at her like hungry wolves. “I guess going viral has a downside.”
“When we get to the top, follow me. Quickly.” His voice was low, guarded. Her eyes flicked to his.
“Like run?” Paige jested, but Ethan’s quick nod gave her a dose of reality. “Really?”
“Yes,” Ethan replied, and she didn’t have time to press further. They hit the top of the escalator, and he launched into a sprint. Paige followed.
She clutched her bag as she ran after Ethan down a quiet hallway.
Behind them, teenage girls squealed in delight.
Their heels clicked across the marble floor as they scrambled to follow, and Paige was grateful for their poor footwear choices.
Their high-heeled sandals allowed Ethan and her to get a good head start.
“This way,” he said, glancing back, and his speed impressed Paige.
She could barely keep up with his long stride, but at the end of the hallway, he slowed to tug open a heavy, unmarked door.
It opened to a stairwell. They scrambled through and the metal door clanged shut behind them, muffling the chaos.
Ethan didn’t hesitate. He took the stairs up, two at a time, and Paige followed, the breath hot in her throat.
On the next landing, he opened another door and peeked through before waving her forward.
They slipped into a forgotten room full of historical archives and dusty encyclopedias, a place they had been a few days prior, looking for the clue. Thankfully, there wasn’t a soul in sight.
Ethan grabbed her hand and pulled her into a quiet jog, down one of the towering aisles, books looming high above them, like silent witnesses.
At the end of the row, a narrow gap came into view.
Between the last shelf and the wall, there was a hidden nook just big enough for two people to disappear into.
Ethan tugged her into the shadows, and suddenly they stood chest-to-chest.
Paige’s back pressed against the wooden shelf, the cool grain grounding her for a second—until Ethan inched closer.
Her heart already raced from the run, but Ethan’s proximity jolted it.
It nearly landed in her throat as his hand came to rest on the bookshelf beside her head.
His other took hold of her waist, caging her in.
Ethan leaned in, breathless, listening, encircling her with his powerful presence and intoxicating scent.
Her heartbeat echoed through the tight nook, especially as the giggling girls burst through the door and bound down the aisle like dogs on a chase.
Even though she was still breathing hard, Paige held her breath as they clip-clopped right past their hiding spot.
A few stragglers followed and when the room finally went silent again, Paige let out a whooshing breath.
Ethan stilled. “I think we lost them,” he whispered, his voice low and warm against her cheek.
She nodded, but her brain wasn’t processing words. Not when he eased back to look her straight in the eyes. Not with the way his eyes flicked to her lips, or how his thumb absentmindedly brushed her hip. Every inch of her wanted to lean in and close the small space between them.
Kiss me, already, her insides screamed, and Paige thought Ethan might’ve heard her proclamation, because his sky-blue gaze locked on hers, bright and brilliant.
And for a moment—a few electric seconds—she thought he might take hold of her, kiss her, and steal the last of her breath.
And she knew in the deepest, most foolish part of her heart that if he kissed her right now, she was going to fall for him.
No hesitation.
No safety net.
Maybe she already had?
But then Ethan blinked, and the heat in his eyes faded away. His grip on her waist loosened. Slowly, carefully, he let his hand fall away, like she was something fragile. Breakable.
Paige inhaled sharply, the air burning her lungs. The moment shattered, leaving only silence—and her own spiraling thoughts.
What just happened?
“We should stay here for a bit,” Ethan said after a beat, like he hadn’t just almost devoured her. “Make sure no one else followed.”
“Yeah.” Her voice came out quieter than she intended, barely audible above her hammering pulse.
Breaking out of her stupor, Paige wrapped her arms around herself like that might hold the pieces together.
Because this wasn’t just about a kiss. It was about the man standing in front of her.
The wit and smarts behind his soulful eyes.
The flashes of vulnerability that came with each touch.
The space he made for her, where she felt safe.
She wanted that . . . for herself. She wanted that . . . for certain.
But as those thoughts settled with her, something sharp lodged in her chest. Was she feeling a connection he wasn’t? Because here and now—this was just for them. No cameras. No audience. And he’d pulled away.
He could’ve kissed her. If he wanted to.
Maybe I read him all wrong. Maybe . . .
“I was afraid of this,” Ethan murmured, breaking the silence.
She blinked, stunned. “Of . . . this?” She motioned vaguely between them, her heart already bracing for the answer.
His eyes darkened, and she instantly regretted saying anything. Why had she done that? Why did she always speak before she thought about her words?
“I—” He looked away, jaw flexing. “I meant, I was afraid the hunt would get out of control. That the wrong people would try to track down the necklace.”
“Oh.” Her mouth went dry. She nodded once, fast, like she could shake off the weight of her own stupidity. Of course. That’s what he meant. Not this. Not us.
“I don’t want to put you in danger,” he added, his gaze meeting hers again. “Ever.”
Her breath caught. His tone was serious. Protective. But it wasn’t the answer she wanted.
Ethan leaned in. Not touching. Just looking. His hand was still braced beside her head, like a tether keeping him close, and she arched toward him.
“Maybe we should lie low for a few days,” he said slowly, voice low, and it sucked the wind from her sails. “Until the attention dies down.”
Paige’s pulse stumbled. She deflated. “Take a break?” she asked, wanting anything but that.
He nodded. “From the library and the clue hunt. Just for a few days.” He gave a tight smile. “Might help the writing, too.”
Help the writing? How would that help? And what about us? Paige wanted to blurt her questions. Instead, she offered a quiet, “Sure.”
Ethan shifted back. The space between them widened and filled with an echoing silence.
Paige dipped her gaze and instantly slipped out of the nook, disappointment settling in her stomach.
Maybe she’d fallen for a story she’d made up in her head.
Had she gotten lost in the idea of happily-ever-after?
Because those only seemed to happen—for her—in her writing.