Author POV
Tyler zoomed off in the car like he had a mission from God. Left me standing there, staring at Anne and Eric… wrapped in an awkward embrace.
Eric was gently patting her back as she cried against him, but then—like something clicked—Anne suddenly pulled back. She looked up at him. He looked down at her. And then they both snapped apart like they'd been electrocuted by the awkward fairy herself.
"…Don't tell me we just—" Anne started.
"I hate to break it to you," Eric cut in, "but I don't think we did."
"What were we even thinking?"
"Oh my God, I need a shower. Right now," Anne muttered, eyes wide with mild horror.
"Yeah. Yeah, me too," Eric said, already backing away like the air was radioactive. "I don't support this. Not one bit."
"Goddamn it."
They both said it at the same time, way too enthusiastically. And then they hopped into Eric's car and zoomed off.
---
Later That Night
When they got home, it was silence. Tension so thick, you could stab it with a fork.
Eric went straight to the bathroom without a word. Anne, meanwhile, headed to her room, stripped herself of every trace of that chaotic day, took a steaming hot bath, and emerged in a silky pair of pajamas like she was trying to reclaim her dignity.
Night had fallen. She padded into the kitchen, made herself a simple dinner—nothing fancy, just comfort food—and sat in the living room, eating quietly with a blanket over her lap.
Eric walked into the kitchen a few minutes later. He spotted the food left on the counter, shrugged, and helped himself. After a few bites, he walked into the living room, plate in hand.
"Damn," he said, chewing. "I didn't know Tyler ordered food before leaving."
Anne's eyes slowly drifted up from her plate. "Tyler didn't order food. I cooked it."
Eric's chewing paused mid-bite. He blinked once… and then dramatically spat the food out into a napkin. "Oh my God! No wonder it tasted like betrayal. I was just about to call Tyler and ask where he got it so I could sue the restaurant."
Anne narrowed her eyes. "You had no problem scarfing it down before I told you I cooked it."
"Because I thought it was edible."
"Hypocrisy. In its highest form," she muttered, tossing her fork down.
"What did you say?" he asked, mock-offended.
"I said hypocrisy in its highest form. You got a problem with that?"
Eric groaned. "Ugh, fine. You know what? Since Tyler's gone, and you're his girlfriend, and he's my boyfriend, and… after whatever that was at the hospital—" He gestured vaguely between them. "We need ground rules."
Anne crossed her arms, still wrapped in the blanket like a queen. "Oh, now you want rules?"
"Before we kill each other yes I think we should have rules"
Eric stood up, arms crossed, looking far too serious for a man in pajama pants.
"Okay, rule number one," he said, holding up a finger. "I vowed to Tyler that I'd always protect you."
Anne blinked. "What?"
"Will you let me talk?"
She shut her mouth, arms folded like a bratty queen on a velvet throne.
"I made a promise. So from now on, you must inform me anytime you're leaving the house. I don't want what happened at the hospital to ever happen again. Especially when you're under my care—under my protection."
Anne scoffed. "Under your protection, my foot."
He ignored her. "I need to know where you are. At all times."
"Oh, we're doing that now?" she muttered.
"Rule number two," he said, raising another finger, "You cannot—must not—be out past 10 p.m."
"Eric, are you my dad now? What the hell are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I'm in a relationship with your best friend. He's not here. He asked me to protect you. You nearly got assaulted at the hospital. So yeah, I'm laying down some damn ground rules."
Anne narrowed her eyes. "If you want, I can call Tyler right now and let him know you've lost your mind."
He stepped closer, voice low. "Do that, and you'll just put more stress on him than he's already dealing with."
That shut her up real fast. She swallowed whatever snarky reply she was about to drop.
"Good," he said smoothly. "Curfew. Ten. PM. Sharp."
He raised a third finger. "Rule number three: Stay five feet away from me at all times. I want no accidental touches, no awkward eye contact, and definitely no emotional flashbacks to earlier today."
Anne let out the most dramatic sigh. "You act like I'm dying to breathe your air."
"Rule number four," Eric said, eyes narrowing, "No insulting me. Ever. Again. You insult me, I ghost you, and Tyler gets worried. Your move."
"Excuse me?" Anne snapped. "You say the dumbest things and I'm just supposed to nod like a well-trained puppy?"
"Respect is reciprocal," Eric said calmly. "You respect me, I respect you. Deal?"
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll try not to get on your nerves."
"Appreciated," he replied coolly. "Now. Rule number five. Last but not least…"
He paused dramatically.
"You always cook the food."
Anne froze. "What?"
He smirked. "Yes, I admit it. Your cooking is good. So from now on, you're head chef."
She stared at him like he grew a second head. "Desperate people and their sneaky little compliments..."
"What can I say?" he shrugged. "Nobody can resist your cooking."
She got up with a smirk, grabbed the food she'd left on the counter, and walked over to him. Then, without warning, she tossed the plate into his lap—only slightly too hard.
He caught it like a pro. "Five feet, woman. Fist apart. Never forget that."
Anne rolled her eyes so hard they nearly fell out of her head. "Yeah, yeah. Eat your damn food."
And with that, she turned and left, hair swinging like a mic drop.
Hey guys hope you are loving this love com so far?