Second Chances Under the Tree

CALLIE

I gripped my phone tightly, pacing back and forth in my tiny living room. My heart was racing faster than the snowstorm brewing outside. This was it. Tonight was the night.

Without overthinking it, I hit Sophie's name in my contacts and she picked up after the second ring.

"Callie?" she answered. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Sophie, I can't wait anymore, and besides, it's just 9 p.m," I blurted out. "Tonight is the night."

"What are you even talking about?" Sophie asked with a groan.

"I'm confessing!" I replied, feeling a surge of excitement coursing through me. "I'm going to tell Ethan how I feel."

There was a long pause on her end.

"What?" Sophie finally said.

"I've been holding it in for too long," I explained, clutching the phone closer to my ear. "And I just know he feels the same way. He's probably just scared I'll turn him down or something. But I'll make it easy for him. I'll tell him first."

Still no response from Sophie. The silence stretched awkwardly, and I frowned.

"Sophie?" I called out, glancing at the phone screen to make sure the call hadn't dropped. "What's with the weird vibe? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said quickly, though her voice sounded strained. "Are you... sure about this?"

"Of course I'm sure," I said, walking toward the window. "I mean, why wouldn't I be? This is Ethan we're talking about. You know how long I've been crazy about him."

Sophie sighed. "Well... good luck, I guess."

"Guess?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "That's it? No pep talk? No 'you've got this, Callie, you're amazing, and Ethan would be lucky to have you'?"

"Yeah, yeah," Sophie said, her tone lighter now. "You're amazing, Ethan would be lucky to have you, blah, blah. Just don't overthink it, okay? Go for it."

"Thanks, Soph," I said, grinning. "You're the best. I'll call you after and tell you how it went!"

I stood outside Ethan's building and knocked on the door, my heart thudding loudly in my chest. 

A moment later, Ethan's maid opened the door. "Miss Callie," she said. "Come in, it's freezing out there."

"Is Ethan here?" I asked as I stepped inside.

"Yes, he's in the parlor," she replied, gesturing down the hall.

"Callie," Ethan called out, as he sighted me.

Without thinking, I crossed the room and hugged him tightly. "Hi," I said, smiling up at him.

But something felt off. His arms felt hesitant around me, and when I pulled back, he wasn't really smiling.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Yeah, yeah," he said quickly, gesturing for me to sit down. "What's up?"

I hesitated, studying him for a moment before brushing aside my unease... "Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you."

"Oh?" he asked, sitting back and folding his arms. "What's that?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words froze on my tongue as movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned, and my heart stopped.

Sophie stepped out of his bedroom.

She was dressed casually in one of Ethan's oversized hoodies, her hair tied back.

 "Sophie?"I asked, my voice trembling. I stood up, stumbling back. "What's going on? What are you doing here?"