The Distance Between Us

The air outside was sharp.

Cold enough to bite at my skin, but not enough to wake me up from this nightmare.

I was free.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

But freedom shouldn't feel this heavy.

Shouldn't feel like a noose tightening instead of breaking.

I kept walking.

Step after step.

Away from him.

Away from everything.

But with every breath, I realized—

No matter how far I went, Ethan was still with me.

Tessa walked beside me, quiet.

She hadn't spoken much since we left.

Since she had given me the choice.

Since I had said the words that changed everything.

"What do I have to do?"

She had told me.

And now?

Now she was waiting.

Waiting for me to break.

Because she knew the truth.

The one I wasn't ready to say out loud.

I might have walked away from Ethan.

But I hadn't let him go.

Not yet.

I exhaled, watching the steam of my breath curl in the night air.

"We should talk about the plan."

Tessa's steps didn't slow.

She didn't look at me.

Then—

"You don't want to hear the plan."

I swallowed hard.

"Yes, I do."

She laughed.

But it wasn't amused.

"You want to pretend this isn't happening."

I stopped walking.

So did she.

For the first time since we left, she turned to face me.

And the look in her eyes?

It cut straight through me.

Because I had seen that look before.

Disappointment.

Exhaustion.

A final warning.

I had ignored it last time.

I couldn't afford to ignore it now.

"You don't get to hesitate," Tessa said.

Her voice was sharp. Unforgiving.

"We don't get second chances, Liv. We either end this, or we let him own us forever."

The word own sent a chill down my spine.

Because that's exactly what this was.

A game of control.

And for too long, I had let Ethan win.

I forced myself to hold her gaze.

And for once, I didn't look away.

"What's the plan?"

Tessa exhaled, crossing her arms.

"We need leverage."

I nodded slowly.

"And we need to move fast."

My stomach tightened. "How fast?"

She gave me a look.

"Tonight."

I stiffened.

Because that?

That meant there was no thinking.

No waiting.

No room for doubt.

But I had doubt.

God, I had so much doubt.

And the worst part?

Tessa knew it.

She saw it all over my face.

And for the first time, I thought she might actually walk away.

Tessa took a slow breath.

Then—

"Do you still love him?"

I flinched.

Because it wasn't a simple question.

It was a loaded gun.

One I wasn't sure I could survive.

I opened my mouth.

Paused.

Closed it.

Because I knew the answer.

I just wasn't sure if I was strong enough to say it.

"Yes," I whispered.

The word cut me open.

Like a blade across my ribs.

Tessa nodded.

Like she had expected that answer.

Like she had been waiting for it.

And then—

"Then you better learn to hate him faster."

I exhaled, shaking.

I wasn't ready.

I wasn't strong enough.

But I had to be.

Because love hadn't saved me.

And it sure as hell wasn't going to save Ethan.

I clenched my fists.

Then—

I nodded.

Tessa studied me.

Then, finally—

She handed me a phone.

With one number dialed.

One final call to make.

"This is it," she said.

"No turning back."

I looked at the screen.

My fingers hovered over call.

And then—

I pressed it.

The phone rang once.

Twice.

Then—

A voice I hadn't heard in too long.

One that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Well, well."

A slow chuckle.

"I was wondering when you'd finally call."

My breath caught.

Because it wasn't Ethan.

It was Jax.

And this?

This was about to change everything.

Liv finally accepts the truth—she still loves Ethan, but she has to end this.

Tessa forces Liv to act—there's no more time for hesitation.

The last-minute twist—Liv doesn't call Ethan. She calls Jax.

What deal does she make with the devil himself?