Ethan wanted Taylor to be able to breathe and forget about Danny, the politicians, the reporters, and the concert for a while.
Places that were too crowded were out of the question. That would only be asking for trouble. Navy Pier, on the other hand, wasn't far away, and with how cold it was that night, they could probably walk around without attracting too much attention.
A few minutes later, the enormous Ferris wheel appeared in the distance, slowly turning among the lights. Ethan found a place to park, and they both got out of the vehicle.
Taylor adjusted her cap and pulled the hood of the sweatshirt over it to conceal her face more effectively. Then they started walking without any particular destination in mind.
They didn't need to talk. Sometimes, it was enough to walk peacefully without anyone asking for a photograph, a smile, or a minute of your time.
Despite the cold, several people were still enjoying the area: parents with their children, couples, and groups of friends strolling around as they admired the nighttime view of Chicago.
Between the cap, the hood, and the dark glasses, only a small portion of Taylor's face was visible. Every time she exhaled, a small white cloud appeared in front of her.
She walked slowly, far more relaxed than before. Suddenly, she spotted a coffee shop a few yards away and lightly nudged Ethan with her elbow.
—I want coffee.
—All right. What do you want?
—A caramel latte with skim milk.
Ethan held out a hand.
Taylor looked at his open palm.
—What?
—Money.
She shrugged.
—Do you really think I carry cash around with me?
Ethan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
—You're a multimillionaire, and you expect me to pay. I'm a poor detective who barely makes a few thousand dollars a month.
Taylor laughed.
—I don't know many poor people who live in Hyde Park.
Taylor had always been interested in real estate. It had taken her only a few minutes of looking around Ethan's house to estimate that it was worth several million dollars, so his attempt to present himself as a poor detective wasn't fooling her.
Ethan finally gave in.
—Fine. My treat.
Taylor smiled in satisfaction.
—You should consider it an honor. Do you know how many people would die for this opportunity?
—Don't get carried away —Ethan interrupted, pointing a finger at her—. I'm only doing it for the guitar. I haven't forgotten your promise.
They bought two coffees and continued walking. Taylor took a sip of hers, but after a few steps, her expression grew more serious.
—Why do you have to make everything sound like a transaction? I thought we were friends now.
Ethan turned his head toward her.
Those words made him stop. A few snowflakes were beginning to fall around them, and for several seconds, everything seemed strangely peaceful.
—Why do you want us to be friends? We only met yesterday —Ethan asked.
Taylor held the cup between both hands while she considered her answer.
—I don't know. I like you. You don't try to impress me, and I feel safe with you. Doesn't that seem like a good enough reason? You're a little rough around the edges, but you're kind.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Taylor smiled slightly.
—Besides, if I ever kill someone, having a detective for a friend could be very useful.
Ethan took a sip of his coffee without breaking stride.
—It depends. Do you need an alibi or someone to make the body disappear?
Taylor slowly turned her head toward him.
—I was joking.
—So was I.
Ethan kept a straight face for several seconds before adding:
—I think.
Taylor laughed and bumped him with her shoulder.
—You're definitely the kind of friend I need.
Ethan let out a quiet laugh and continued walking.
—Fine. We can be friends.
A smile immediately appeared on Taylor's face, but Ethan raised a finger before she could say anything.
—That doesn't mean I'm going to forget about the guitar.
—I knew you'd ruin the moment —she replied, trying to look annoyed, although she couldn't hide her smile—. You're insufferable.
Simply hearing him admit that they were friends seemed to lift her spirits. Taylor continued walking beside him as the snow slowly fell over Navy Pier.
Taylor suddenly pointed toward the Ferris wheel.
—Let's go.
Ethan looked up at the enormous structure.
—I haven't been on one of those since I was a kid.
—Really?
Taylor smiled and started walking toward the entrance.
—Then I should feel honored.
As they approached, they could still hear several people talking about the attack and the following day's concert. Some supported Taylor, while others didn't seem willing to give her even the benefit of the doubt.
—She's a bitch. She's always been like that. She just wants attention.
—Well, I'm going to Soldier Field tomorrow. I want her to know Chicago supports her.
Ethan discreetly glanced toward Taylor. He expected the insult to provoke some kind of reaction, but she continued walking as though she hadn't heard a thing.
There weren't many people waiting, so they were able to take a cabin without sharing it with anyone else. Inside were two rows of leather seats facing each other, with enough room for several people. Small blue lights installed beneath the seats and table created a modern, peaceful atmosphere.
The door closed, and the Ferris wheel slowly began carrying them upward.
