Chapter 5
The next morning, I stared at my reflection – messy hair, tired eyes, and a brain full of questions that needed answers.
I need to test this. See how he acts when we're not alone.
Tonight's company dinner would be perfect. I'd watch him carefully – his thoughts, his actions, how he treated me when others were watching.
"Elena? Everything okay? You're up early." Ethan's voice came through the bathroom door.
"Just excited for tonight," I called back.
She sounds different... hope she's not getting cold feet...
Cold feet? Oh honey, I'm just getting started.
By six PM, I was standing in front of my mirror, trying on my third dress. Ethan's quarterly company dinner was a big deal, and I was spiraling about making a good impression.
"Elena, you almost ready?" Ethan called from the living room, and I caught his nervous thought: Hope she likes the dress I bought... want her to feel confident...
Wait, what dress?
I opened the closet and found a stunning black evening dress I'd never seen before, price tag still attached. It was exactly my size, exactly my style.
He bought this for me.
The dress fit perfectly, like it was made for me. When I emerged from the bedroom, Ethan froze mid-adjusting his tie.
She's stunning... how did I get so lucky... fake or not, she's mine tonight...
"Do I look okay?" I asked, deliberately triggering his connection response. "I don't want to embarrass you at your company dinner."
The words tumbled out of him: "You're the most beautiful woman in the room, you always were."
He immediately turned red. "I mean... you'll be the most beautiful woman there."
Always were? When did he think that before?
The restaurant was exactly the kind of upscale place where tech executives celebrated quarterly profits. Ethan introduced me to everyone as "my wife Elena," and I could feel the genuine pride in his voice.
His colleagues were impressive and welcoming, asking intelligent questions about my research. Through it all, I heard Ethan's constant mental commentary: They love her... of course they do, she's amazing...
"Ethan's been talking about you for years," David, his business partner, said with a grin. "We thought you were mythical."
I looked at Ethan, confused. He laughed uncomfortably.
Jennifer, a colleague, leaned over. "You're so lucky, Elena. Ethan never brings anyone to company events."
Because there's never been anyone else... only her...
Throughout dinner, Ethan's small gestures were completely natural – pouring my water, adjusting my chair, making sure I had everything I needed. His thoughts provided a running stream of observations: She's enjoying the salmon... laughing at David's terrible jokes... fits in perfectly...
When the CEO asked about our marriage, Ethan answered without hesitation: "Best decision I ever made."
Truest thing I've ever said... even if she doesn't know it...
In the Uber home, Ethan was relaxed from wine, leaning against me in the back seat. I could feel his warmth, hear his unfiltered thoughts drifting through my mind.
"You were perfect tonight," he said, his head dropping to my shoulder.
Want to hold her... she smells like vanilla... just like in organic chemistry class...
I tensed. "Organic chemistry?"
Ethan smiled, eyes still closed. "You sat two rows ahead of me. Always wore that yellow sweater on Tuesdays."
He remembered that? It was four years ago.
"I used to time my coffee breaks with yours," he confessed quietly. "Pretended it was coincidence."
All those "coincidental" meetings...
"And the library. I switched study spots to be near you."
His thoughts leaked through his lowered defenses: "Pathetic, right? Following you around like a lost puppy..."
You weren't pathetic, I thought, looking at his vulnerable expression. You were sweet.
Back at the apartment, I helped him out of his suit jacket, the domestic intimacy making my heart race.
Ethan caught my hand. "Elena... can I tell you something?"
My breathing stopped. His thoughts were crystal clear: Tell her everything... four years of loving her...
But then his rational mind kicked in. "Never mind. I should sleep."
I watched him disappear into his room, processing everything I'd learned tonight.
He's been thinking about me all this time... those weren't coincidences...
Suddenly, college memories flooded back with new meaning.
MIT, four years ago. I was struggling with thermodynamics in the library when Ethan "accidentally" sat at a nearby table, offering help. Now I realized – his major didn't require any of the books he pretended to read.
The campus coffee shop, where he always seemed to appear when I was there. I'd thought it was friendly coincidence.
Friendly? He was courting me and I was completely oblivious.
All those sweet moments I'd dismissed as casual friendliness had been carefully orchestrated by a boy who was too nervous to just ask me out.
I looked at my wedding ring, emotions swirling. What if Maya is right? What if this isn't fake for either of us anymore?
Sleep was impossible. I got up for water, my mind still racing with tonight's discoveries.
That's when I heard Ethan's voice through his bedroom door, on another late-night call with David.
"...I know it sounds crazy, but what if she's starting to care? Tonight felt different..."
David's voice was faint but audible: "Dude, you've been planning this since graduation. Maybe it's time to tell her the truth."
Planning this since graduation? What truth?
Then Ethan's voice, quiet and raw: "I can't risk it, David. If she knows I've been in love with her this whole time, she'll run. The research gives me time to make her fall for me too."
I slid down the wall, hand over my mouth.
The pieces clicked into place – the convenient timing of his proposal, the perfect apartment, the dress that fit like a dream. Everything had been carefully planned by a man who'd been carrying a torch for four years.
Oh my God, Ethan. What have you done? And why does my heart feel like it's about to explode?