The Best Friend’s Ultimatum

I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing.

Over and over. Relentless. Unforgiving.

The room was still dark, the early morning light barely creeping through the curtains.

Ethan's arm was draped over my waist, his body warm against mine. Too warm. Too familiar.

I swallowed hard, staring at the ceiling.

How many times had I told myself this was the last time?

How many times had I tried to leave, only to end up right back here—wrapped up in him, drowning in something that should have never been this deep?

My phone vibrated again; the sound sharp against the silence.

I reached for it, my breath catching the second I saw the name.

Tessa.

A flood of missed calls.

And one message—short, sharp, final.

Tessa: We need to talk. Now.

A lump formed in my throat.

Because I already knew.

She wasn't calling to check on me.

She was calling to end this.

And maybe?

Maybe I deserved it.

I slipped out from under Ethan's arm, careful not to wake him.

He stirred for a second, his brow furrowing in sleep, but didn't open his eyes.

Good.

Because if he did, I knew exactly what would happen.

I wouldn't leave.

I wouldn't answer Tessa.

I'd stay.

And I wasn't sure I could handle the consequences of that choice.

So, I grabbed my hoodie, shoved my feet into my sneakers, and slipped out the door before I could talk myself out of it.

Tessa was already waiting.

She leaned against her car, arms crossed, her expression a mix of anger and something worse.

Disappointment.

My stomach twisted.

She had always been the one person who never looked at me like that.

Not when I made mistakes.

Not when I let Ethan ruin me over and over again.

But this time?

This time was different.

I stepped forward, shoving my hands into my hoodie pocket.

"Tess."

She let out a sharp exhale, shaking her head.

"Don't," she said, her voice cold.

My chest tightened.

Because I had heard Tessa mad before.

But never like this.

Never like she was done.

She looked me over, her gaze settling on the hoodie I was wearing.

Ethan's hoodie.

Her jaw clenched.

"You went back to him."

It wasn't a question.

It was a statement.

Like she already knew.

Like she had been expecting it.

And somehow, that made it so much worse.

I swallowed.

"I—"

Tessa let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

"You know what? Don't even bother lying."

I snapped my mouth shut.

Because she was right.

And we both knew it.

Tessa took a step closer, her eyes flashing.

"You need to get out, Liv."

My chest tightened.

"I can't."

Tessa's expression hardened.

"Why not?"

I hesitated.

Because I didn't have an answer.

Because every reason I had to leave was also a reason I couldn't.

Because Ethan was a storm, and I was already drowning.

And the worst part?

I didn't want to come up for air.

Tessa exhaled, looking me over like she was memorizing me.

Like she was saying goodbye.

My stomach dropped.

She wouldn't.

She wouldn't actually walk away.

Right?

But then she spoke.

And every word shattered me.

"This is it, Liv."

She took another step back, her eyes bright with something sharp.

"You pick him?"

She swallowed hard.

"You lose me."

I blinked.

The words hung between us, heavy, suffocating.

Like she had just dropped a bomb I hadn't been expecting.

Except, I had.

I had just hoped she wouldn't go through with it.

I opened my mouth, desperate to say something, to fix this—

But nothing came out.

Because how do you fix something when you know you're the reason it's broken?

Tessa's jaw clenched.

"You don't mean that," I whispered.

She laughed, but there was no humor in it.

"Don't I?"

She shook her head, stepping back again.

"You think this is about me being mad at you?"

Her voice cracked.

"I'm scared for you, Liv."

My throat closed.

Because I knew that.

I had always known that.

But I wasn't sure I deserved it.

Tessa exhaled.

"You can't save him, Liv."

Her voice was softer now, but it hit just as hard.

"You're only going to lose yourself trying."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Because I had been thinking the same thing.

Because deep down, I had always known that loving Ethan wasn't saving him.

It was destroying me.

But even then…

Even now…

I still wanted him.

Tessa gripped her keys, nodding to herself.

Like she was resolving something inside her.

Like she was preparing to let me go.

"I hope I'm wrong," she whispered.

"But if I'm not…"

She shook her head, her voice breaking.

"I hope you survive him."

Then—

She turned.

Walked to her car.

Got in.

And drove away.

And just like that—

She was gone.

I stood there, my breath shallow, my hands shaking.

Watching the road where Tessa had been.

Waiting.

Waiting for her to come back.

To take it back.

To tell me she didn't mean it.

But she didn't.

Because she did.

And now?

Now I had to live with my choice.

My phone vibrated in my hand.

I glanced down, my vision still blurring with unshed tears.

A text.

From Ethan.

Ethan: Come back inside, Liv.

A shiver crawled down my spine.

Because somehow?

He already knew.

He always knew.

And now that Tessa was gone?

There was nothing stopping him from keeping me.

Tessa gives Liv a brutal ultimatum—Ethan or their friendship.

Liv makes her choice… and loses Tessa.

Ethan already knows she stayed—so what happens now?

What does Liv's decision really mean for her future?