Ethan stood there, looking at me with his dreamy blue eyes. I had been trying to ignore it.
He sparked something inside me that I feared might consume me if I wasn’t careful. I’d been hurt before and didn’t want to go through that again.
He held my hand and gently guided me towards the dance floor. I thought about protesting and keeping my guard up, but he noticed my hesitation.
His grip was gentle as he slowly tugged me along. I realized there was no point in resisting; he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
As we approached the dance floor, people started to move away, giving us space. It seemed like they respected Ethan, but it made me uncomfortable to have all eyes on us.
Suddenly, Ethan pulled me close, and I ended up pressed against his chest. He held me tight, and it felt like the world around us had stopped.
All I could focus on was him. The sensation was powerful and familiar, reminding me of moments with Logan.
It was both comforting and frightening to feel this way again, especially since I didn’t know if it could lead to anything real with Ethan.
I allowed myself to be swept up in the moment. I tried to focus on the music and the way Ethan moved with me, trying to enjoy the dance
Then suddenly, it hit me: I shouldn’t be getting comfortable like this. Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I looked up at Ethan and said, “Ethan, we shouldn’t be doing this.”
He smiled, seemingly unaffected by my words, and asked, “Doing what? We’re just dancing.” He kept staring into my eyes as if searching for something there.
He was right-we were just dancing. But it felt so right and so wrong at the same time.
His hand moved to my back, rubbing small circles that made my body tingle with sparks.
Goosebumps appeared on my skin, and I shuddered, struggling to come to terms with the overwhelming sensation.
When he leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “Are you okay?” I almost lost control.
I couldn’t trust how my words might come out, so I just nodded, my eyes closed from the effect he was having on me.
As Ethan’s voice and touch filled my senses, my heart raced, and I was torn between wanting to stay in this moment and the fear of what it could lead to.
I tried to remind myself why I had to keep my distance. But here, in Ethan’s arms, it was hard to think clearly.
He made me feel things I hadn’t felt in a long time-things I thought I’d never experience again.
The rational part of me screamed to pull away and protect myself, the battle inside me was intense, and I felt like I was caught in a storm of emotions.
I had to remind myself of the reality I was pregnant, and my focus had to be on protecting my child and sorting out my life.
I couldn’t afford to get caught up in something that could distract me from what mattered.
With my eyes closed, I felt Ethan’s breath near my ear. “Don’t fight it, Nadine. Enjoy the flow of the dance.”
I nodded, but my thoughts were racing. I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be feeling this way. Asher is in trouble. Do I want Ethan to get into trouble too? I can’t let my guard down.
I’ve been hurt too many times to get carried away by just one touch from Ethan. He knows something about me that he’s not telling. These thoughts and more swirled in my mind, making it hard to stay calm.
I noticed my breathing was becoming irregular. I was on the verge of a panic attack, struggling to catch my breath as my heart raced uncontrollably.
As I tried to focus on calming my breathing, Ethan noticed my state.
I stepped back from him, but he moved closer. “Nadine,” he called out softly.
I looked up into his dreamy blue eyes, but I could tell I was feeling dizzy and feared I might faint at any moment.
I felt my legs giving way, and I closed my eyes, bracing for my body to hit the ground. But instead, I felt a strong arm holding me.
As I felt the strong arm supporting me, I tried to gather my thoughts. I was overwhelmed and scared.
I focused on Ethan’s voice, trying to calm myself. “Just breathe, Nadine,” he said gently. My heart was still racing, and I could feel Ethan’s grip tightening slightly.
“Nadine!” he said, shaking me lightly. I could sense the panic in his voice. “What’s wrong with her?” I heard Mason’s voice asking, concerned.
“Call an ambulance!” Ethan barked out the command, and I noticed Mason quickly leaving to follow it.
“Nadine,” he called out my name as my eyes were closed. “Oh my goodness, please stay with me. The ambulance will be here any moment,” he said, with his voice filled with emotion that made my heart ache.
I tried hard to keep my eyes open, fighting the dizziness that was overtaking me, but I could feel myself slipping away from consciousness.
As the darkness started to close in, I focused on Ethan’s voice. I could hear his concern and desperation, but everything felt distant and blurry.
I knew I shouldn’t be in this situation. I had worked so hard to protect myself and my baby, and now here I was, on the verge of losing control.
I was terrified of what might happen if I lost consciousness, and I could only hope that the ambulance would arrive soon.
Before long, Ethan scooped me up into his arms and carried me away from the dance floor in a bridal style. It helped me stay a bit more alert, but the dizziness was still there.
I heard the ambulance siren in the distance. I felt Mason rushing to help
Ethan opened the door as he carried me. The paramedics quickly brought out a stretcher and gently placed me on it.
As I lay on the stretcher, my head was spinning, and I struggled to stay focused. Ethan stayed close, his worried face hovering above me.
I tried to remember what had happened, but my thoughts were jumbled.
I tried to reach out for Ethan’s hand, wanting some comfort in this chaotic moment. His grip was reassuring, but my body felt weak and heavy.
I just hoped that I would be okay and that the paramedics would help me get through this.
“Nadine, please breathe,” was the last thing I heard before darkness took over.
I could faintly hear a voice shouting in grief, “Nadine, please stay with me.” I wanted to move my hand, but it felt too heavy.