WARNING SIGNS

You're really going to sit there and tell me everything is fine?" Olivia crossed her arms, staring me down as I stirred my coffee absentmindedly.

We were at our favorite brunch spot, but the usual comfort of it felt distant today.

I sighed. "It's not that simple, Liv."

Mia leaned forward, her expression skeptical. "It kind of is, though. Either he's treating you right, or he's not. And from what I saw the other night, he's definitely not."

I bristled, my grip tightening around my coffee cup. "You don't know him like I do."

Olivia let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, come on. That's exactly what every girl says before she gets her heart ripped out. We're not trying to gang up on you, but you need to wake up."

I wanted to argue, but before I could, my phone buzzed. Ethan.

Mia rolled her eyes. "And let me guess, you're going to drop everything to answer him."

I hesitated, then picked up. "Hey."

"Hey, Hazel," Ethan's voice was smooth, the way it always sent a shiver down my spine. "What are you doing?"

"Brunch with Liv and Mia."

A pause. "Again?" His tone sharpened. "They're always in your ear, aren't they?"

I swallowed hard. "They're just looking out for me."

"Looking out for you or trying to turn you against me?"

Olivia leaned in, hearing every word. "Tell him we said hi," she whispered sarcastically, rolling her eyes. But there was something else beneath her teasing jealousy.

She hated that I had someone like Ethan, someone whose presence commanded attention the second he walked into a room.

I shot her a look, but Ethan had already continued. "We need to talk. Just us."

A nervous chill ran down my spine. "Ethan"

"I miss you, Hazel." His voice was lower now, more intimate. "I've barely touched you this week. I need you."

My cheeks heated as Olivia and Mia watched me intently. I turned away, lowering my voice. "Ethan, not now."

"Why not now?" He chuckled softly, the sound laced with something dark and enticing. "Come over tonight. Let me remind you why we work so well together."

Mia snorted, sipping her mimosa. "Oh, please. He's probably shirtless while saying that."

I bit my lip, feeling my heart race. Ethan had a way of making me forget the red flags, of pulling me into a world where only he and I existed. And right now, that world was tempting.

"Come on, Hazel," Ethan murmured. "You know you want to."

I closed my eyes, already knowing that no matter how much my friends warned me, no matter how uncertain I felt, I was going to say yes.

Because Ethan had always been impossible to resist.