"Netflix and chill?"

    Lila''s voice was soft, almost questioning, as she repeated Ethan''s words from earlier.

    Ethan nodded casually, stretching his arms above his head. "Yeah, I''ve got some new movies I''ve been meaning to watch."

    Lila''s cheeks immediately lit up.

    Her mind whirled as she recalled a conversation with her roommate, who had practically drilled it into her head that "Netflix and chill" was usually code for... well, certain activities in bed.

    Her fingers curled slightly, and she hesitated for a moment, glancing at Ethan.

    He, however, seemed completely unaware of her inner turmoil, too busy kicking off his shoes and making his way toward the kitchen.

    "Want something to drink?" he asked over his shoulder.

    Lila blinked, her heart still racing from her own thoughts. "Uh — sure!"

    Ethan chuckled. "Relax, you look like I just told you we''re about to fight for our lives."

    She forced out a nervous laugh, following him as he disappeared into the kitchen.

    The spacious area was sleek and modern, just like the rest of his home, with black marble countertops and state-of-the-art appliances.

    It was the kind of kitchen that seemed designed more for show than actual use, but the way Ethan moved around told her he was no stranger to it.

    Lila watched as he casually opened the fridge, grabbing a couple of sodas before moving toward the pantry.

    "You like popcorn?" he asked, glancing at her.

    She nodded quickly, happy for the distraction. "Of course! Who doesn''t?"

    "Good, because I make the best popcorn," he said with a smirk, pulling out a bag of kernels and tossing it onto the counter.

    Lila raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what makes your popcorn the best?"

    Ethan leaned against the counter, pretending to ponder her question. "Secret ingredient," he finally said.

    "Let me guess — extra butter?"

    He scoffed. "That''s the obvious part. The real trick is a pinch of brown sugar."

    Lila tilted her head, intrigued. "Sweet popcorn?"

    "Trust me."

    She gave him a skeptical look but stepped closer. "Alright, then I''m helping."

    The dark ambiance of the thriller quickly set in, drawing them both into the story.

    But Lila''s mind wasn''t entirely on the movie.

    She was hyper-aware of Ethan sitting beside her — the way his arm rested casually along the back of the couch, the way his breathing was steady and relaxed.

    Every now and then, he would reach for the popcorn, and their hands would brush, sending a tiny jolt through her.

    She was overthinking again.

    Clearing her throat, she forced herself to focus on the movie.

    But then — BAM!

    A sudden jump scare sent her flinching, instinctively gripping Ethan''s arm.

    He froze for a second before looking at her, a slow smirk creeping onto his face.

    "Scared?"

    Lila quickly let go, crossing her arms. "No!"

    Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You literally just grabbed me."

    "That was just — uh — muscle reflex!"

    He chuckled. "Sure, Lila. Whatever you say."

    She huffed, grabbing some popcorn and shoving it into her mouth to avoid further embarrassment.

    The movie continued, and despite her best efforts, Lila found herself getting more and more immersed.

    By the time it reached the climax, she wasn''t even thinking about anything else — just the tension, the mystery, the unraveling story.

    And Ethan, despite all his teasing, hadn''t made any moves.

    Lila had been worried for nothing.

    When the movie finally ended, Ethan stretched with a satisfied sigh. "Damn, that was actually good."

    Lila nodded. "Yeah... I really liked it."

    Ethan turned to her, his expression softening. "Glad you stayed."

    She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden sincerity in his voice. A small smile crept onto her lips. "Me too."

    Ethan yawned. "Alright, it''s late. You wanna crash here or should I take you home?"

    Lila hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "I''ll stay here for the night."