I Picked Up My Best Friend After Her Breakup… Then She Asked, “Why Didn’t I Choose You?”
Chapter 2
The next morning, Ethan found Sarah sitting on the front steps of her house.
She had apparently been there for a while.
She was wearing an oversized sweater, jeans, and the expression of someone who had barely slept.
Ethan parked beside the curb.
“You look terrible.”
She glared at him.
“Good morning to you too.”
He held up a paper bag.
“Coffee.”
Her expression softened.
“You brought breakfast?”
“I know you.”
She took the bag.
“You really do.”
That sentence stayed with him.
They sat on the steps.
For several minutes, they ate without speaking.
Then Sarah sighed.
“I feel stupid.”
“You’re not stupid.”
“I gave Daniel five years.”
“That doesn’t make you stupid.”
“I ignored things.”
“Everyone does.”
She looked at him.
“You’ve always hated him.”
“I didn’t hate him.”
“You did.”
“I disliked his personality.”
Sarah laughed for the first time since the breakup.
“There he is.”
“Who?”
“My brutally honest Ethan.”
He smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
She took a sip of coffee.
Then her smile disappeared.
“He wants his things.”
“Already?”
“He’s coming this afternoon.”
Ethan nodded.
“Want me here?”
Sarah looked at him.
“Would you?”
“Always.”
He expected her to say yes.
Instead, she looked away.
“I don’t know.”
That surprised him.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to spend the entire afternoon hiding behind you.”
Ethan understood.
She needed to do this herself.
“Okay.”
Sarah looked at him.
“But if you need me—”
“I know.”
He stood.
“Call me.”
She nodded.
He walked back to his truck.
Before he opened the door, Sarah called his name.
“Ethan?”
He turned.
She was still sitting on the steps.
“Thank you.”
He smiled.
“Anytime.”
That afternoon, Ethan tried to stay away.
He lasted forty-seven minutes.
Then his phone rang.
Sarah.
He answered.
“Hey.”
Her voice was quiet.
“Can you come?”
He was already grabbing his keys.
When Ethan arrived, Daniel’s car was still outside.
Ethan parked behind it.
He could hear voices through the open front door.
Daniel was angry.
Sarah was calm.
That somehow made Ethan angrier.
He stepped inside.
Daniel looked at him.
“You.”
Ethan didn’t answer.
Sarah stood near the staircase.
“I asked him to come.”
Daniel laughed.
“Of course you did.”
Ethan looked at Sarah.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
Daniel grabbed a box.
“You know what your problem is, Sarah?”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Don’t.”
Daniel looked at him.
“This doesn’t concern you.”
“Then don’t involve me.”
Daniel scoffed.
“You’ve always been waiting for this.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“Waiting for what?”
“For me to screw up.”
Sarah stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Daniel looked at her.
Then he said something that changed the room.
“You’ve always loved him anyway.”
Sarah froze.
Ethan’s heart stopped.
Daniel continued.
“Maybe that’s why this never worked.”
Sarah looked at Ethan.
Ethan looked back.
Neither spoke.
Daniel picked up the last box.
“I’m done.”
He walked out.
The front door slammed.
Sarah stood completely still.
Ethan didn’t move.
Finally, she whispered:
“Did he mean that?”
Ethan swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
Sarah looked at him.
“You do.”
He looked away.
Because he did know.
And he had spent fifteen years pretending he didn’t.
