“Is this your idea of an apology?” Ava teased, scanning the menu in front of her.
The restaurant Ethan had picked was charming, with dim lighting casting a warm glow over the wooden tables. The air smelled of freshly baked bread and herbs, and soft jazz played in the background.
Ethan smirked, leaning back in his chair. “I didn’t think you’d settle for pizza, so here we are.”
Ava arched an eyebrow, fighting a smile. “I didn’t peg you for someone who’d care about impressing me.”
“Who says I’m trying to impress you?” he countered, his voice teasing yet laced with something more.
She put the menu down and met his gaze. “This whole ‘charming dinner’ routine? It’s not fooling me.”
Ethan chuckled, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at her. “Maybe I just wanted to see you outside the chaos of the clinic. You’re a little less intimidating without a clipboard in your hand.”
Ava couldn’t help but laugh. “And you’re just as infuriating without a patient to distract you.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said with a wink.
Their banter continued even as their meals arrived. Ava found herself relaxing, something about the easy flow of conversation melting the usual tension between them.
Ethan, to her surprise, was not the one-dimensional flirt she had assumed him to be.
“So,” Ava said, breaking a brief lull in the conversation, “you never answered my question earlier. Why did you even volunteer for this outreach? It doesn’t exactly scream ‘Ethan Clarke.’”
Ethan paused, cutting into his steak with deliberate precision. “Blair thought it’d be good for me.”
“Blair?” Ava repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“She’s always saying I need to ‘give back’ more,” he explained with a hint of sarcasm, though his tone softened. “She’s annoyingly right most of the time.”
Ava tilted her head, studying him. “So, you’re here because Blaire guilt-tripped you?”
“Not exactly,” Ethan admitted, leaning forward slightly. “I mean, sure, it started like that. But…” He hesitated, glancing away for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to do something meaningful for once.”
Ava wasn’t sure how to respond to that. She wasn’t used to seeing this side of Ethan—vulnerable, almost sincere.
“Well, I guess it’s nice to know you have a heart in there somewhere,” she said, her tone light to mask the odd flutter in her chest.
He smirked, leaning back in his chair.
Their conversation steered toward lighter topics. Ethan shared amusing anecdotes about his time in medical school, and Ava found herself laughing more than she had in weeks.
She even shared a story or two of her own, surprising herself with how easily she opened up around him.
As they finished their meals, Ethan leaned forward, his expression turning more serious. “You know, I’ve never really seen anyone work as hard as you do. It’s... impressive.”
Ava blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. “Uh, thank you.”
“I mean it,” he continued, his voice softer now. “You run that hospital like it’s your personal mission to save the world. Most people would’ve burned out by now, but you just keep going.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not used to being on the receiving end of such genuine praise. “It’s not about me. It’s about the patients. They deserve someone who cares.”
“And you care more than anyone I’ve ever met,” Ethan said, his gaze steady.
Ava felt her cheeks warm under his scrutiny, and she quickly reached for her glass of water to distract herself. “You’re full of surprises tonight, aren’t you?”
“Just wait,” he replied, his smirk returning.
After settling the bill—despite Ava’s protests that she could pay for her own meal—they stood to leave.
As Ava reached for her bag, the strap snagged on the back of the chair. Before she could steady herself, she stumbled, her balance giving way.
Strong hands caught her just before she hit the ground.
“Careful,” Ethan murmured, his voice low and steady as he helped her upright.
Ava looked up, her breath catching as she found herself mere inches from his face. His hands lingered on her arms, firm and reassuring, and the warmth of his touch sent an unexpected shiver down her spine.
“I… I’m fine,” she stammered, stepping back as quickly as she could.
Ethan’s hands fell away, but his gaze remained locked on hers, unreadable. The space between them felt charged, the air heavy with something unspoken.
“Good,” he said finally, his voice softer than before.
They stood there in silence, neither of them sure what to say. The bustling noise of the restaurant seemed to fade, leaving only the sound of their own breathing.
Ava was the first to break the moment, her voice quieter than usual. “I should get going.”
“Yeah,” Ethan agreed, though he didn’t move right away. His eyes lingered on her for a beat longer, as if he wanted to say something else but thought better of it. “See you tomorrow.”
She nodded, clutching her bag a little tighter as she turned toward the door.