Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 107: Peace

Rayna unlocked the front door, still faintly smiling as she stepped inside. The warmth of the evening lingered in her skin, in the soft fluttering in her chest, in the memory of Ethan’s touch—so gentle, so deliberate—as he’d tucked that stray hair behind her ear.

She sighed quietly and leaned against the door after closing it, kicking off her heels with a soft groan of relief. Her heart still hadn’t slowed down, and it wasn’t from the walking. It was something else. Something headier, lighter. Something she hadn’t let herself feel in a very long time.

"Finally."

Rayna jumped, her eyes flying to the couch where Ruby sat cross-legged with a bowl of popcorn in her lap, wrapped in a throw blanket like a late-night gossip fairy waiting to strike.

"Ruby!" Rayna pressed a hand to her chest. "You scared me! I thought you would already be asleep."

Ruby grinned impishly. "Please. As if I could sleep knowing my best friend was out on a date with her ’Mr. Ethan’ after vanishing for two hours."

Rayna chuckled, kicking the shoes farther into the corner before making her way toward Ruby. "It wasn’t two hours."

"It was three and a half, thank you very much. You left at seven. It’s past ten-thirty."

Rayna sat on the armrest beside her sister-friend, tossing her bag onto the nearby armchair and reaching into the popcorn bowl without asking. "What are you, my parole officer?"

"Nope. Just the girl who had to sit here replaying the last five years of Grey’s Anatomy to stop imagining you locked in a trunk or spiraled at the back seat of your car, smashing him," Ruby quipped, then narrowed her eyes teasingly. "So... how was it?"

Rayna popped a piece of popcorn in her mouth, chewing slowly and pretending to be bored. "It was fine."

Ruby’s brows shot up. "Fine? That’s all I’m getting after waiting this long?"

Rayna sighed, tilting her head back and letting her hair fall behind her shoulders. "Okay. It was better than fine."

Ruby squealed, setting her bowl aside. "Now we’re talking! I want details. The good kind. What was he wearing? Did he pull your chair out? Did he pay or go dutch like a villain?"

laughed, the sound genuine and bubbling. "Slow

Ruby was interested in the details. Atleast

now, or I will go full

eyes, though a smile was playing at the corners of her mouth. "Alright, alright. He was already there when I walked in. Wearing this white

a rolled sleeve. It screams effort

"Let me

zipping her lips and gestured for her to

me when he saw me. Like... like he was really happy I showed up. Not just because he expected it, but like he was

how did that make you feel?"

shrugged, softer now. "Warm. Seen. Nervous. All at

and Ruby’s teasing faded into

you feel safe with

work, life, childhood... stupid stuff like cereal being the height of adulthood. And he laughed, Rubes. Not

exactly did you go from ’this man’s

my God, shut up. I never

no, I’m serious," Ruby said through a giggle. "You were so insistent that he was trouble and

beside Ruby, hugging a pillow to her chest. "You can’t blame me for being

something gentler. "You’re right. I don’t blame you. After what happened with Aaron... it makes sense. You were hurt. Lied to.

"Yeah. I guess that’s why I’m being so careful now. Even though some tiny part of me wants to just dive in headfirst and call him my boyfriend

looked at her, eyes shining. "Really? And

just for my sanity but because I need to be sure. I need to know

for my bank info is the day he gets reported for

They both laughed.

want to see who he is without all the romantic fog. I want to know Ethan. For real. And if he really wants to know me,

a healthy plan. You deserve something

her with a curious frown. "Do you think