Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 145

Elena: POV

Ethan set the glass down with a soft clink. “Alright,” he said, rolling up his sleeves. Let s fix that window frame.”

Oh, hell no.

I stepped forward, hand already raised. “You really don’t have to=”

‘Elena. He cut me off, that easy smile still in place. “It’s fine. I want to.”

‘But I can just call someone—”

“And wait two weeks for them to show up?” He moved toward the window, examining the rotting wood. “This needs fixing now. It’s a safety issue.

I opened my mouth to argue, but he was already pulling tools from the small kit Mom kept under the sink.

“Seriously, Ethan.” I tried again. “You’re a guest. You shouldn’t have to-

+

“I’m your boyfriend, remember?” He glanced over his shoulder, eyebrow raised. At least, that’s what we’re selling. And boyfriends fis broken shit.”

The casual way he said it-like this was normal, like we did this all the time-made my chest tight.

“Besides,” he continued, testing the door handle, this thing’s about to fall off. Your mom could get hurt.”

And that was the sentence that killed my protest.

Because he’s right. And I hate that he’s right.

쿠

From the kitchen, Mom called out, “Everything okay out there?”

“Perfect, Mrs. Vance!” Ethan shouted back, all sunshine and charm. Then, quieter, to me: “Relax. It’s just a door handle. Not a marriage proposal.”

Not funny.

But the corner of my mouth twitched anyway.

“Here.’ Ethan handed me a screwdriver. “Hold this while I remove the old screws.

I took it, fingers brushing his.

He didn’t pull away immediately-just a beat too long-

Accident Has to be

1

I positioned myself next to him, close enough to hand over tools but far enough to maintain some kind of bounders.

3:09 pm

Chapter 145

MA

Can cry-held the frame steady? he asked, already prying at the loose wond.

I pressed my paim against it.

His hand covered mine. “Like this,” he murmured, adjusting my grip.

Our fingers interlocked for half a second.

Then he pulled away, clearing his throat.

Just helping. That’s all.

We worked in silence for a few minutes-me handing him tools, him muttering about wood rot and structural integrity like some kind of handyman savant

“How do you even know how to do this?” I asked, watching him measure angles with practiced ease.

YouTube.” He didn’t look up. “And a lot of trial and error in my first apartment.

2

“You lived in a shithole?”

“The shittiest. He grinned. “Roaches the size of my fist. Landlord who thought repairs meant duct tape and prayers.”

I snorted. “Sounds like my dorm.”

“Parsons housing?”

L

==

“Student loans didn’t cover the nice dorms.”

=

Something shifted in his expression-softer, almost sad.

Don’t. Don’t look at me like that.

I focused on the screwdriver in my hand.

“Can you tilt this toward me?” He gestured at the frame.

I leaned in.

So did he

Our shoulders touched.

“Sorry,” he said immediately, voice low. “Tight space.”

But he didn’t move away.

Neither did I.

།

3:09 pm

Chapter 145-

M

There. Ethan stepped back, admiring his work. “Window frames stable. Door handle’s solid. Your mom’s officially safer.

I tested the handle. It didn’t wobble.

Damn. He’s actually good at this.

From the kitchen doorway, Mom appeared, hands clasped together. “Oh, Ethan! You didn’t have to do all this.”

“Of course I did. He flashed that smile the one that probably made undergrads forget their own names. “Can’t have my future mother-in-law living in a house that’s falling apart.

Future mother-in-law.

The words hit like a slap.

Mom’s face lit up-pure joy, unfiltered hope.

And I couldn’t.

I couldn t take that away from her.

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IAMA

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