Chapter 3

Ethan and Claire stood in our living room with enough gift bags to stock a holiday display.

My parents were delighted to see him. Our families had lived on the same street when my brother and I were younger, and my parents had always treated Ethan like another son.

Claire sat beside my mother on the couch, charming her within minutes.

"I remember you," Mom said. "You dated Ethan years ago, didn't you?"

Claire smiled. "A long time ago. You haven't changed at all, Mrs. Carter."

Mom laughed so hard she touched her hair.

Ethan watched me come downstairs. His gaze stayed on me, searching for last night's jealousy.

I gave him none.

"Morning, Ethan. Claire."

His eyebrows drew together. When my brother teased us, Ethan had always encouraged the idea that he saw me as family. I had once used a warmer, more intimate nickname for him in private. Now even his first name sounded formal.

In the kitchen, my phone buzzed.

What game are you playing?

I read his text while cutting myself a slice of coffee cake. Then I put the phone facedown.

Claire appeared in the doorway a moment later.

"Ethan said you have a silver gown that might work for my gala," she said. "I hope you don't mind. Everything I shipped is still in storage."

Behind her, Ethan waited as if the decision had already been made.

"I do mind," I said.

Claire blinked. "I would have it cleaned."

"I haven't worn it myself yet, and it was altered for me. You'll need something that fits you."

Ethan stepped into the kitchen. "Mia, it's one dress."

"Then buying another one should be easy."

His eyes narrowed. "You're doing this because of last night."

"I'm saying no because it's mine."

My mother called from the living room before he could answer. Claire gave me a wounded look and walked out. Ethan remained for another second.

"You never used to be this selfish," he said under his breath.

I cut another bite of cake. "You never had to hear no before."

That was the first time I saw real alarm replace irritation on his face.

At lunch, Ethan automatically pulled out the chair beside mine.

My brother stopped behind him. "That's my seat."

Ethan looked back. "There are twelve chairs."

"And you can use the one next to Claire."

My brother took Ethan by the shoulder and steered him around the table before he could argue. Ethan ended up across from me, with Claire at his side.

Halfway through the meal, he stepped outside to take a work call.

Mrs. Lewis brought out a platter of spicy fried chicken, one of his favorites. My hand moved before I thought. I picked up the serving fork and reached toward the empty plate across from me.

Then I changed direction and put the best piece on my brother's plate.

He stared at it.

"Eat," I said.

He took a bite immediately, as if I might demand it back.

Ethan returned a few minutes later. His gaze dropped to his empty plate and then moved to me.

My brother noticed.

"Food's right there," he said. "You're an adult. Serve yourself."

Dad hid a smile behind his water glass.

My mother, however, seemed to reach a conclusion. She looked from Ethan to Claire, then at me.

"Mia, Ethan finally brought a woman home. When are you going to bring someone for us to meet?"

For years, I had avoided every introduction by pointing out that Ethan was older and still single. If he was in no hurry, I had said, neither was I.

Mom had never known that I was waiting for him.

"Whenever you find someone interesting," I said. "Set it up."

Silence fell for half a second.

Then everyone started talking at once.

Mom asked if I meant it. Dad wanted to know what kind of man I liked. My brother hooked an arm around my shoulders.

"Finally. I know at least three guys who would cancel plans tonight if I told them you were available."

"One at a time," I said, laughing.

Across the table, Ethan's face had gone rigid.

"There's been a misunderstanding," he said suddenly. "Claire isn't my girlfriend. We're old friends."

Claire's smile froze.

My brother's eyes moved between the three of us. "So you're single too? Great. Maybe I should set you up with Mia."

My stomach clenched even though I knew he was joking.

Ethan kicked my brother under the table.

"Don't be stupid," he said. "Mia's like a sister to me."

There it was again.

Three years in private. A sister in public.

For a heartbeat, the grief from my first life pressed against my ribs. Then it passed.

I pinched my brother's arm. "Quit making things weird. Ethan has known me since I was a kid."

Ethan looked at me sharply, but he could hardly object. I was only repeating the role he had written for me.

After lunch, he and Claire left without taking my dress.

I spent the next few days rebuilding pieces of my life that had nothing to do with Ethan.

I invited two friends to coffee and apologized for disappearing whenever they questioned my excuses. I did not tell them everything. I simply admitted that I had organized too much of my life around someone who had not deserved it.

They made me work for their forgiveness. Then they hugged me, ordered another round of pastries, and filled my phone with plans for the rest of the week.

One of them asked whether the unnamed man who had consumed three years of my schedule was finally gone.

"Yes," I said.

"Are you sure?"

The question was fair. They had heard me declare myself done before, only to cancel plans the next time Ethan called.

I turned my phone around. His messages were still unanswered.

"This time, I'm not waiting for him to become different."

My friend reached across the table and squeezed my hand. She did not praise me or ask for details. That restraint made the moment feel more real. I had not earned a victory yet. I had only stopped walking toward the same loss.

It felt good to be known again.

On the last evening of our shared fall breakOn the last evening of our week off, my brother appeared in my doorway wearing a jacket.

"Get dressed. You're coming with me."

"No."

"You don't even know where we're going."

"If you're the one asking, somewhere loud."

"Claire's birthday dinner."

I looked up from my book. "That makes me want to go even less."

He leaned against the frame. "Tonight could be a defining moment in Ethan's life. As his honorary little sister, don't you want to witness it?"

There was too much mischief in his voice.

"What do you know?"

"Nothing you can't learn by putting on shoes."

I almost refused again. Then I remembered Ethan's face when I agreed to meet other men, and Claire's careful message about him spending the night.

If Claire planned to take him back, I wanted to see it happen.

Not because I meant to fight her.

Because the sooner Ethan believed he had somewhere else to go, the sooner he might finally leave me alone.

I had no idea that before the night was over, Ethan would blow our secret apart himself.