It was late in the afternoon when Amy finally worked up the courage to knock on Ethan's door.
She stood in the hallway of her apartment building, clutching a small tin of lemon shortbread cookies she'd baked the night before not necessarily as a peace offering, but something to hold while she rehearsed her apology. Her knuckles hovered for a moment before tapping softly against the wood.
There was a pause.
Then the sound of footsteps.
The door creaked open, and Ethan appeared, his eyes immediately locking on hers. His brows lifted slightly in surprise before he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"Well, well," he said, lips twitching into a teasing smirk. "Look who remembers apartment 3B exists."
Amy exhaled a short laugh, shifting her weight. "I deserve that."
"Two weeks," he said, raising two fingers for emphasis. "Fourteen days of radio silence. I was starting to think you'd moved out or joined a cult."
"I didn't," she replied with a small smile. "But I... definitely owe you an apology."
He raised an eyebrow. "Is that what's in the tin? A formal apology in cookie form?"
She held it out. "Exactly that."
Ethan took the tin and gave it a theatrical sniff. "I might let you in, then."
She laughed, and he stepped aside, allowing her to enter.
His apartment, like always, was warm in a lived-in, easy kind of way. The scent of coffee lingered faintly in the air.
"I'm sorry for ignoring you," Amy said, slipping off her shoes. "It wasn't personal, I promise. I've just been… going through a lot. And I wasn't in the headspace to talk to anyone, really."
Ethan set the cookie tin on the coffee table and turned to her, his expression softening. "You don't owe me an explanation, Amy. But I'm glad you're okay."
"I want to explain, I want to talk about it maybe the weight of it might be lifted off my heart," she said, walking to the couch. "Jace and I....we're on a break. I've been sorting through all these feelings I didn't expect, and instead of talking to anyone, I just kind of… curled in on myself."
Ethan didn't say anything at first. He simply nodded, then moved to the small bar cart in the corner of the room.
"Wine?" he offered.
She smiled. "Please."
He poured them each a glass of red and handed her one before settling onto the couch beside her.
They sat close, the silence now companionable.
"So who's Jace?" Ethan asked sipping his wine.
"My boyfriend or ex .....I don't know what we are right now.....I just asked for a break thinking it'd make me feel better but no.....I feel horrible but the truth is I still love him but I don't want him yet but I need him.....I know it doesn't make any sense but thats just how it is ....I feel like I'm talking too much....am I talking too much?...i think I need to keep quiet...I..."
"To not being curled in anymore," Ethan smiled interrupting her as he raised his glass.
Amy clinked hers against it gently. "To forgiving socially-awkward neighbors."
They both laughed.
"I feel lighter now.....less burdened"
"That's really good, glad I could just be a listening ear" he said and she smiled.... genuinely.
They sipped and talked, and before long, the weight on Amy's chest wasn't there anymore....It wasn't that anything had been solved, but for the first time in days, she felt like herself again.....more Amy than the hollow echo of someone trying to figure out how to live again.
As the evening light began to stretch into gold across the windows, she suddenly sat upright.
"Oh no," she gasped.
Ethan turned. "What?"
"Sophie's birthday."
He blinked. "Who's Sophie?"
"My best friend" She said standing. "I've been so wrapped up in everything, I completely forgot. I was supposed to go over and surprise her."
Ethan grabbed his keys from the table. "Then let's do it now. I'll come with."
Amy turned to him. "You don't have to...."
"I know. But I want to."
"Alright....that'd actually be nice" Amy said as Ethan grabbed his car keys and they left the apartment.
.....Fifteen minutes later, they were driving down to a cake shop called Butter & Bloom. Amy ducked inside and emerged moments later with a box tied in pink ribbon chocolate mousse with raspberry glaze, Sophie's favorite.
As they made their way toward Sophie's neighborhood, they passed a small, charming jewelry shop tucked between a florist and a tea boutique. Its window display sparkled with delicate chains, gemstone rings, and hand-crafted earrings.
Amy paused, her eyes drawn to a dainty gold bracelet with tiny opal charms.
"Give me a sec," she said, slipping out of the car and rushing inside.
Ethan waited in the car as she browsed quickly, finally choosing a bracelet and a pair of simple moonstone earrings. The kind Sophie would never buy for herself but would absolutely love.
They reached Sophie's apartment just before seven. Amy quickly pulled out the spare key Sophie had once given her just in case she ever gets herself locked out after too many margaritas.
As Amy slid her key into the lock and opened the door to Sophie's apartment, Ethan followed behind her, balancing the cake box in one hand and a balloon bouquet in the other. The space was dimly lit by the orange glow of the setting sun seeping through the curtains.
