Ladies Man

A mistake

Days had passed since the heated confrontation with Ethan, but the silence between us spoke louder than any argument ever could. His distance was palpable—colder and more distant than I had ever known him to be. Every message was curt, every call brief. It was as if he was actively pushing me away, and to protect myself, I was doing the same.

In the midst of this emotional storm, Liam had stepped in, filling the space left by Ethan's absence. He was kind and easygoing, always making me smile. Spending time with him felt like a breath of fresh air—a lightness I hadn't felt in weeks. He was exactly what I needed to escape the weight of Ethan's lingering presence.

Tonight, Liam had invited me to a restaurant renowned for its fancy dishes and elaborate menu. I was nervous, my heart fluttering as I slid into a sleek black dress that hugged my curves just right. The air in my room felt heavy, thick with anticipation. As I applied the last touch of lipstick, the faint scent of jasmine from my perfume mingled with the crisp autumn breeze wafting in through the window.

Liam looked equally sharp in his tailored suit, his cologne—a subtle hint of cedar and musk—greeting me as he held the door open. We entered the restaurant, its air warm and perfumed with the smell of rich dishes and delicate spices. Soft classical music played in the background, barely audible over the quiet murmur of conversations. Candlelight flickered on every table, casting a soft, golden glow that made everything feel intimate, secretive.

Liam's laughter was like a balm, soothing and effortless, his presence pulling me back from the edge of the emotional storm swirling inside me. The glass of wine in my hand was cool, the stem slick between my fingers as I sipped it, the fruity notes exploding on my tongue. For the first time in weeks, I felt lighter. I could almost forget about Ethan—almost.

But life has a way of throwing curveballs, especially when you least expect them.

As I leaned in to listen to Liam's latest story, my heart suddenly clenched. A strange prickle ran down my spine, a sixth sense warning me of something before my eyes found him. Ethan. He was across the room with Emma, who looked stunning in a soft blue dress that shimmered in the low light. The scent of roasted garlic and herbs filled the room, but all I could taste was bitterness.

My breath hitched in my throat, and the clatter of silverware from other tables faded into a dull hum. Ethan, dressed in a sharp, dark suit, was laughing at something Emma said. But then—our eyes met. A jolt of electricity shot through me, the air suddenly feeling too thick, too close. His gaze was intense, magnetic, lingering far longer than it should have. He looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and... longing. It was as if the whole room had disappeared, leaving just the two of us, locked in this silent battle.

I tore my gaze away, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. I forced a smile as Liam continued speaking, his voice growing faint against the roar of my own thoughts. But I could feel Ethan's eyes on me. His gaze was heavy, burning into me even when I wasn't looking. Every time I dared to glance in his direction, his stare was unwavering, dark, unreadable. My palms grew clammy, and my pulse quickened.

Liam's voice broke through the tension as he told a funny story about his coworkers, and I laughed—perhaps a little too loudly, trying to drown out the storm rising inside me. But it was no use. The room felt smaller, the walls closing in, and the flickering candlelight suddenly seemed too dim to cut through the suffocating weight of Ethan's presence.

"I'll be right back," I said, my voice barely steady as I stood up. I excused myself to the ladies' room, the plush carpet muting my hurried steps. The cool air in the hallway was a welcome relief, but it did little to calm the rapid thudding of my heart.

Inside the bathroom, I leaned against the cool marble sink, the smooth surface grounding me as I stared at my reflection. My pulse was still racing, my thoughts tangled and chaotic. I could no longer ignore the turmoil inside me. The back-and-forth with Ethan was tearing me apart, and now, seeing him here... I didn't know how to handle it.

The door creaked open behind me, and the familiar scent of his cologne—crisp, clean, with a hint of spice—wrapped around me like a vice. I didn't need to turn around to know it was him. His presence filled the small space, the air between us charged, almost suffocating. My skin prickled with awareness, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

"Ethan," I whispered, meeting his gaze through the mirror. My voice sounded small, shaky. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't answer right away, his breathing heavy, his eyes locked on mine. The soft hum of the air vent above us was the only sound as he stepped closer, the heat from his body radiating towards me. His eyes softened for a split second before hardening again. His voice came out low, tight. "I—couldn't sit there. Watching you with him."

My breath hitched, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. I turned to face him, feeling the warmth of his body closing in on mine. "Ethan, we can't—"

He took another step, his jaw tight, his eyes pleading. "Sophia, I... don't do this." His words were clipped, strained, like he was fighting against something inside. "Don't pretend like you don't feel it too."

The air in the room felt thick, heavy, like it was pressing down on me. His fingers brushed against my arm—barely a touch, but it sent a shock of heat through my skin, making my heart race even faster. "You think I don't feel it?" His voice was rough, filled with something raw and desperate. "I can't... I can't just let you go."

"Ethan, stop," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "This isn't—"

But before I could finish, his hands were on me, pulling me close. His lips crashed into mine with a force that took my breath away, the kiss hungry, filled with all the words we hadn't said. The taste of him was intoxicating—familiar and wild all at once. His hands gripped me tightly, as if he was afraid I would slip away, and my body betrayed me, melting into his.

The air between us sizzled with heat, every inch of my skin alive with sensation. His fingers tangled in my hair, his lips moving against mine with an urgency that made my knees weak. The scent of his cologne filled my senses, mingling with the warm scent of my own perfume, creating a heady mix that left me dizzy.

His lips left mine, trailing down my neck, his breath hot against my skin. I gasped, my fingers digging into his shoulders, trying to stay grounded as my entire body hummed with desire.

"Ethan," I breathed, barely able to speak. My pulse pounded in my ears, my voice shaky.

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His voice was thick with emotion as he whispered, "I miss you, Sophia. I miss us."

The words hung in the air between us, heavy and laden with meaning. My heart clenched painfully, my mind spinning with the weight of it all. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not like this.

"We... shouldn't be doing this," I managed to say, though my voice lacked conviction.

Ethan's eyes darkened, regret flickering in them as he stepped back, the absence of his body leaving me cold. "You're right," he muttered, his voice tight with frustration. "This... this was a mistake."

The words hit me hard, leaving a hollow ache in their wake. "A mistake?" I repeated, my voice barely more than a whisper.

He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze avoiding mine. "I'm sorry, Sophia. I don't... I don't know what came over me. Just... forget it happened."

And with that, he was gone, the bathroom door swinging shut behind him, leaving me alone in the stifling silence.

Without a second thought, I grabbed my purse and slipped out of the restaurant, disappearing into the night without saying goodbye to Liam.