Chapter 27 — Don't Move
The palace sitting room was unusually quiet that afternoon.
Mia was sitting on the sofa, reading through a few documents while waiting for Nathan to finish a meeting.
She had been there for almost half an hour when she finally decided to get up and get herself something to drink.
She stood and took a few steps.
Then—
Her foot caught on the edge of the rug.
"Ah!"
Mia slipped.
Nathan, who had just entered the room, reacted immediately.
"Mia!"
He caught her before she could hit the floor.
"My God, are you okay?"
Mia steadied herself, one hand resting against his chest.
"I'm fine."
Nathan sighed in relief.
"You scared me."
Mia looked down at the rug.
"This thing nearly killed me."
Nathan laughed.
"It's a rug, Mia."
"Then tell the rug to stay where it belongs."
She tried to push herself away from him.
But her hand accidentally pushed against his chest.
Nathan lost his balance.
Mia lost hers too.
They fell backward onto the sofa.
And before either of them could react—
Their lips met.
Again.
Neither moved.
For a few seconds, they simply froze.
Mia's eyes widened.
Nathan's eyes widened too.
They were both completely shocked.
Then Mia tried to pull herself up.
She couldn't.
Something tugged at her hair.
"Wait."
"What?"
"My hair."
Nathan looked down.
A few strands had become caught in the decorative clasp on his garment.
Mia tried to move again.
"Ouch!"
"Don't move."
"I'm trying not to!"
Nathan carefully looked at the tangled strands.
"It's caught."
"Can you get it out?"
"I'm trying."
He gently attempted to free the hair.
It wouldn't move.
Mia sighed.
"This is ridiculous."
Nathan looked around.
"I'll get something to cut it."
He started to shift.
Mia shifted at exactly the same time.
Their faces moved closer.
Nathan immediately stopped.
Mia froze.
They stared at each other.
"Don't move," Nathan whispered.
"I wasn't moving."
"You were."
"You moved first."
"I was trying to get the scissors."
"Well, don't."
They remained completely still.
Nathan looked toward the table.
"If I can just reach—"
He carefully shifted again.
Mia instinctively shifted in the opposite direction.
Their lips met for a second time.
They immediately froze.
Nathan slowly pulled back.
Mia stared at him.
Neither spoke.
Then Mia whispered,
"Stop moving."
Nathan looked at her.
"I was trying to help."
"You're making it worse."
"I'm not doing it on purpose."
"Neither am I!"
They both fell silent.
Mia looked at the strands of hair trapped against his garment.
Then she looked back at him.
"Okay."
"Okay what?"
"If you move, I move."
Nathan frowned.
"What?"
Mia carefully explained.
"If you move one way, I'll move the other way. So we have to move together."
Nathan stared at her.
"That makes absolutely no sense."
"It makes perfect sense."
"How?"
"Because if you move and I move at the same time, we won't accidentally—"
She stopped.
Nathan understood.
Neither wanted to finish the sentence.
They looked away from each other.
"Fine," Nathan said.
"Fine."
They tried to coordinate their movements.
"On three," Nathan whispered.
"Okay."
"One..."
"Two..."
"Three."
They moved carefully.
Nothing happened.
Mia's hair loosened slightly.
"Again."
They tried once more.
Another strand came free.
Mia smiled.
"Almost."
Nathan nodded.
"Don't celebrate yet."
They continued until finally—
The last strand slipped free.
Mia immediately sat up and moved away from him.
Nathan sat up too.
They stared at each other.
Their hair was slightly messy.
Nathan's clothes were rumpled.
Mia's face was still warm.
Then she suddenly laughed.
Nathan looked at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You've started laughing."
"Because this is ridiculous."
Nathan began laughing too.
"We somehow managed to turn falling over a rug into a whole disaster."
Mia shook her head.
"And somehow we kissed twice."
The laughter stopped.
They looked at each other.
Silence.
Mia's smile slowly disappeared.
Nathan cleared his throat.
"Right."
"Right."
Neither knew what to say.
Finally, Mia stood up.
"I think I'm going to avoid that rug."
Nathan nodded.
"Good idea."
She walked away.
After a few steps, she turned around.
"And don't move too quickly around me."
Nathan smiled.
"I'll try."
Mia shook her head and disappeared down the hallway.
Nathan watched her leave.
Then he glanced at the rug.
"Definitely getting rid of that thing."
For the second time, an accident had brought them closer.
And neither of them knew what to do with that anymore.