Once they were far enough from the platform, Taylor removed her sunglasses, lowered her hood, and turned her cap backward. Then she moved closer to the glass and gazed at the city with genuine fascination.
The lights reflected across her face as Chicago stretched out before them like an immense forest of steel and glass. Skyscrapers towered over the illuminated streets, and in the distance, vehicles looked like tiny points of light moving between the buildings.
Ethan remained seated across from her, also admiring the view.
—I like it —Taylor murmured.
Ethan smiled.
Taylor turned her head slightly.
—What?
—This.
She looked toward the lights.
—It's peaceful.
She paused.
—And enormous.
They remained silent for a few moments. Then Ethan stretched out one leg and lightly tapped her with his foot.
—By the way.
Taylor looked at him.
—What those people said earlier.
Ethan tilted his head.
—Does it really not bother you?
Taylor turned back toward the window.
—Do you want to become a star?
Ethan frowned.
—What?
—If you ever want to give it a try, I could help you break into the industry —Taylor replied as she looked him up and down—. You have potential.
Ethan laughed, but Taylor continued in a calmer tone:
—Although if you ever do, you'll have to understand something: no matter what you do or how well you do it, there will always be someone who doesn't like you.
She turned her gaze back toward the city.
—You receive insults, lies, praise, and flattery. Sometimes all at once. If you let every opinion affect you, you'll eventually lose your mind.
Ethan remained silent and listened.
—I once made the mistake of searching for my name online —Taylor added with a quiet laugh—. It didn't take me long to learn a very important lesson.
—What was it?
—Never do it again.
Ethan smiled. Fame always came at a price, regardless of the place or the person.
The Ferris wheel's shifting lights reflected across Taylor's face as she gazed at the city.
—When I was a child, I tried to please everyone. I thought that if I did everything perfectly, if I was nice and worked harder than everyone else, sooner or later, everyone would end up loving me.
Ethan remained silent, allowing her to continue.
—Now I'm starting to understand that I can't live my life trying to please everyone —Taylor added, turning toward him—. In the end, the only approval I can't afford to lose is my own.
She paused briefly and smiled.
—Like you said, I just need to be myself.
—So you were pretty insecure.
Taylor wasn't offended. She watched the snowflakes falling on the other side of the glass and nodded.
—When I was a child, yes. Extremely.
The cabin fell silent again as the Ferris wheel continued turning. The lights of Chicago reflected in their eyes, and for several minutes, neither of them felt the need to say anything.
As the third revolution began, the cabin once again climbed toward the highest point. Taylor set her cup on the table and stood.
Ethan followed her movements with his eyes as she crossed the small space between them and stopped in front of him. Her body swayed slightly with the movement of the cabin, and her blonde hair shifted beneath the blue interior lights.
Ethan understood what Taylor intended before she finished approaching him.
—Taylor... I don't think this is a good idea.
She stopped in front of him and held his gaze.
—Why?
—Because you don't know me —Ethan replied quietly—. I'm not a good person.
He wasn't trying to sound mysterious or awaken her curiosity. There were too many things about his past that Taylor didn't know, some of which could completely change the way she saw him.
—I'm not perfect either.
—I'm not talking about being perfect. Seriously, this isn't going to end well.
Taylor placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned a little closer.
—If you really want me to stop, say it.
Ethan silently watched her. He could move away, stand up, or say a single word to put an end to it.
He did none of those things.
A small smile appeared on Taylor's lips.
—That's what I thought. Now shut up and stop being a coward.
She placed one knee on the seat beside him and wrapped both arms around his neck. She still paused for a moment, mere inches from his face, before leaning forward and kissing him.
Shit.
Was she always this direct?
The thought barely had time to cross Ethan's mind. A second later, Taylor had pushed him against the backrest, and all his attention was focused on her.
For the first few moments, his arms remained still. Then he stopped resisting, wrapped them around her waist, and pulled her toward him.
Taylor released a soft breath against his lips and kissed him more intensely.
The Ferris wheel continued turning as they kissed. The cabin rose above Navy Pier, and the lights of Chicago slowly drifted past the windows, but neither of them looked outside again. The snow continued to fall, and the blue lights inside the cabin changed colors without either of them noticing.
Ethan completely lost track of time.
Taylor moved even closer, one hand buried in his hair and the other resting behind his neck. Ethan slid one hand down her back and was about to move it a little lower when the cabin jolted as it stopped in front of the platform.
The door opened.
—Mom, they're kissing!
Ethan and Taylor sprang apart.
A family of three was waiting in front of the cabin. The daughter, a girl around seven or eight years old, stared at them with her eyes wide open.
