Chapter 45: A Goodnight Kiss

Words : 1091 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 45: A Goodnight Kiss Ethan leaned back, letting them snuggle in as the ghost on-screen tried to possess a vacuum cleaner while yodeling. Evelyn wiped her eyes, still laughing softly. "I’ve seen simulation training scenarios scarier than this." Everly shook her head. "I thought I was going to scream... instead, I nearly choked from laughing." The girls leaned into Ethan more with each ridiculous scene, and he didn’t mind one bit. Their warmth pressed against him was soothing. Familiar. Comfortable. At one point, Evelyn whispered, "You’re really warm, you know that?" "Probably the jacket you made me wear," Ethan replied with a quiet grin. She gave a small smile. "Worth every credit." The nonsense on the screen just kept going. The final scene was supposed to be serious—some ancient summoning circle, glowing lights, dramatic music—but it ended with a possessed chef throwing soup at a ghost who was screaming about expired spices. When the credits rolled, Everly groaned and let her head fall back against the seat. "Okay. That was awful." "A wonderfully awful experience," Evelyn said through a light chuckle. Ethan stretched his arms across the back of their seats. "So... horror night was a success?" "I’m never picking another scary movie again," Everly muttered. "You say that now," Ethan said, smirking. "But deep down, I think you enjoyed every second of it." "I thought I was signing up for nightmares and tension," she said. "Instead, I watched a ghost argue with a talking mirror over who had the better hairstyle." Evelyn patted his chest gently. "Still. We haven’t laughed like that in a while." Ethan nodded. "Yeah... it was fun." They stood up and gathered their things, stepping out into the mall’s soft lighting. Most of the stores had closed. Only a few people lingered here and there, chatting quietly or heading out. The atmosphere had shifted. It wasn’t loud or crowded anymore. It felt calm. Like the last part of a good day. As they walked across the quiet parking lot, Ethan glanced at the twins. They looked tired—but in a good way. Evelyn yawned, her eyes half-lidded as she leaned slightly against him. "Where to now?" he asked. "Home," she answered without hesitation. "I want a hot shower and something fluffy to wrap myself in." "I second that," Everly said, stretching her arms overhead. "I’m too full and too tired to do anything else." Ethan unlocked the car and opened the doors for them. They slid into the seats, and he got in, starting the engine. The drive back was quiet. No music. Just the low hum of the car and the gentle night breeze slipping past the windows. Evelyn rested her head against the window, eyes closed. Everly leaned back with a soft sigh, staring out at the stars overhead. Ethan didn’t say much on the drive back. He didn’t need to. The quiet between them wasn’t awkward—it was the kind that followed a day well spent. The hum of the car, the gentle breeze through the windows, and the faint lights of the city in the distance were all they needed. When they finally pulled up outside the twins’ place, the soft porch lights lit the front steps, casting a warm glow against the door. Evelyn slowly sat up from the passenger seat and looked over at him. "Thanks for today." "Yeah," Everly added from the backseat. "We had a really good time." Ethan gave them both a small smile. "Yeah. Me too." No fancy words. Just honest ones. They got out of the car together and walked up to the front door. The quiet of the neighborhood settled around them. There were no other sounds—just the gentle rustle of trees and the distant hum of a passing cruiser in the sky. Ethan stopped near the steps while the twins moved ahead toward the door. Neither of them seemed in a rush to go inside. Everly turned around first, her arms folded loosely as she leaned against the wall beside the door. "You better text us tomorrow." Evelyn glanced over her shoulder, smirking. "Or just show up again. You’re always welcome." Ethan chuckled. "You two make it hard to stay away." They all stood there for a moment. No one moved. The cool night air brushed lightly across their skin, and for once, none of them felt like breaking the silence just to fill space. There was something still lingering in the air—something unsaid but clearly felt. Then Ethan took a small step forward. "Close your eyes," he said, his voice soft but clear. The twins blinked. "Why?" Everly asked, tilting her head with a cautious smile. "Just trust me." The tone in his voice was calm—not teasing, not dramatic. Just real. Evelyn raised a brow, but her lips curved slightly. "Alright..." Everly let out a quiet breath, then nodded. They both slowly closed their eyes, standing still in front of him. Ethan stepped up, his heart steady but warm. He leaned in first to Everly and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. It was quick—gentle and respectful—but warm enough to make her catch her breath a little. Then he turned to Evelyn and kissed her the same way. Soft, simple, but full of meaning. He stepped back before either of them could say anything. "Goodnight," he said with a small smile. Then he walked to his car, opened the door, and got in. The engine started with a quiet hum, filling the calm night air. Before driving off, he looked back at them one last time. And as soon as he kissed them, their eyes slowly opened wide with surprise. They hadn’t moved, still standing there with slightly parted lips, too shocked to respond. Ethan gave them a small wave before pulling away. The headlights lit up the road, and the red glow of his taillights slowly disappeared into the distance. The twins were still standing on the porch. Everly gently touched her lips, her cheeks pink. "He really just did that..." Evelyn let out a quiet breath and smiled. "Yeah. He really did." The air felt lighter somehow. Like something special had just happened. They stayed there for a few more seconds, not saying anything, just thinking about it. Then Evelyn turned and unlocked the door. "Come on," she said softly. Everly nodded, still smiling a little as she followed her inside. The door closed with a soft click behind them. And even though the night moved on... that little moment would stay with them for a long time.

Chapter 45: A Goodnight Kiss

Comments (0)