Chapter 2

Ethan listened to my conversation with Ryan, his mouth set in a hard line as he grumbled quietly.

"How could Ryan say that about you? There's nothing wrong with you—he just doesn't appreciate what he has," he said.

I lowered my head, feeling guilty. "It was my fault."

Maybe I just wanted a servant, not a boyfriend.

Ethan frowned. "Chloe, you didn't do anything wrong. Don't doubt yourself."

I looked at him in surprise. "Why do you say that?"

He kept his eyes on the floor, not looking at me. "Honestly, being a boyfriend means doing all the 'servant stuff.' That's just how it is.

"Just because Ryan couldn't do it doesn't mean other guys can't," he added.

I pressed him, "Who would really do all that for me?"

Ryan was never what I truly wanted.

I wanted someone who'd go along with me and make me their priority.

Ethan stepped closer, sounding offhand. "Me? If I had a girlfriend, anything she wants, I'll make it happen for her."

I scoffed, "Yeah, right. Like you could actually pull that off."

He kept his gaze locked on me, eyes dark and voice almost hypnotic. "Wanna see if I mean it?"

'What am I supposed to try?' I wondered.

Does he mean try him?

I couldn't take my eyes off him.

Ethan was ridiculously good-looking, with a jawline and cheekbones that looked like they'd been carved by a sculptor.

But right now, his ears were flushed red.

He looked so innocent, it was almost adorable.

That was exactly my type.

I swallowed hard. "Ethan, we've known each other for four years now."

Ethan looked down, not sure what was on his mind. "Yeah."

The air was thick with silence as we both fell quiet for a moment.

The room was made for couples—it was all about romance.

Outside the huge windows, the city lights stretched out below us, painting the night with a glow.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Ethan, have you ever you know, been with someone before?" I asked.

Ethan froze at my question.

His bright eyes locked onto mine.

He swallowed hard and shook his head.

I asked him again, "Wanna try it with me?"

His eyes widened, a flicker of surprise flashing across his face.

Whether it was nerves or something else, his eyes started to glisten.

For someone so tall, he suddenly looked a little vulnerable.

His voice was hoarse. "Are you just doing this to get back at Ryan?"

I nudged his calf with my foot. "Didn't you tell me to try it?"

The first time I met Ethan was at the start of freshman year, right when college first began.

Ryan organized a group dinner with his roommates and mine.

We added each other on social media.

But we only really started to get close about six months ago.

I was working at a boba shop, and it was pouring outside, so I couldn't get home.

Ryan was busy, so he asked Ethan to come pick me up.

Ethan was so sweet—he actually came out in the heavy rain to get me, and ended up completely drenched.

On my birthday, Ryan promised he'd take me to the midnight movie.

But right after we finished the cake, he suddenly said, "A girl from my class twisted her ankle—it's pretty bad.

"Chloe, happy birthday. I already paid for dinner. You head back to campus, I gotta go check on her," he said.

I grabbed his hand. "Aren't we supposed to watch the movie together?"

"I can't make it to the movie, Chloe. How about Ethan goes with you instead? He's been dying to see it lately."

Ryan ditched me to take care of that girl from his class.

Ethan showed up to hang out with me.

He brought two cups of his homemade Chai Latte.

That stuff was my favorite.

Last month, I had a fever and had to go to the ER.

I called Ryan.

He didn't pick up.

While I was waiting for my test results, I couldn't stay awake and ended up falling asleep right there in the hospital lobby.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

Ethan had his head resting on the edge of my bed, as if he'd been keeping vigil for hours.

Being sick made me lose control—I couldn't stop crying, tears streaming down my face.

I wanted to call Ryan, but as soon as I opened my phone, I saw his message: [Just a fever. Pop a pill and you'll be fine.]

All the signs were there—Ryan just wasn't into me anymore.

He said I was too controlling, that he needed some space.

So he found his breathing room in another girl's arms.

When Ethan woke up to my crying, he just quietly handed me a tissue.

To me, Ethan was always that quiet, soft-hearted guy—never saying much, but always showing up when you needed him.