Ethan's words echoed in my mind long after I stepped out of the car.
I don't want to lose what we have.
What did we even have? A lie? A performance? Or something real buried beneath all the pretending?
I barely remembered walking to my door, mumbling a quick goodbye, or even closing it behind me. All I could think about was the way he looked at me like I mattered. Not just as part of some agreement, but as… me. Scarlet. The quiet girl who never stood out until this fake relationship thrust her into the center of attention.
Sleep didn't come easily that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I replayed the look on Ethan's face. The sincerity in his voice. The hesitation in his body, like he was teetering on the edge of saying something more. And my own response, barely more than a whisper: I don't either.
I meant it. That was the scariest part.
By the time morning came, my head was a mess. But I didn't have time to dwell on it. Ethan had texted me just after sunrise:
Ethan: Brunch at my place. Family will be there. You in?
I stared at the screen for a long time before typing my reply.
Me: Sure. What time?
Ethan: 10. You'll be fine. I'll be with you.
That last part made me smile and panic.
Dressing for his house was an ordeal in itself. I stood in front of my closet like I was preparing for battle. I didn't want to overdo it, but I also didn't want to look like I'd just rolled out of bed. After too much overthinking, I settled on a simple maroon dress and a light denim jacket.
Ethan was already waiting in the driveway when I stepped out. He smiled the moment he saw me.
"You look… good," he said, eyes lingering just a second too long before shifting to the passenger side door. "Ready?"
I nodded and slid into the car, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in my chest.
The ride to his house was filled with casual chatter, music, school, hockey, but underneath it all, there was a current of tension. Unspoken things neither of us knew how to voice. Not yet.
His house was just as I remembered it: big, warm, and full of life. His mom greeted me at the door with a tight hug, while his younger sister grinned at me like I was her new favorite person. The only person who didn't look thrilled was his dad.
We sat around a large oak dining table, the kind you only see in furniture ads. Brunch was already laid out pancakes, fruit, eggs, bacon, and more. I tried to relax, to smile, and make conversation like a normal girlfriend would. Ethan kept his hand lightly resting on mine the entire time, like a silent reassurance.
"So, Scarlet," his mother began, setting her glass down. "You've been keeping our boy focused. He hasn't skipped practice in weeks."
I laughed nervously. "I'm just here for moral support."
"Well, keep it up," she said warmly. "He's a better version of himself lately. You've grounded him."
Ethan's hand squeezed mine gently under the table, and I glanced at him. He was smiling, but there was something flickering in his eyes again, that softness, that… something.
His father, however, wasn't as easily won over.
"Focused or not," he said, cutting his bacon with a bit too much force, "he needs to remember that hockey isn't forever. There are scholarships on the line. Reputation matters."
Ethan stiffened beside me.
"He knows that, sir," I said quickly, not even sure why I was jumping to his defense. "He's been working hard. I've seen it."
The silence that followed was thick. Ethan's dad looked at me, then nodded once.
"Good."
After brunch, Ethan and I escaped to his room under the pretense of watching a movie. The moment the door closed behind us, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
"You didn't have to do that," he said quietly, setting down his phone.
"Do what?"
"Stand up for me."
I shrugged. "Felt like the right thing to do."
Ethan looked at me, really looked, and for a moment, neither of us moved. The air between us shifted.
"I meant what I said last night," he said finally. "About not wanting to lose this."
I swallowed hard, my heartbeat thudding in my ears. "So did I."
He took a slow step toward me. "I don't know what this is turning into, Scarlet. But it doesn't feel fake anymore. Not to me."
And then it happened.
He leaned in, slow, giving me every chance to pull away. But I didn't. I didn't want to. When his lips touched mine, it wasn't fireworks or explosions, it was something quieter, deeper. A connection I hadn't expected, but couldn't deny.
The kiss was gentle at first, cautious. Then he pulled me closer, his hands finding my waist, and I let myself melt into him.
But just as quickly as it started, it ended.
Ethan pulled back, his breathing unsteady. "Sorry. That was"
"No," I said quickly, breathless. "Don't apologize."
He looked at me like he was trying to figure me out. "What are we doing, Scarlet?"
"I don't know," I whispered. "But I don't want to stop."
He gave a small laugh, more of a nervous exhale. "Me neither."
We sat on the edge of his bed, side by side. Not touching now, but not far apart either. My mind raced with questions, with possibilities, with the sinking realization that I was falling hard and fast.
A sharp knock interrupted the moment. His sister popped her head in. "Mom says it's time to walk Scarlet out."
I stood slowly, brushing my dress down, my fingers still tingling from the kiss.
Ethan walked me to the door. We stood awkwardly on the porch for a beat, the weight of everything pressing in.
"I'll text you," he said.
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
As I turned to leave, he called after me.
"Scarlet?"
I looked back.
"I meant it. Every word."
This time, I let my smile reach my eyes. "I know."
And as I walked away, one thought rang loud in my head: this was no longer pretend.