hin her soul. She rolled over in bed, peeking at her phone, hoping the time wasn't as early as it felt.

ne to blame but herself. Between the fruity cocktails, endless dancing, and even more

erically as Lena spilled yet another drink, and Ethan, in that ridiculously charming pinea

our. They swayed to the rhythm of the music, laughing as if they'd been friends for years. There had been a moment-just one-where she thought

e memory. Could there actual

rried away, though. After all, Ethan still

-

scrolling through her phone. Her inbox was mostly filled with random work emails

ursing too bad of a hangover

th Ethan, again? Just the two of them? Was it another

ted back before

some caffeine this morni

ities, but it was hard not to when her longtime cr

ing over what she'd wear, Jessie called, he

said, yawning into the pho

"But I'm regretting al

I saw, you and Ethan were *very* cozy on

We just danced. And he asked if

's something going on between you two, and you know it. T

know, Jess. I mean, he's still with his girlfri

talk about her, you haven't seen them together, and he spends a lot of time wi

hadn't mentioned his girlfriend recently, and the fact that he kept inviting her to coffee

offee later," Lena finally said,

etter! And text me all the juicy detail

ng a mix of excitement and anxi

-

re a casual outfit-jeans and a soft sweater-but had spent way too long debating if it looked too dressed up or not. She di

eet, looking effortlessly handsome in his leather jacket and dark jeans. His h

y. "How are you feeli

ith a laugh. "I was worried I might have

ll. You were great. Besides, it's not a rea

t away. Ethan had a way of putting her at ea

flowed easily, as it always did, but today there was something different in the air. Lena couldn't

on her for just a moment longer than usual. "You know, I've been

ipped a beat. "

ng her gaze again. "I know I haven't been very open about my

egan his girlfriend. The name she'd t

ing apart for a while. I think we both know it's not wor

of Ethan being single, but the other part the rational part knew this wasn't some

ftly, her hand brushing against his on

tough. But I guess I've just been waiting for the right m

'd been in messy breakups before, and they w

r them. Was Ethan confiding in her because he saw her as a friend? Or was there something more behind his words? The

ons. She needed to take things slow, ev

-

er back to the office. They stood outside for a m

n said, his voice warm and sincere.

ring. "Same here. I'm always

ay something more, but instead, he just smiled and

houghts. What did all of this mean? Were they just frie

was ending. And once that chapter of his life closed, m

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