Second Chances Under the Tree

LL

iny living room. My heart was racing faster than the snow

phie's name in my contacts and sh

ered. "Do you know

d besides, it's just 9 p.m," I bl

alking about?" Sophi

surge of excitement coursing through me

long pause

ophie fin

to my ear. "And I just know he feels the same way. He's probably just scared I'l

hie. The silence stretched

e screen to make sure the call hadn't droppe

hough her voice sounded straine

. "I mean, why wouldn't I be? This is Ethan we're talki

"Well... good

No pep talk? No 'you've got this, Callie, you'r

ou're amazing, Ethan would be lucky to have you, bl

. "You're the best. I'll call yo

and knocked on the door, my hea

the door. "Miss Callie," she said.

" I asked as I

lor," she replied, ge

called out, as

room and hugged him tightly. "

lt hesitant around me, and when I p

okay?" I asked,

ickly, gesturing for me

fore brushing aside my unease... "Actuall

ng back and folding h

n my tongue as movement in the corner of my eye c

ped out of

one of Ethan's oversized h

g. I stood up, stumbling back. "What

then back at me, wait

..." He glanced at Sophie, who nodded slightly, encouraging him. "Sop

dn't breathe as the

ed, barely able t

ie said softly, stepping forward.

nother step. "You... you've been s

muttered. "We didn't plan

napped. "Ju

looked at them. This wasn't h

he flinched, but I didn't care. "You knew I was coming here t

e started, but

you I was going to confess my feelings to Ethan. I told you how much he meant to me

ze to Ethan. "And you," I muttered. "I thought you liked me. The way you treated me so

ook a step toward me. "Callie

arms up. "That all of this was just in my head

at I mean. I care about you deeply, Callie. But not in t

like a punch to t

ways checking in on me, making sure I was okay, being there when I needed

," Ethan replied. "Because I care abo

mi

, increasing the ache in m

nd you. You sat there, listening to me pour my heart out about Ethan over and over again. H

Sophie began, but I cut he

voice rising. "You didn't know how to be hone

chest ached, my vision blurred w

this," I choked out,

e, but I barely felt it. I took a deep breath, i

over them. Not anymore. Th

ned my browser, and typed into the se

ults until one caught my eye: "Discreet.

xactly wha

in heartbreak caused by peo

to get fucked