By midweek, something shifted.
Not in the obvious way.
Nothing dramatic. No confrontation. No raised voices.
Just something subtle.
Something quiet.
But undeniable.
Ethan stopped calling me in as often.
At first, I thought that was a good thing.
Less interaction. Less tension. Less… whatever this was.
But the absence didn’t feel like relief.
It felt intentional.
And that was worse.
“You noticed.”
I didn’t look up.
Adrian again.
“I notice everything,” I said.
“That’s not true.”
I paused, then glanced at him. “What am I missing?”
A brief silence.
Then—
“He’s giving you space.”
My chest tightened slightly.
“That’s a good thing.”
“Is it?”
I frowned. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because it’s not his usual approach.”
That didn’t sit right.
“What does that mean?”
“It means,”
