Sofia's question hangs in the air like a heavy weight. My heart pounds in my chest as I try to read her expression. Is she being serious? Is she trying to stir trouble?
I glance at Ethan, who's still on the phone, his back turned to us. I'm not sure what to say to Sofia, but I can feel the heat of her gaze on me, expectant and calculating.
"I don't know," I finally say, my voice quieter than I intended. "I really don't know."
Sofia raises an eyebrow, clearly amused by my uncertainty. "That's the thing about Ethan, right? He's always surrounded by drama. He's with Charlotte, but he's always hanging around you. It's like he can't make up his mind."
I swallow hard, my stomach twisting. Why does it feel like she knows exactly what I'm thinking? Or maybe she's just saying what's already in the back of my mind—the truth that I've been avoiding.
"Look, I didn't come over here to make you uncomfortable," Sofia says, her tone suddenly softer. "I just thought you should know that you're not the only one who's noticed how he acts around you."
My heart skips a beat. "What do you mean?"
Sofia glances over at Ethan, then back at me. "I mean, I see the way he looks at you. It's like he's waiting for the right moment to make a move. But he's stuck in this situation with Charlotte."
I try to ignore the way her words twist inside me. Is she just trying to mess with me, or does she actually know something I don't?
Before I can respond, Ethan hangs up the phone and walks over to us, his expression apologetic. "Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you waiting. I just…" He glances at Sofia and then back at me. "I need to talk to you, alone."
Sofia gives us a knowing look, her lips curling into a half-smile. "I'll leave you two to it. Don't take too long, though. Drama's always better when it's fresh."
She walks away before either of us can say anything, leaving me standing there with Ethan, my heart in my throat. What does he want to talk about now?
He looks at me for a moment, like he's trying to find the right words. "Listen, I know this is all crazy, but I can't keep pretending like nothing's going on. I know you're probably confused, and I don't blame you. But I just need to be honest with you."
My pulse quickens as I wait for him to continue. Every word feels like it could change everything.
"I care about you," he finally says, his voice low. "More than I should. And I don't know what that means, but I can't stop thinking about you."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. He's been thinking about me? But he's with Charlotte. And I know I shouldn't feel this way, but something inside me stirs, a mixture of excitement and fear.
"Ethan, you're with her," I remind him, my voice barely above a whisper.
He nods, looking like he's struggling to find the right words. "I know. But I can't keep pretending I don't feel this way about you. I don't know what to do about it, but I need you to know."
I feel my chest tighten, the weight of his confession making it hard to breathe. This is the moment I've dreamed of, but now that it's here, I'm not sure what to do with it.
I don't know if I'm ready to be the one to make a choice, especially not when it feels like everything is falling apart around me.