TANGLED DESIRES

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Olivia stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, her sharp eyes flickering between me and Ethan. The smug amusement in her gaze made my stomach churn.

"Well, well," she said, tilting her head. "Didn't take you long to get comfortable, Hazel."

Ethan exhaled heavily, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Olivia, don't start."

She let out a low, bitter laugh, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "Oh, I'm just getting started." Her eyes locked onto mine, and the hostility in them sent a chill down my spine. "You do realize that you're just another one of Ethan's little... distractions, right?"

I swallowed hard, keeping my expression neutral, even as my insides twisted. "I think I can decide for myself what this is."

Ethan took a step forward, placing a protective hand on my waist, but Olivia's smirk only widened. "Right," she drawled. "Because Ethan is just so good at commitment."

Before Ethan could respond, another voice cut through the tension. "What the hell is going on here?"

I turned to see Liam, one of Ethan's closest friends, standing in the doorway. His eyes darted from Olivia to me to Ethan, his brows furrowing. Behind him, a petite brunette hovered, her expression unreadable. I didn't recognize her, but the way she was looking at Ethan made something inside me tighten.

Great. More complications.

Ethan let out a frustrated sigh. "Liam, not now."

Liam crossed his arms. "Oh, I think now is exactly the time. Who's the new girl?" He nodded towards me, his eyes sharp with curiosity.

Ethan's jaw clenched. "This is Hazel. And she's not just a 'new girl.'"

The brunette beside Liam scoffed. "That's funny. Because last week, I could've sworn I was."

My stomach plummeted. I turned to Ethan, searching his face for answers, but he looked just as shocked as I felt.

"Lena," Ethan said carefully. "It's not what you think."

Lena crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Oh, I think it's exactly what it looks like." She turned to me, her gaze softer but still filled with something unreadable. "Look, I don't know you, but if you think you're the only one Ethan has been charming, you're in for a rude awakening."

My throat tightened, but I forced myself to hold her gaze. "I can handle myself."

Liam let out a low whistle. "Damn, Ethan. You sure know how to stir up a storm."

Ethan groaned, rubbing his temples. "This isn't what it looks like."

Olivia let out a cruel laugh. "Oh, please, Ethan. Spare us the speech. We've all heard it before."

The weight of their words pressed down on me, but before I could say anything, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my heart skipping a beat when I saw the caller ID. Mom.

Perfect. Just what I needed right now.

I hesitated, but Ethan noticed. "You should answer that."

I nodded, stepping away from the chaos and pressing the phone to my ear. "Hey, Mom."

"Hazel," she said, her voice tight. "Are you okay? You sound off."

I swallowed hard, glancing back at the mess behind me. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... busy."

She sighed. "Hazel, your father and I are coming to town. We need to talk."

My heart sank. "Talk about what?"

A pause. Then, "About your choices."

I froze. My parents didn't even know about Ethan, so what exactly were they referring to?

My mother's voice softened, but there was no mistaking the disappointment laced in her tone. "Daniel has been asking about you."

My stomach twisted. Daniel. The man my parents had always considered "perfect" for me. Smart, accomplished, predictable-the opposite of Ethan in every way.

"I... I haven't spoken to Daniel in a long time," I said cautiously.

"Yes, and he's been worried. He told us he reached out, but you've been distant."

I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. Of course Daniel had gone to my parents. He had always been the golden boy in their eyes. The safe option. The one who wouldn't bring drama and chaos into my life.

My mother sighed. "Hazel, we just want what's best for you. Maybe it's time to reconsider things. We'll talk when we get there."

When I turned back around, Olivia, Liam, and Lena were still there, the tension even thicker than before. Ethan met my gaze, concern flashing in his eyes.

As if my life wasn't complicated enough, now I had Daniel looming in the background, my parents pushing me toward a path I wasn't sure I wanted anymore.

Whatever was coming next, I had a feeling things were about to get even messier.