"Lovely place," Ethan said, his voice low and slightly impressed. "Cozy… and smells like vanilla and chaos."
Amy laughed, setting the small gift bag with the jewelry box on the table. "That's Sophie's signature scent: candle wax and last-minute decisions."
They both chuckled as they stepped further inside. Amy turned on the lamp beside the couch and glanced around. Everything was where it always was. Sophie wasn't the type to redecorate much. She just liked simplicity.
Ethan placed the cake carefully on the center table, then looked around. "Where do you want the balloons?"
Amy pointed toward the bookshelf. "Over there"
As he moved to secure them, Amy watched him. She hadn't noticed before how he moved with this calm confidence.....effortless, easygoing. When he turned around to find her still watching him, their eyes met and Amy shyly broke the gaze.
He walked towards her and she looked at him meeting his gaze again.
"I'm really glad you came with me" She said softly. His voice matched hers low and sincere " Me too".
Her smile faltered just slightly and his gaze dropped to them just for a flicker of a second. And in that moment, everything stilled. The noise of the street outside dulled, the ticking of the clock faded. All she could feel was the weight of his gaze, the quiet hush of this almost-too-tender moment.
They stood like that....close but not quite touching....until the unmistakable sound of a car door slamming outside shattered the spell.
Amy blinked. "That's her!"
"Oh shoot!" Ethan scrambled toward the light switch. "Where do I hide? Couch? Curtains? Fridge?"
Amy laughed, grabbed his wrist and dragged him behind the couch with her, both of them suppressing laughter as she flicked off the lamp. The apartment plunged into a cozy darkness, the only light now the thin crack beneath the front door.
"Shh," Amy whispered, pressing a finger to her lips as they crouched low.
Ethan leaned in close, his breath warm near her ear. "I feel like I'm in a spy movie. I should've worn black."
"Shh," she repeated, smiling despite herself.
Seconds later, the sound of Sophie's keys jingling at the door made them freeze. The door creaked open, and Sophie's familiar voice floated in, groggy and tired. "God!...what a day!!" She sighed.
As she stepped into the apartment and flicked the switch....
"SURPRISE!!"
Amy and Ethan both jumped up as Sophie screamed, nearly dropping her bag. "What the actual fu...!"
Ethan grinned from beside the couch, holding up the cake.
Amy stepped forward with a laugh. "Happy birthday, Soph."
Sophie stared between them, eyes wide and teary. "Amy.....what is this? You broke into my apartment to be sweet?"
"Basically," Amy said, holding out the gift bag.
Sophie hugged her first, tight and real. "I thought you forgot."
"I almost did," Amy admitted. "But I remembered just in time."
Then Sophie turned to Ethan. "And you must be...?"
"Ethan," he said with a smile, handing over the cake. "Neighbor. Occasional grocery carrier. Newly hired surprise party associate."
Sophie raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Well, Mr. Associate, thanks for making this the best surprise."
"Happy to assist," he said, with a small bow.
"I got you this" Amy said as she handed over the gift bag. "It's that gold bracelet you couldn't stop looking up online".
"Oh my God!, Amy....it's crazy expensive" Sophie said bringing it out.
"Anything for you Soph and there's a pair of earrings in there too to match" Amy said.
"Amy!!!" Sophie squealed excitedly hugging her.
"And for you birthday girl.....any friend of my awkward neighbour is my friend too" Ethan said handing over a bottle of wine.
"Awwn....you didn't have to Mr Associate" Sophie said collecting the wine.
"This is officially the best birthday surprise....thank you guys" Sophie said.
"It's nothing" Amy replied.
"Make yourselves comfortable.....I'm gonna go freshen up so this party can officially get started" Sophie said as she carried her bag and the gifts to her room.
"Your friend seems very nice" Ethan said as he sat on the couch next to Amy.
"She's the nicest" Amy smiled.
A few minutes later, as Amy helped set the table with plates and napkins, Sophie after her shower slipped into the kitchen behind her.
"Okay," she whispered. "Who is that fine specimen of a man in my living room?"
Amy laughed, already expecting it. "Ethan. He lives down the hall."
"And how come I'm just hearing about him now?"
"I may or may not have been ignoring him for two weeks."
Sophie gaped. "Girl. He's charming and cute and he brought wine. What were you thinking?"
Amy grinned. "I was going through a lot and he was a friendly neighbour....I'm just now figuring it all out again."
"Well," Sophie said, nudging her, "you figured your way into showing up with a wine buddy who has abs and a great jawline. That's progress."
Amy rolled her eyes but smiled. "It's not like that."
