The morning sun streamed through the windshield as Ava muttered a curse under her breath, staring at the lifeless dashboard of her car.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she groaned, slamming her hand against the steering wheel.
Of all mornings for her car to give up, it had to be today—when she was already cutting it close to her shift at the hospital.
She stepped out, surveying the hood like she had any idea what to look for. Opening it, she peered inside, but the tangle of wires and metal only deepened her frustration.
“Great. Just great.” She wiped her hands on her skirt and pulled out her phone, dialing her mechanic’s number.
“Come on, pick up,” she muttered, pacing beside the car. The call went straight to voicemail.
Her phone buzzed in her hand, and for a brief second, she thought it was her mechanic returning her call. Instead, it was a messge.
Just then, a sleek black car pulled up beside her, the window rolling down to reveal none other than Ethan Clarke.
“You need a hand, Grant?” he asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Ava sighed, crossing her arms. “Unless you’re secretly a mechanic, I doubt it.”
Ethan stepped out of his car, dressed impeccably as always, his jacket slung casually over one shoulder. “Let me take a look.”
“You don’t have to—” Ava began, but he was already popping the hood and peering inside.
She stood awkwardly to the side, watching as he inspected the engine with surprising confidence.
After a few minutes, he straightened, wiping his hands on a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. “Bad news. It’s not something I can fix here. You’ll need a mechanic.”
Ava groaned, running a hand through her hair. “I figured as much. Thanks for trying.”
“Did you call someone?”
“Yeah, but he didn’t pick up,” she replied, dialing the number again. This time, it connected, and after a brief conversation, she managed to arrange for the mechanic to tow the car. She hid the keys under the driver’s seat and sighed.
“Need a ride?” Ethan asked, leaning casually against the side of his car.
Ava hesitated, her pride warring with practicality. She could call a cab, but that would take time she didn’t have. And as much as she hated to admit it, Ethan was her best option right now.
“Fine,” she said finally, grabbing her bag and climbing into the passenger seat of his car.
“Try not to sound too excited,” Ethan teased as he started the engine.
Ava shot him a look. “Don’t push it, Clarke.”
The car was filled with the faint scent of leather and his cologne—clean, crisp, and undeniably him.
She tried to focus on the road ahead, but Ethan’s presence beside her was impossible to ignore.
“So, do I get a thank you for being your knight in shining armor?” he asked, glancing at her with a mischievous grin.
Ava rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Ethan. There. Happy?”
“Ecstatic,” he replied, his grin widening.
They drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Ethan broke it. “So, Ava, are you seeing anyone?”
The question caught her off guard, and she turned to look at him. “What?”
“You heard me,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road. His tone was casual, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity she couldn’t ignore.
Ava hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Why do you ask?”
Ethan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable. “Just curious.”
Her heart thudded in her chest, the atmosphere in the car shifting. The light banter they’d shared earlier was replaced by something heavier, more charged.
“I’m not,” she said finally, her voice quieter than she intended.
Ethan nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Good to know.”
She frowned, turning to face him fully. “Why does it matter?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled the car to a stop at a red light and turned toward her. His gaze locked with hers, intense and unwavering.
Before Ava could say anything else, he leaned in, closing the distance between them. His lips brushed against hers in a soft, fleeting kiss that left her breathless.
For a moment, she didn’t move, too stunned to react. When he pulled back slightly, their faces still inches apart, he whispered, “I’ve wanted to do that for a while.”
Ava’s heart raced as she searched his eyes, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and something she didn’t want to name. She should be angry, she should say something—but instead, when he leaned in again, she didn’t stop him.
This time, the kiss was deeper, more insistent. His hand cupped her cheek, and she found herself leaning into him despite every logical thought screaming at her to stop.
Finally, she pulled away, her breath coming in short gasps. “Ethan…”
He looked at her, his expression softer than she’d ever seen it. “I’m—”
She didn’t let him finish. Grabbing her bag, she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door and jumped out.