After the kiss, I felt a little dazed. My cheeks were hot, my mind racing with questions. For a moment, it was like the old days of just me and Ethan, tangled up in complicated feelings.

But then I pulled away. I needed to breathe. I left the living room and headed into the hallway, rubbing my arms. I could hear Lucas in the background, his laughter mixing with the television.

The house was so quiet except for those soft sounds. I paused by the doorway, trying to steady myself.

Ethan’s ...