"Yet," Sophie whispered, smirking as she peeked back into the living room at Ethan who was absentmindedly going through his phone.
As they finished having some cake, Sophie stood,one hand lifting her glass of wine.
"Alright, people," she announced, "I didn't dress up to sit down. We're having a living room dance party!"
Amy groaned playfully from the couch. "Sophie, no."
"Sophie, yes." She winked and grabbed her phone, queuing up a playlist full of hip hop and Beyoncé remixes. "This is my birthday. No one is allowed to just sit tonight."
Amy exchanged a glance with Ethan, who raised both hands like 'Don't look at me'. But Sophie had already tugged Amy to her feet, and the next thing she knew, she was swaying to the beat, barefoot and laughing.
Eventually, Sophie twirled away dramatically and motioned Ethan in.
"Oh no," Ethan said, mock-fearful. "I don't dance."
"Too bad," Sophie shot back. "You're tall. Of course you dance."
He reluctantly stood, brushing his palms together. "Alright, but I'm warning you....I'm built for leaning against walls, not dance."
He extended a hand to Amy. She hesitated, then took it.
The moment their fingers touched, something flickered again. Maybe it was the way his palm settled gently around hers, or the way he looked at her.....not teasing, but... curious.
They started with a simple two-step sway, laughing when Ethan stepped on her toe.
"Sorry, sorry," he said, eyes wide apologetically.
But he spun her anyway. Amy twirled under his arm and landed back in front of him, closer this time. Too close. Her breath caught slightly. His hand brushed her waist to steady her.
They froze for a second. The music played on, but something in Amy's chest had gone silent.
She stepped back.
"Sorry," she said quickly. "Just....too much wine. I need a minute."
She ducked toward the bathroom without waiting for a reply.
Amy gripped the sink as soon as she entered Sophie's bathroom.Her reflection stared back at her with flushed cheeks.
It wasn't that she didn't like Ethan. He was sweet, funny, easy to be around. He made her feel... safe.
But he wasn't Jace.
And even if her heart was in pieces, some of those pieces still spelled Jace's name.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her spiral.
"Amy?" Sophie's voice came muffled. "You okay?"
Amy opened the door as she walked in. "Yeah. Just needed a moment."
Sophie leaned in, eyes gleaming. "So… are we gonna talk about that hot slow-burn tension in the living room or...?"
Amy groaned. "Sophie."
"What?" She raised her hands. "You were glowing. He looked like he was auditioning for the role of 'Sweet Guy Who is Secretly In love with The Girl Next Door.' I mean, if this were a rom-com..."
"It's not," Amy interrupted, laughing."He's a friend. That's all."
Sophie gave her a look that suggested she didn't believe a word of it, but she didn't argue. "Okay. But if this were a movie, I'd already be buying popcorn."
Amy smiled faintly. "Then maybe it's a short film. One about boundaries and true loves."
"Mmmhmmm.....yh boundaries and Jace,I totally understand" Sophie said as she goes back to the living room.
The stars were out in the sky when Sophie walked them to Ethan's car and baded them goodbye after all the dancing, laughing and pictures.
"That was… a surprisingly fun night," he said as he drove the car.
"Sophie doesn't do boring."
"She doesn't do quiet either," he added with a smile. "But I think I needed that."
Amy nodded. "Me too."
They drove a bit more in comfortable silence before Ethan glanced sideways at her.
"You seemed lighter tonight. I mean, not just during the wine buzz. Genuinely... lighter."
Amy looked at him, surprised.
"That's a good thing," he added softly. "You looked like yourself again. Or maybe someone you're becoming."
She smiled, touched. "Thanks."
They reached their apartment building and took the elevator up to their floor.
Ethan stopped as they reached her apartment door, rocking back slightly on his heels.
"Well," he said. "This is me being cool and not making it weird."
Amy chuckled.
She hesitated but then said, "Just so you know… I like being your friend. No pressure. No expectations.....just two neighbours who are friends."
Ethan holds his chest dramatically. "Thanks for telling me the truth, Amy. I won't pretend it doesn't sting a little… because it does. I guess I got carried away, hoping for something more."
He gives a small, sad smile. "But I respect how you feel. And I care about you enough to want to stick around even if it's just as your friend"
"Thank you" Amy smiled softly.
"Whoever this Jace guy is.....he's lucky to have you" He said.
They stood there for a beat longer than needed. Then Ethan stepped back.
"Goodnight, Amy."
"Goodnight."
She watched him walk back to his door....this gentle, sincere person who had shown up during her storm.
And still, as she closed the door behind her, the ache in her chest whispered the same name it always did.
Jace.