A second later, she covered her face with both hands, although she left a fairly wide gap between her fingers so she could continue watching them.
—I'm sorry —the mother hurriedly said, gently pulling her away—. We didn't mean to interrupt.
Taylor moved away from Ethan and quickly adjusted her clothes. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was slightly disheveled.
In the middle of the kiss, she had completely forgotten that she had removed most of her disguise.
The girl lowered her hands and studied her carefully.
First, she frowned.
Then her mouth fell open.
—Taylor!
Her shriek was so high-pitched that several people turned toward them.
—Shit —Ethan muttered.
Taylor reacted immediately. She put on her sunglasses and cap and pulled up the hood of her sweatshirt, although it was already too late.
—Excuse us —she said as she hurried out of the cabin.
—Sorry about that —Ethan added as he stepped out behind her.
The girl continued staring at them with an enormous smile.
—Hi, Taylor!
Then she gave a thumbs-up and pointed toward Ethan.
—Your boyfriend is really handsome!
Taylor almost tripped.
Ethan, on the other hand, smiled.
Children never lied.
At least, he had decided to believe that on this occasion.
—Thanks.
He winked at the little girl before putting on his own sunglasses.
Taylor looked at him indignantly.
—Did you really have to answer her?
—I didn't want to be rude.
The girl's shout had already attracted the attention of almost everyone nearby. Several people began studying Taylor more closely.
When no one expected to see her, they could walk right past her and assume she was merely a woman who looked similar. But the moment someone shouted her name, everyone began searching for the similarities: her height, her hair, her profile, and even the way she walked.
Although Navy Pier wasn't particularly crowded, there were at least thirty or forty people gathered around the Ferris wheel entrance.
A young woman raised her phone.
—It's her.
—Taylor!
—Taylor, a picture!
Several faces lit up at once, and people began moving toward her.
Ethan grabbed Taylor's hand.
—Run.
She looked over her shoulder and saw more phones appearing.
—Are you serious?
—Run!
The two of them bolted.
The reaction was immediate.
Several people behind them began shouting.
Others, without even knowing what was happening, started running as well.
Within seconds, it looked like some absurd chase.
—Shit!
Ethan accelerated.
If they managed to surround them, it would be impossible to explain.
As long as they escaped before any good photographs were taken, they might still be able to minimize what had happened.
—I can't run in these!
Taylor struggled to keep up with him.
But the sneakers Burgess had given her were slightly too large.
—Up you go!
Without stopping, Ethan wrapped an arm around her.
Taylor barely had time to react.
—Ah!
Ethan lifted her in one smooth motion and draped her over his shoulder.
The borrowed sneakers were a little too large, and Taylor began falling behind after only a few yards. Ethan glanced over his shoulder, saw several people still running after them, and made a decision.
Without stopping, he placed one arm behind Taylor's back and the other beneath her knees.
—What are you doing?
He lifted her off the ground and continued running.
For a moment, Taylor wrapped her arms around his neck purely by reflex. Then she felt the cold air against her face, watched the lights streak past them, and began to laugh.
—Faster!
Ethan stared at her in disbelief.
—This isn't a ride.
—Come on!
Taylor extended one arm, completely surrendering to the moment as though she were flying. Ethan shook his head, although he accelerated even more.
Taylor's weight barely slowed him down. His legs moved quickly, and within seconds, the voices pursuing them began to fade into the distance. By the time some people managed to stop and take out their phones, the two figures were already disappearing into the shadows of the parking lot.
Ethan reached the Ford Interceptor and lowered Taylor beside the passenger door.
—Get in.
They both climbed inside immediately. Ethan started the engine, pulled away, and left Navy Pier before the first people reached the parking lot.
He didn't slow down until they were several blocks away. He checked the mirrors repeatedly, made a couple of turns, and only relaxed his shoulders once he was certain no one was following them.
When he reached a red light, he turned toward Taylor.
She was already looking at him.
They both looked like a complete mess. Taylor's hair was disheveled, her cap was crooked, and her hood was halfway down. Ethan's glasses sat at an angle, and his shirt had come partially untucked.
They remained silent for several seconds.
Taylor was the first to laugh. She tried to hold it in, but one look at Ethan's messy hair and crooked sunglasses destroyed any chance she had of succeeding.
Ethan watched her with a serious expression for several seconds. Then he saw his own reflection in the rearview mirror and started laughing as well.
Before long, they were both laughing uncontrollably inside the vehicle like two teenagers who had just escaped after doing something forbidden.
As their laughter began to fade, Taylor continued looking at him. Then she reached across the center console, took Ethan's hand, and intertwined her fingers with his.
