I spent the rest of the night being sick myself.
Too much wine. I finally crawled into bed,
exhausted.
Ethan came home around noon. I was having.
some soup. Usually, he’d complain about
takeout, but today, he just sat down.
“That good?” he asked.
I nodded, surprised.
“You have no idea what a nightmare it is to
take care of a drunk girl,” he said, looking at
me intently. “As soon as she sobered up, I
bolted.” He sounded guilty. I didn’t say
anything.
“Must have been rough,” I said casually.
<
He shifted, uncomfortable. I was being too
agreeable. He gave me a tight smile. “Tom,
my buddy, is getting engaged tomorrow. Big
party. Come with me?”
I looked up, surprised. He never invited me to
these things. His friends hated me. It was
always Sarah. I would’ve been ecstatic
before. Now? I just shrugged. “I don’t want to
impose on your friends.”
His smile faltered. He reached for my hand,
then pulled back awkwardly. “You’re my
girlfriend. They’ll be fine.” He almost sounded
sincere.
I remembered all the times his friends had put
me down, comparing me to Sarah. I’d looked
to Ethan for support. He’d done nothing. “I’m
busy,” I said. “Take someone else.
く
He stared at me, stunned. I’d practically
begged to go to these things before. I wasn’t
lying, though. I had a million things to do for
my move.
The light in his eyes dimmed. “Doing what?
I’ll come with you.”
“Just… errands for the trip. You should be
there for Tom. It’s his engagement party.”
“So… should I take Sarah?” he asked
hesitantly.
Before, the name would have set me off.
Now? “Knock yourself out,” I said.
He searched my face, looking for any sign of
jealousy. Nothing. “Aren’t you… even a little.
upset?” he asked, bewildered.
<
I thought he hated it when I got jealous. “Why
would I be? You’re friends. It’s a party. It’s
normal.”
He opened and closed his mouth a few times.
Finally, “I can drive you to do your errands
tomorrow.”
I hesitated. I wasn’t feeling up to driving.
“Fine,” I said.
He reached for my hand, but I pulled away.
“Tired,” I mumbled. “Going to bed.” I went to
my room, leaving him staring after me,
confused.
The next morning, Ethan made breakfast. We
ate in silence. He grabbed his keys.
<
I got in his car. It felt strange, unfamiliar. I
hadn’t been in his car in ages. I’d asked him
to pick me up once when it was raining and
he’d said, “Seriously, Olivia? You can’t handle
a little rain? Grow up.” Later, I saw a picture
on Sarah’s Instagram. He’d picked her up. I
bought my own car after that.
He put on my favorite music, trying to make
small talk. I just hummed along. Sarah called.
Ethan kept glancing at me, his face a mixture
of panic and guilt. “Answer it,” I said.
“Hey Ethan,” Sarah’s voice chimed through
the car speakers. “Ready for me?”
“Just… get an Uber,” he said quickly.
I was surprised. He never said no to Sarah.
<
Ethan! sne whined. You know I can t get
an Uber out here. You always pick me up!”
“Just… walk,” he mumbled.
“Walk? Seriously?”
Ethan hesitated. In the past, he’d have kicked
me out of the car. “Sarah lives miles away.
You can get a cab from here. It’s easier.”
Seeing him waver, I sighed. “Go. Just drop
me off anywhere.”
