It should have made things easier.
Instead, everything suddenly felt heavier.
"I mean, a proper dinner date? Off campus? Liam literally giving his blessing on a silver platter?" Mia practically squealed, pacing around our tiny dorm room while waving a styling wand like a weapon. "Violet, this is huge. Ethan is doing everything right. No shady business, no mixed signals. He’s completely out in the open about wanting you."
I sat cross-legged on my duvet, pulling my knees tight against my chest, staring blankly at my laptop screen. "I know. He’s amazing, Mia. Seriously."
"But?" Mia stopped, dropping her arms and looking at me with a soft, deeply empathetic frown.
"There is no but," I insisted, though my voice sounded hollow, even to me. I let out a ragged breath, burying my face in my ha
