Tension in the Air

Tessa hadn't spoken to me in two days.

Two. Whole. Days.

That was an eternity in best-friend time.

After she caught Ethan and me kissing, she had stormed off, and I had done what any sane person would do—I panicked. I called her, texted her, even debated showing up at her apartment with her favorite chocolate and a heartfelt apology.

But she didn't respond.

And that?

That hurt more than I wanted to admit.

Because no matter how deep I was in this mess with Ethan, Tessa had always been my constant.

Until now.

Now, she was radio silent.

And the weight of it was suffocating.

By some cruel twist of fate, I didn't get to avoid her for long.

I walked into our usual coffee shop, the one we'd claimed as ours since freshman year, only to freeze in place.

Tessa was there.

And she wasn't alone.

She sat across from another friend—one of those casual, surface-level ones who knew nothing about me and Ethan, about the lines I had crossed, about the chaos spiraling around me.

But she looked fine. Normal.

As if I hadn't shattered our friendship two nights ago.

I forced myself forward, clearing my throat. "Tessa."

She finally looked at me.

And when she did, I felt it.

Tension. Thick and heavy.

The kind that turned the air sharp, the kind that felt personal.

"Liv," she said, voice even.

No warmth. No anger. Just cold indifference.

It might have been easier if she yelled at me. If she said something cruel.

But this?

This was worse.

I sat down, ignoring the fact that my hands were shaking slightly.

Tessa's friend, sensing the awkwardness, made a polite excuse and left.

Now it was just us.

Just silence.

I sighed. "Tessa, we need to talk."

She stirred her coffee, not looking up. "Do we?"

I clenched my jaw. Yes. We absolutely do.

"I didn't mean for it to happen," I said, my voice quieter now. "I swear."

Tessa let out a sharp laugh. "Didn't mean for what to happen? The kiss? The lying? Or the part where you kept sneaking around with my brother behind my back?"

I winced.

Yeah. That sounded bad.

Because it was.

"Tess, I—"

She finally looked at me, eyes flashing. "How long?"

I swallowed. "It—"

"How. Long."

My heart pounded. I could have lied. Maybe it would have made things easier.

But she deserved the truth.

I exhaled. "A while."

Her jaw clenched.

Her fingers tightened around her coffee cup.

She shook her head, standing abruptly.

"Enjoy your drink, Liv."

And just like that, she walked out.

I should have gone home.

Instead, I found myself walking.

Moving aimlessly, trying to outrun the guilt weighing down my chest.

I ended up exactly where I shouldn't have.

At Ethan's gym.

I told myself I wouldn't go inside. That I'd just stand here for a minute, catch my breath, and leave.

But then—

The door opened.

And Ethan stepped out.

Our eyes met.

And for a moment, neither of us moved.

Then, his expression shifted.

"Liv."

I turned to go.

Because if I stayed—if I looked at him for too long—I knew what would happen.

I'd lose whatever fight I had left.

But Ethan was faster.

He caught my wrist.

"Talk to me."

My throat tightened. "I can't."

"You can." His grip was firm but gentle. "And you will."

I swallowed hard.

Because deep down, I knew he was right.

The gym was quiet, the air thick with unspoken words.

Ethan leaned against the ring, watching me carefully.

"What happened?" he asked.

I let out a breath. "She won't even look at me."

His jaw tightened. "Tessa?"

I nodded.

He exhaled. "I figured she'd be pissed."

I scoffed. "Pissed is an understatement. She looked at me like I wasn't even a person anymore. Like I was just…" I trailed off, voice breaking.

"Like you were a stranger," Ethan finished quietly.

I swallowed hard. "Yeah."

Silence stretched between us.

Then—

"She'll come around," Ethan said.

I laughed bitterly. "You sound so sure."

"I am." His gaze was steady. "Because she knows you. And she knows me."

I shook my head. "That's exactly the problem."

His eyes darkened.

"Liv," he said, stepping closer.

I looked away.

Because if I looked at him, I'd want to touch him.

And if I touched him, I wouldn't stop.

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore," I admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan exhaled. "Me either."

And then, because we were us, because we were reckless and addicted and drowning in this, we gave in.

Again.

Ethan moved first.

His hand slid against my jaw, tilting my face toward him.

And I let him.

I let him pull me in, let his lips crash into mine like he needed me more than air.

I melted into him, fingers curling into his shirt, heart hammering against my ribs.

I kissed him like I was starving.

Like he was the only thing that could fix me.

And for a few stolen seconds, I let myself forget everything else.

Tessa. The warnings. The risk of losing everything.

Because Ethan Carter was my favorite mistake.

And right now?

He felt like the only thing keeping me from falling apart.

The moment shattered when the door slammed open.

I jerked away from Ethan.

And when I turned—

Tessa was standing there.

Eyes wide.

Mouth slightly open.

Looking at us like she had just watched a train wreck happen in slow motion.

And I knew.

I had just lost her for good.

Tessa officially sees them together—this time, there's no escaping the truth.

The fallout is about to get worse—Liv and Ethan's secret has reached a breaking point.

Next chapter: Tessa confronts Ethan, and Liv is forced to choose between love and friendship.