Chapter 2

Ethan looked up at me, a flash of annoyance crossing his eyes, though he swallowed it down.

"Chloe, why are you being so petty today?

Hailey is your best friend. Haven't you always told me to look out for her? I'm just being nice to your friend for your sake."

"Being nice to her for my sake, or being nice enough to wrap her in your arms?"

Ethan slammed his fork down onto the porcelain plate with a sharp crack.

"Chloe, can you be reasonable for once? We've been together for three years. Is that really how you see me?"

Hearing the commotion, Hailey scurried out of the kitchen.

She was clutching a dish towel, her eyes rimmed with red.

"Chloe, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault. I shouldn't have sat in your chair, and I shouldn't have asked Ethan to help... Please don't fight because of me. You guys belong together. I'll leave right now, and I won't ever come back."

Her voice trembled when she said she wouldn't come back.

I leaned back against my chair, tilting my head at her. "Never coming back? Works for me. Pack your stuff and leave right now."

Hailey froze. A single tear hung suspended on her lower lash.

Ethan shot to his feet. "Chloe, you've gone too far! Hailey did nothing wrong! You're just paranoid and creating drama out of thin air!"

I picked up my glass, took a sip of water, and set it down.

I stood up. "Fine, I went too far. Enjoy dinner, you two. I'm going to bed."

Ethan rushed over and grabbed my arm. "What's that supposed to mean? You're not eating?"

I shook off his grip. "It's cold."

I walked into the bedroom, shut the door, and slid down against the wood.

Through the door came Hailey's muffled sobs and Ethan's hushed, soothing voice.

I couldn't make out every word, but his tone was tender, feather-light, like he was comforting a fragile child who had suffered the ultimate injustice.

He had never once spoken to me in that tone. Not once.

I closed my eyes, pulled my phone from my pocket, and opened my photo album, scrolling back to our company retreat two weeks ago.

The retreat had been held at a mountain lodge. I had stayed behind to finish a project, so Hailey claimed she had nothing going on that weekend and took my spot.

In the photo, she wore a white lodge bathrobe, sitting side by side with Ethan on the edge of the heated outdoor pool, dipping her bare legs in the water, shoulders pressed tight against his.

Ethan's hand rested on the stone ledge right behind her back, his fingertips practically brushing her wet hair.

A coworker, Zach, had shared it in the group chat. I had only glanced at it back then. Now, zooming in, I could clearly see the angle of Ethan's face, the way his eyes lingered on her skin.

I knew that gaze all too well. Three years ago, when he was chasing me, that was the exact look he gave me.

Outside, it went quiet.

I heard the deadbolt click open and shut. Hailey had left.

Then came Ethan's footsteps stopping right outside my bedroom door. The handle jiggled. Locked.

"Chloe," he knocked gently, softening his voice. "Open the door. Let me explain."

I didn't move.

"Chloe, please don't be like this. There's really nothing between me and Hailey. She's just young and naive, she doesn't know any better. Why let her get to you?"

I stood up, walked to the door, and spoke through the wood. "Young and naive enough to wear your three-hundred-dollar designer sweater?"

Dead silence on the other side. A full five seconds.

"The sweater you bought? I... I just saw that she dressed way too light today, and the forecast said temperatures were dropping, so I—"

"So you just threw your birthday gift onto another woman?

Ethan, I spent two hours picking that sweater out. You called it old and ugly and never touched it once, and now you hand it over to her."

The door handle rattled twice. Panic crept into his voice:

"Chloe, just open the door, okay? Let's talk face to face."

"There's nothing to talk about. Sleep on the couch tonight."

Silence stretched outside. Finally, a muffled "Fine," followed by fading footsteps.