Maybe

Chapter 47 "Jealousy Suits you"

I stepped inside the café, rubbing my hands together to fend off the chill. The line for coffee was mercifully short, and I shuffled forward, distractedly scrolling through my phone.

When I finally looked up, I froze.

Standing in front of me was none other than Ethan. Of course, it had to be him. His perfectly straight posture, the slight tilt of his head as he ordered, and the unmistakable air of casual confidence.

I half expected him to turn, smirk, or say something snide. But no, he acted as though I wasn’t even there.

Not a flicker of acknowledgment.

It annoyed me. No, infuriated me. But I masked it with a practiced smile, one that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

As he moved aside with his coffee in hand, our eyes briefly met. His expression was neutral, almost cold. It was as if he was seeing a stranger—not someone who had clung to him in a drunken haze just nights ago.

"Morning," I said, keeping my voice light and pleasant.

He glanced at me, nodded curtly, and muttered, “Morning.” Then, just like that, he turned back to his phone, scrolling lazily as though I was utterly insignificant.

My jaw tightened, but I kept my composure, stepping forward to place my order. I could feel his presence lingering behind me, probably sipping his coffee as if he hadn’t just delivered the coldest reply known to mankind.

When I turned back after getting my coffee, he was sitting at a table near the window. He didn’t look up, but I knew he knew I was there.

Two could play this game.

I strolled past him, ignoring him just as thoroughly as he had ignored me, and sat at the farthest table. I could still feel his gaze—just the faintest flicker—but I refused to look his way. If he wanted to act like a stranger, fine.

Let’s see how long he could keep it up.

Just as I was sipping my coffee and mentally plotting my day, a chirpy voice rang out. 

"Ethan! Oh my gosh, it is you!" 

I turned slightly, just enough to see a girl—a pretty, bubbly one at that—practically throwing herself at Ethan. She clung to his arm like they were old friends, her laugh a little too loud, her smile a little too bright. 

Ethan leaned back slightly, clearly uncomfortable, but he offered her a polite smile. "Hey, Claire." 

So, she had a name. 

"You never call! I thought you’d forgotten about me," she teased, her tone dripping with extra sweetness. 

He didn’t respond to that, instead glancing at me. To my surprise, he turned to me and suddenly said, "Did you sleep well?" 

What? 

I blinked, my coffee halfway to my lips. His tone was casual, as if we’d spent hours chatting over breakfast instead of barely acknowledging each other earlier. 

Claire looked between us, her curiosity piqued. "Oh, who’s this?" 

I didn’t bother answering, keeping my attention on my coffee. 

Ethan, however, leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk on his lips. "Someone close," he said, though the way he said it made it sound like more. 

Close my ass..

"Really?" Claire tilted her head, her gaze lingering on me a little too long. 

I ignored them both, scrolling through my phone as if they didn’t exist. But Ethan wasn’t done.