Ladies Man

What l had to do

I had been avoiding Ethan for weeks. It wasn't hard, really. Work had picked up, and I had found enough excuses to dodge his calls and texts, burying myself in deadlines and meetings. But even as I threw myself into distractions, he was always at the back of my mind, a constant presence I couldn't shake.

The truth was, I couldn't bear to see him. Not after hearing him talk about Emma with that twinkle in his eye—the one that I had always secretly hoped was reserved for me. It wasn't as if he hadn't been with other women before. There had been flings, a couple of brief relationships that never went anywhere. But this time felt different. The way he spoke about Emma, with that quiet reverence, the warmth in his voice—it wasn't something I had never heard from him before. It scared me, knowing that this wasn't just another passing fancy. This was real.

So I kept my distance, convincing myself that it was for the best. I just needed space. Space to adjust to the idea of him being with someone else. Space to remind myself that Ethan was never mine to begin with.

It was a Friday evening when it happened—the day he showed up unannounced, bringing my carefully constructed walls crashing down.

I had just gotten home from work, kicking off my shoes and settling into the couch with a glass of wine. The apartment was quiet, and for a moment, I let myself enjoy the solitude. It had become my new normal, this isolation. It hurt to be away from Ethan, but it hurt even more to think about facing him with Emma by his side.

Just as I was sinking into the cushions, there was a knock at the door. My heart jumped, and for a split second, I hoped it was anything but what I feared.

I opened the door to find Ethan standing there, a grin on his face as if nothing had changed. And standing beside him was a woman. She was gorgeous, more beautiful than I had imagined Emma to be, with flawless skin, bright eyes, and a natural grace that seemed almost effortless. She wore a casual sundress that complemented her figure, and the warmth of her smile lit up the entire hallway. I didn't need to ask who she was; I could tell just by the way she looked at him. This had to be Emma.

"Hey, stranger," Ethan said, his voice light and playful, though I could see a flicker of concern behind his easygoing demeanor. "Thought we'd stop by since you've been impossible to get ahold of lately."

My throat tightened as I smiled weakly, my gaze darting between Ethan and the woman standing beside him. I could feel my stomach twisting in knots. This was it—the moment I had been avoiding for so long.

"Hi," I said, my voice sounding smaller than I intended. The woman stepped forward before I could say anything more, closing the distance between us with an open and friendly demeanor.

"Hi! I'm Emma," she said brightly, extending her hand as if we had already been friends for years. "I've heard so much about you."

And there it was—confirmation. I had guessed right. This was Emma, the woman who had somehow managed to capture Ethan's heart in a way no one else had before. I managed to shake her hand, though I felt like I was watching the entire scene unfold from outside of myself.

"Nice to meet you, Emma," I said, forcing the words past the lump in my throat. "Ethan's told me a lot about you too."

Ethan's eyes flickered between us, clearly eager for us to get along. "Sophia's the best," he said, placing an arm around Emma's shoulders. "She's been my rock for years. You're going to love her."

My chest constricted at his words, though I kept my expression neutral. It was strange, hearing him talk about me as if I was still a central part of his life when, in reality, I had been pulling away for weeks. But that's how Ethan was—he never questioned the people he loved. He just trusted that they would always be there, no matter what.

"Come in," I said, stepping aside and motioning for them to enter. My mind raced, trying to process the fact that they were standing in my apartment—together. I had done everything I could to avoid this moment, and yet here it was, crashing into me like a tidal wave.

As they settled into the living room, I busied myself in the kitchen, using the excuse of making tea to give myself a few moments to collect my thoughts. From where I stood, I could hear their laughter, the easy banter between them that felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

Emma wasn't just beautiful—she was funny, kind, and charming in every way that mattered. The kind of woman who could make anyone feel comfortable in her presence. The kind of woman who, deep down, I knew Ethan deserved.

When I finally returned with the tea, I found them sitting close on the couch, their hands intertwined. I couldn't help but notice the way Ethan looked at her, with a tenderness I had never seen before. It was as if the world around them had disappeared, and they were the only two people left in it.

"So, Sophia," Emma said, turning her attention to me with that dazzling smile of hers. "Ethan told me you're the one who keeps him sane. I don't know how you do it, but thank you."

I laughed, though it felt hollow. "It's not that hard," I said, taking a seat across from them. "He's not as tough as he pretends to be."

Ethan chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Don't believe her. I'm a handful."

We all laughed, and for a brief moment, everything felt normal. Like it used to. But the longer I sat there, watching them together, the more I realized that everything had changed. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't ignore the truth that was staring me in the face.

Emma was perfect for Ethan. She was everything he needed—everything I had always hoped to be for him, but never quite managed to become.

As the evening wore on, I found myself withdrawing, the weight of my emotions pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. It was hard to watch them together, to see the way they fit so seamlessly into each other's lives. Hard to accept that I had been holding onto something that was never mine to claim.

And in that moment, I knew what I had to do. I had to let him go. Not just physically, but emotionally. I had to accept that Ethan's happiness was no longer tied to me. That he had found someone who could give him the love and stability I had always been too afraid to offer.

By the time they left, I was exhausted—emotionally drained in a way I hadn't been prepared for. Ethan hugged me tightly before he went, and I clung to him for just a second longer than usual, knowing that this was the beginning of the end.

As they walked out the door, hand in hand, I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me. It wasn't easy—watching the man I loved walk away with someone else—but it was necessary. Because in the end, I wanted what was best for Ethan. And that meant stepping aside, letting Emma take the place in his life that I could never truly fill.