Ethan's POV
Liam called at eleven the next morning, which was unusual enough on its own. He rarely surfaced before noon these days, let alone with any urgency.
"I heard an interesting rumor," he said, no greeting, with the particular lightness in his voice that I had gotten used to in the past few months.
"What rumor?"
"Someone I know saw a guy with Amara yesterday; they looked close. I don't think he was a stranger; the description made me guess it was Julian."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Doesn't matter where. Is it true?"
I felt the old, familiar pull of the conversation trying to drag me somewhere I'd promised myself, and Amara, I wouldn't go again. "It's not really your business, Liam."
"Come on, Ethan. Her closest friend, the one who's been in her life longer than you have, wa
