want is silence, a nap, and maybe for my brain to stop scream

best friends sucking face on the couch

" I blurt before I c

Ethan, but it's too late. His lips are red, her ha

doorframe. "So this is what you two

ds flailing like she's trying to erase

p straighter, like maybe if he acts mature, I'll forget I s

t judging. Just saying it's going to be really awkward when you break up

asps. "E

. You don't. I

ivi

ve been eating cereal

ike you wer

and August glares at both of us l

etting my bag down on the couc

pposed to be a

'm off

let you off so you can come

a pillow at me, which I dodge smooth

when Ethan stands up from the couch h

..." his hands are folded neatly across hi

picking up a pace sud

Yeah, Liv. You never finished telling

omething of the past. Althou

ken advantage of, and she would h

let these kind of things slide,

id things like agreeing to go to the woods las

he's sure there's no thre

tion on me, and my teeth clenches. "I alread

you don't remember it, do you? You

s. "Because I

tincts?" My mind offer

n a calm voice, but stubborn. "I need

nters. I think back to Zeke, to his genuine stare when he to

't, guy

." Ethan

he means well, but it feels like an

p. "God, why won'

you don't

es her lip, glancing between us

it was consensual," I say more c

aw works.

can't be forcing answers out of me." The wo

e falls, the hurt flashing clear in his eyes before he m

h

ready done. My chest feels tight, too tight, a

amming the door like the melo

wallow in self hate. How co

Luke. But he's tried, in his own way, a

livia. A+ fr

e sure I was okay, and there I

n't have done tha

y? I don't need you addin

Ethan was the one you threw un

hu

y go back out there and remed

wever, the guilt eats me at me until I can't take it anymore, and

toward the front door, her hand on his arm

," I

brow at me, and his jaw is still tense. My st

sk him. My voice is softer this time,

ard, but after a bea

burning cheeks. I shove my hands in my hoodie pocket, starin

'm trying my best not to

spare me a glance. The only sounds between us is our

s out. "I'm sorry. For wh

want is to make sure you're okay. If I sound imposing, it's because I care. And yes, I'm not Luke, but befor

el more

being here for me and I don't mind you

ust wha

talked about, I don't know what led up to the moment, I

e normally he'd be lecturing me about making smarter cho

s stuffed deep in his jacket pockets,

can deflect with sarcasm. This quiet, careful Et

intimate with them. Don't you think for the slightest that he may have taken advantage of yo

it a nerve. "Well, surprise! Olivia finally steppe

't laugh

" he says, hi

y mind suddenly became alive after our encounter and it calls him mate. I want

, "I saw him today. Zeke? I saw him and he assured me that everything that happened last night was

elieve that? How did he even know where

nd pick up my pace. He

ee him, maybe get his number s

, Et

but stubborn, curling into my senses until my body reacts like I'm standing

ice in my head chimes in. "H

y breath. "Even my hallucinat

than glan

mile that feels more like a grimace.

says soft

of the steps to his house. For a moment, neither of us moves. The

at the ground. "Look, Ethan... I really didn't me

You did. And you're

is unreadable, but his eyes...G

out for you the way he would have. But I know I can't

t I've been dragging around

ant you to carry all my mess. You've got your own life. And now-" I smirk

out of him, and relief lo

" he starts, rubbing

awkward talk. If you two are official now, fine. Just

ng his head. "You're a m

eep me around,

, and I'm relieved to see

g up toward his door. "And... if you see this

chest warms in spite

ean

ow yo

lk with nothing but the flickering porch light

a twig and I look aro

gin my walk ba