Chapter 5
1017 Words
Chapter 5: Not Yours to Want
The kiss shouldn’t have happened.
That was the first thing Monica told herself the moment she stepped out of Kian’s car.
The second?
It definitely shouldn’t happen again.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said, already reaching for the door.
“Monica—”
“I’ll see you around.”
Too quick.
Too clean.
Too final.
And then she was gone.
Kian sat there for a second longer than necessary.
Hands gripping the steering wheel.
Jaw tight.
Because that wasn’t how that was supposed to end.
That wasn’t how any of this was supposed to go.
But the way she kissed him back—
He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair.
“Damn it.”
Later that day.
“Monica!”
She turned at the sound of her name—
—and blinked in surprise.
“Ethan?”
Standing a few feet away was Ethan Cruz.
Tall. Easy smile. Familiar.
Too familiar.
“It’s been a while,” he said, stepping closer. “You just came back?”
“Yeah… recently.”
Ethan laughed softly. “And you didn’t even tell me?”
“I didn’t tell a lot of people.”
“Wow,” he placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. “I thought I was special.”
Monica smiled despite herself.
Because Ethan had always been like this.
Light.
Effortless.
Safe.
Unlike—
“Coffee?” he offered suddenly. “You owe me a proper catch-up.”
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
“Okay.”
That evening.
Kian wasn’t supposed to be here.
That’s what he kept telling himself as he stepped into the café Kailey had mentioned earlier.
Something about meeting Monica.
Something casual.
Something normal.
So why did it feel like anything but?
His eyes scanned the room—
—and then stopped.
Monica.
Sitting by the window.
Laughing.
Not alone.
Kian’s gaze darkened.
Because sitting across from her—
leaning in slightly, completely at ease—
was a man he didn’t recognize.
“Who’s that?” Kailey asked beside him, following his line of sight.
Kian didn’t answer immediately.
Because something in his chest had already tightened.
Sharp.
Instant.
“I don’t know,” he said finally.
But he didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
“Wait,” Kailey squinted. “Oh! That’s Ethan, I think. Monica used to hang out with him before.”
Before.
That word hit harder than it should have.
“Come on,” Kailey said, already walking toward them. “Let’s say hi!”
Kian didn’t move right away.
Because from where he stood—
He could see everything.
The way Ethan leaned closer.
The way Monica didn’t pull away.
The way she smiled—
The same way she smiled at him.
That was enough.
Kian followed.
“Monica!”
She looked up instantly.
Surprised.
“Kai—hey!”
Then her eyes shifted.
To him.
And just like that—
The smile faded.
Just slightly.
“Hi,” she said.
Kian didn’t respond.
Not right away.
Because his attention was already on the man sitting across from her.
Ethan stood, offering a hand.
“Hey, I’m Ethan.”
Kian glanced at it.
Then back at him.
Ignored it.
“Kian,” he said flatly.
The air shifted.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Ethan let out a small chuckle, dropping his hand. “Right… Kailey’s brother.”
“Something like that.”
Monica shot Kian a look.
Sharp.
Warning.
He didn’t care.
“Sit with us!” Kailey said, completely oblivious. “We were just—”
“No.”
Three pairs of eyes snapped to Kian.
“What?” Kailey blinked.
“I mean—we don’t want to interrupt,” he corrected, though his tone didn’t soften.
Ethan smiled lightly. “You’re not. We were just catching up.”
“I can see that.”
Monica exhaled slowly.
“Kian—”
“Since when do you drink coffee?” he cut in.
Her brows furrowed. “What?”
“You hate coffee.”
Silence.
Because that—
That was personal.
Too personal.
Ethan glanced between them.
“…Okay, I feel like I walked into something.”
“You didn’t,” Monica said quickly.
“Yeah?” Kian muttered. “Because it looks like you replaced it pretty fast.”
That landed.
Hard.
“Kian,” she warned.
But he was already stepping closer.
Too close.
“Who is he to you?” he asked, voice low.
Ethan straightened slightly. “Hey, man—”
“I wasn’t asking you.”
Tension snapped tight.
Monica stood abruptly.
“That’s enough.”
Kian’s eyes locked onto hers.
“Answer the question.”
Her heart was racing now.
Not from fear.
From anger.
“You don’t get to ask me that.”
“I do when—”
“When what?” she shot back. “When you suddenly decide I matter?”
Silence.
That hit.
Because it was true.
“You don’t get to act like this,” she continued, voice shaking now—but not weak. “Not after ignoring me for years.”
Kian stepped even closer.
“I didn’t ignore you.”
“You avoided me.”
“Because of this,” he said, gesturing between them.
“Then maybe you should keep avoiding me.”
That should’ve been the end.
It wasn’t.
Because Ethan moved.
Stepping slightly in front of Monica.
Protective.
And that—
That was the breaking point.
Kian’s expression darkened instantly.
“Move.”
Ethan didn’t.
“Hey, relax—”
“I said move.”
Monica grabbed Kian’s arm.
“Stop it.”
Her touch.
That was the only thing that made him pause.
Just for a second.
“Let’s go,” she said firmly, pulling him back.
“Kai, we’ll catch up later.”
Kailey blinked, completely confused.
“Wait—what just happened?”
No one answered.
Because Monica was already dragging Kian outside.
Away.
Before things got worse.
And judging by the look on his face—
They were far from over.
- Writer