His smile slowly disappeared.
—Taylor...
—What?
—Are you sure you know what you're doing?
She didn't look away.
—Yes.
—I already warned you that I'm not exactly a good person.
—I don't need you to be perfect.
—That's not the same thing.
Taylor gently squeezed his hand.
—I don't care. It's been a long time since anyone made me feel as safe as you do. When I'm with you, I can relax, stop pretending, and forget about everything everyone expects from me for a while.
A small smile appeared on her lips. It wasn't the practiced smile of a singer facing the cameras, but one that was far more nervous and sincere.
—I like you, Ethan.
He remained silent.
He had expected many things after that kiss, but not such a direct confession.
If Taylor had only wanted to sleep with him, he probably wouldn't have needed to think about it too much. But he knew that wasn't what she wanted.
One night, no promises, and each of them going their separate ways in the morning. Ethan knew that kind of relationship well and understood exactly how to handle it.
But this was different. Taylor wasn't proposing a simple fling. She was asking him to let her genuinely get close to him.
He had always tried to keep his relationships mainly physical, without too many promises or emotions. Relationships like the one he had shared with Nola, where they both knew the rules and understood exactly what they expected from each other.
And now there was Erin as well.
What they had wasn't formal or particularly serious yet, but it existed. Ethan couldn't ignore it simply because Taylor had suddenly appeared.
He gently squeezed her hand.
—You don't know me.
—I can get to know you.
—And honestly, I don't really know you either —Ethan replied—. Besides, I'm seeing Erin.
Taylor lowered her gaze toward their intertwined fingers.
—Is it serious?
—I don't know yet. We're only getting started, but that doesn't mean I can pretend there's nothing between us.
Taylor remained silent.
—Let's wait until after the concert —Ethan continued—. You have too much on your mind right now. When all of this is over and you can think clearly, you might feel differently.
His tone was gentle, but Taylor understood the message perfectly. It was a polite way of rejecting her, at least for the moment.
After a few seconds, she looked at him again.
—Are you worried about who I am? —she asked, genuinely surprised.
—This is only my job.
She gestured toward herself.
—It's special, yes, but it's still a job.
Taylor hurried to continue.
—You don't have to worry. I know how complicated my life might seem, but I won't turn yours into a spectacle.
Ethan realized then that she had misunderstood him. Taylor believed he was afraid of the cameras, the headlines, and all the pressure that would come with dating a superstar.
He released her hand and lightly tapped the gun at his waist.
—You're overthinking it. I deal with killers for a living. As long as I have this, I'm not afraid of a few photographers.
Taylor arched an eyebrow.
—But you are afraid of feelings.
—Don't take advantage of our new friendship.
She smiled slightly, and Ethan turned his attention back to the road.
—Your fame doesn't concern me. I simply think you need time to calm down and separate what you genuinely feel from everything that happened today.
Taylor bit her lip before nodding.
—All right. We'll wait until after the concert.
She slipped her hands into the pocket of the sweatshirt and turned toward the window.
She had gathered enough courage to tell him how she felt and had received a fairly gentle rejection. Of course it bothered her, but Ethan hadn't completely closed the door either.
He had only asked her for time.
It didn't take long for her disappointment to mix with something Taylor knew much better: her competitive spirit. She had never given up easily when something mattered to her, and she had no intention of starting now.
The rest of the drive passed in a more uncomfortable silence. They returned to Hyde Park shortly afterward.
The moment Ethan stopped the car, Taylor opened the door and hurried up the porch steps. After appearing so confident while confessing her feelings, she now looked like an embarrassed teenager who only wanted to escape.
Ethan watched her for several seconds with a smile. Then he turned off the engine and stepped out of the vehicle.
Because Taylor had left the dinner early, Megan had also returned ahead of schedule. She opened the door just as Taylor reached the porch and looked first at her clothes, then at the car, and finally at Ethan as he approached behind her.
Her expression grew suspicious.
—Where were you two?
She took a bite of the apple she was holding.
—How did you manage to get here later than I did?
Fortunately, Ethan and Taylor had taken a few minutes during the drive to fix their hair and straighten their clothes. Otherwise, Megan would have immediately realized that something had happened.
—We went to get coffee and take a walk —Taylor replied with complete nonchalance.
Then she heard Ethan's footsteps drawing closer and remembered the kiss inside the Ferris wheel. Her heart began racing again.
Without looking back, she passed Megan and quickly entered the house.
Megan watched her flee before turning toward Ethan.
—Did something happen that I should know about?
Ethan walked through the door without offering any further explanation. Megan turned her head toward the interior, even more intrigued than before.