THE PERFECT ILLUSION

You never answer your phone anymore." My voice came out lighter than I intended, but the tension in my chest was anything but playful.

Ethan glanced up from his drink, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before offering me that charming, effortless smile.

The one that used to make my heart race. Now, it just made me question everything. "I've been busy, babe. Work's been insane."

I studied him, trying to read between the lines of his easy excuse.

"Too busy to send a text?"

He sighed, setting his drink down with a soft clink. "Not this again."

"Yes, this again." I folded my arms, leaning against the kitchen counter of his loft.

The space that once felt like a second home now felt unfamiliar, like I had stepped into someone else's life. "It's just... you've been different lately."

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "Come on, don't do this. We're good, aren't we?"

Good. The word sat heavy between us, hollow and unconvincing. Were we good? A few months ago, I wouldn't have hesitated to say yes. Now, doubt curled in the corners of my mind, whispering things I wasn't ready to acknowledge.

I reached for my phone, pulling up our text history. The last three messages were from me. All unanswered. "I don't know, Ethan. You tell me."

He stepped closer, placing his hands on my arms, his touch familiar yet distant. "You're overthinking this."

Olivia's words from brunch echoed in my mind. Guys like him don't get tied down easily. Maybe he's just scared. But scared of what? Of me? Of us? Or of something I hadn't yet discovered?

A part of me wanted to let it go, to believe the illusion a little longer. But love built on illusions will always collapse under the weight of the truth.

And I was about to learn just how fragile our perfect world really was.