OFF THE ICE, INTO MY HEART

ONE UNPLANNED NIGHT

Sophie stopped in her tracks and turned to Emma, wearing a fake smile. The worst part wasn't just what she had done; it was the smile on her lips.

“That was a shitty choice of words, Emma. Watch your mouth.”

“Or what? What the f**k is this motherfucker going to do?” Emma closed the distance between them, but Lena caught her by the arm before she could move any closer.

“I never thought you'd betray me. I trusted you, but you just turned out to be a piece of shit.”

“Whatever.” Sophie left.

Lena's gaze shifted to Ethan, her expression hardened with fury. “I can't even look at you right now.” She paused and turned to all the guests behind her as they exchanged uneasy glances among themselves. “I'm so sorry y'all had to witness this bullshit. I never thought I'd see my boyfriend kissing another woman.”

She forced the pain down, refusing to break down in front of them. “Thank you all for coming, but I think it's best if we end this surprise party here and head home safely.” One by one, the guests made their way towards the door.

“You want me to stay with you?” Emma said with the same concerned expression Lena had seen a thousand times.

“I guess I'll be fine,” Lena managed to say.

“I'm not leaving you in this state. I'll be outside waiting for you.” Emma picked up her bag and walked over to Ethan. “I never expected this from you.” She left, slamming the door behind her.

“I just need a chance to explain myself. I would never hurt you. I love you so much.” His gaze lowered, and something like guilt flickered across his face.

She wouldn't dare fall for that. She would hate herself for that.

Not after what she'd just witnessed.

“I trusted you, but not anymore. You chose to cheat on me.”

“I promise you, I didn't know what came over me. She seduced me.”

Lena scoffed, uncertain if she had misheard him. “But you chose to fall for it; she didn't just fall into your arms by accident. You chose it.”

Ethan reached for her hand, silently begging her not to walk away. “Believe me when I say it meant nothing to me. It won't change how much I love you. It was a one-time thing. A mistake.”

She pulled her hand away from his grip, as she blinked back tears, refusing to let him see her break. “It meant everything to me, and you call it a mistake? You're just a hypocrite. You know what? Let's just end this relationship right now. It's over between us.”

Ethan froze where he stood, the words refusing to sink in. “Really?” He let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "You can't leave me. You love me, and you can't f*****g deny it.

“I was fine before you came into my life, and I know I'll be okay even if you are not in my life anymore.”

His fingers curled into a fist before opening again, as if he didn't know what to do with them. “Don't let one terrible mistake of mine erase all the memories we have shared over the past four years.”

“Exactly. This one terrible choice of yours has cost you everything.” She picked up her bag from the counter and turned to the door. “I'm out of here.”

“Fine, leave, but remember, don't ever come crying back to me because I know you will, like you always do.” Ethan turned. “So rethink your decision before you act.”

I would never even think of coming back to you. Not now. Not later. Not even in a lifetime. So go to hell.”

He drew her closer to his lips as he twisted her arm behind her back, searching her eyes for an answer before closing the space between them.

“You know you are lying, and you'll be back in less than a week, but I promise you, if you set one foot outside my home tonight, never think of coming back because you know what?” Ethan smirked. “I'm gonna throw you out on the streets.”

“Don't worry. You won't have to push me away, Ethan, because I won't be coming back to the man who hurt me. I now know my worth.”

Lena pulled her hands from his grip and turned to the door, she had barely taken a step when Ethan's whisper slid through the silence.

"Don't forget to be at my engagement party. I'm getting engaged to Sophie."

Those words hit her harder than she expected, but she refused to let the tears that clouded her eyes fall. She didn't cry. She didn't utter a word. She simply turned and left. This time, she never looked back.

A slow, cruel smile appeared on his face as he watched her leave, even after what he had said. He had been so sure she couldn't leave, but she did.

Two days had passed since the breakup. Lena sat on her bed, her weary eyes fixed on the ceiling. She was still wearing the same oversized hoodie she'd slept in.

An untouched plate of food that she ordered earlier sat beside her bed. But today, she refused to spend another day lying in bed.

She slowly stood up with shaking legs and headed to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee. While pouring herself a cup of coffee, she spotted her phone behind the sugar jar and then realized she had left it there the night before.

Lena unlocked the screen, absentmindedly scrolling through i********:, expecting nothing more than the usual morning update.

Just then, her hands froze, her grip tightening around the phone when she saw the first post. For a moment, she forgot how to read.

There he was,

Ethan.