Ethan was sprawled out on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table, a half-empty can of soda balanced precariously on his stomach.

    Today was supposed to be his day off — no photoshoots, no meetings, no business calls.

    Just him, his couch, and a bag of chips.

    Of course, his phone had other plans.

    [Melissa: So... when are we having that date?]

    Ethan sighed. Melissa was nothing if not persistent.

    [Ethan: Probably never.]

    A second later, his screen lit up with a dramatic gasp emoji.

    [Melissa: Wow. Rude.]

    [Ethan: I''ll consider it after the launch. You should get some rest.]

    She didn''t reply right away, which meant he had won this round.

    He dropped his phone onto his chest and took another sip of soda, eyes growing heavy.

    ''Finally, peace.''

    Then came the knock at the door.

    Ethan groaned, rolling his head back. "You have got to be kidding me."

    A voice crackled through the intercom. "Sir, someone''s here to see you."

    "Who?"

    "She wouldn''t say. Just told me to get you."

    Ethan frowned. He wasn''t expecting anyone.

    With a sigh, he got up, stretched, and made his way to the front door.

    The moment he opened it —

    "ETHAN!"

    A blur of motion tackled him before he could react, arms wrapping tightly around him.

    The scent of burnt rubber and expensive cologne hit him before his brain registered what was happening.

    "Vanessa?"

    She pulled back just enough to grin at him. "Miss me?"

    Ethan blinked. "You were literally racing in another country yesterday I think."

    "Two days ago," she corrected. "Took the first flight this morning."

    He shook his head in disbelief. "And instead of resting, you came straight here?"

    "Duh. I had to see my favorite person."

    "What about your pit crew?"

    "They''ll survive." She waved a hand dismissively. "I left them a ''Welcome Home'' text. That counts."

    Ethan chuckled. "Sounds like a plan."

    Ethan leaned back against the couch, his phone in one hand as he scrolled through the food delivery app.

    Vanessa, who had somehow made herself completely at home, was now curled up in his lap, her head resting against his chest like it was her personal pillow.

    He wasn''t sure when she had decided this was her new spot, but here they were.

    Not that he minded.

    His free hand absently stroked her hair as he clicked on a pizza order. "Pepperoni okay?"

    Vanessa hummed, nuzzling slightly against his chest. "Add extra cheese."

    "Of course." Ethan smirked. "Racing champion Vanessa Carter demands only the finest mozzarella."

    "You get me." She sighed dramatically. "If you had ordered pineapple, I would''ve walked out."

    Ethan chuckled. "Noted. No pineapple."

    He finished the order, putting his phone aside, only for Vanessa to suddenly shove her own phone in his face.

    "Explain this."

    Ethan blinked, eyes adjusting to the screen.

    It was Melissa''s Postgram post — the one that had blown up with millions of views.

    It featured the now-infamous clip of him and Melissa during the video shoot, the two of them looking way too comfortable together as they talked.

    Vanessa squinted at him. "So... you and Melissa now?"

    Ethan sighed. "Vanessa — "

    "She''s all over you in this video."

    "She''s just flirtatious."

    Vanessa crossed her arms. "And were you?"

    Ethan hesitated. "...I was just going along with it."

    Vanessa zoomed in on a paused frame where Melissa was laughing and touching his arm. "You enjoyed it."

    Ethan groaned. "Oh, come on. You know how she is. She flirts with everyone."

    Vanessa huffed, shoving the phone into his chest. "Yeah, well, the comments are insane. Look at this one — "

    She scrolled aggressively and read aloud: "Omg, Ethan is so hot, someone give me his number?"

    Ethan smirked. "At least they have good taste."

    Vanessa whacked him with a pillow.

    "Okay, okay, sorry!" Ethan laughed, dodging her next attempt. "But seriously, why do you care?"

    Vanessa opened her mouth, then hesitated.

    She glanced away, suddenly finding interest in the couch fabric.

    Ethan raised a brow. "Vanessa?"

    She stayed silent for a moment before mumbling, "...It''s annoying."