Amy balanced the medium-sized box against her hip before reaching back to lock the apartment door. She gave the handle a firm pull to make sure it was secured properly.
Just as she dropped the keys into her handbag, someone called out to her.
"Amy?"The familiar voice made her pause.
She turned. For a second, she simply stared. "Ethan?"
He looked just as surprised. "Wow..." A smile slowly spread across his face. "It really is you."
Amy laughed softly. "Hi."
He closed the distance between them, and the two shared a warm, friendly hug. When they stepped apart, Ethan shook his head in disbelief.
"I honestly thought you'd moved out."
Amy smiled. "I did...sort of"
"You did?"
She nodded. "I've been staying at Jace's apartment ever since we got back from Virginia."
"Oh." He nodded slowly before smiling. "That explains why I haven't seen you around."
Amy folded her arms loosely after dropping the box.
"You could've called, you know." She said.
Ethan blinked. "Hm?"
"We're still friends." She said, a teasing smile displayed on her lips. "You didn't have to wait until you randomly ran into me in the hallway."
He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fair point."
"And I would've answered."
"I know."
"I was just..." He searched for the right words."I guess I didn't want to get in over my head again"
Amy smiled reassuringly. "You wouldn't have."
A brief silence settled between them before Ethan finally spoke up. "So..." He asked. "How have you been?"
"Really good."
"You look happy, it's very obvious"
Amy couldn't stop herself from smiling."I am."
Before Ethan could say anything else, the apartment door across the hall opened.
Amy turned instinctively. Olivia stepped out, now changed into comfortable jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, her hair tied into a loose ponytail.
She smiled the moment she spotted Amy. "Hi again!"
Amy smiled back. "Hi."
Olivia adjusted the strap of her handbag before looking toward Ethan. "There you are."
She walked over naturally and slipped her hand into his. "Ready to go, babe?"
Amy blinked. Her gaze shifted from Olivia...to Ethan.
Then back again. A smile slowly spread across her face.
"You two are together?" Amy asked surprised.
Ethan laughed. "Yeah."
Olivia smiled brightly. "I didn't know you two knew eachother"
"We are neighbors, I don't think there's anything more obvious than that" Ethan teased.
Amy looked genuinely delighted. "I wasn't expecting that."
"We get that a lot," Ethan admitted.
Amy chuckled. "So..." She looked between them. "How did this happen?"
Olivia grinned. "His mom."
Ethan groaned dramatically. "Don't expose her like that."
Olivia laughed.
"It's true." He said. "My mom and Olivia's mom have been friends for years," Ethan explained. "They'd been trying to introduce us forever."
"We both kept saying no, it was always one blind after another and I was genuinely tired" Olivia added.
"Well you knew my Christmas plight, I wasn't even able to get an actress" Ethan said and they laughed. "I let it slide and went home on my own, Liv here was nice enough to agree to come with her mom to our family's barbecue and we just hit it off"
Olivia nodded.
Amy laughed. "That was still a set up"
"Absolutely" Ethan said with a helpless smile.
"I spent the first ten minutes trying to figure out why my mom looked so pleased with herself."
"And I was wondering why my mom suddenly insisted I couldn't miss a neighborhood barbecue," Olivia added.
Amy laughed harder.
"Turns out... they weren't wrong."
Ethan smiled back at her. "Not at all."
Amy watched the exchange with genuine happiness.
"I'm really happy for both of you."
"Thank you," Olivia said warmly.
Ethan nodded."I am too... speaking of which, how come you two know each other?" Ethan asked.
Olivia smiled. "We met like an hour ago in the elevator, she was nice enough to hold it open for me"
"Classic Amy" Ethan praised her and they laughed.
Amy smiled. "I should probably tell you something too."
Ethan looked at her curiously. "What is it?"
Amy held up her left hand. The afternoon light caught the diamond immediately. Ethan's eyes widened.
"...No way." He looked from the ring...to Amy. "You got engaged?"
Amy laughed. "I did."
"When?"
"New Year's Eve."
Ethan shook his head in disbelief before a wide smile spread across his face. "Amy..."He stepped forward and hugged her again. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Amy said.
When they pulled apart, he looked genuinely happy for her. "Damn... can't believe Jace pulled the move real fast" Ethan said hand on his waist.
"He did." A smile softened her features at the mention of his name.
Olivia clapped her hands excitedly. "Congratulations, I love weddings!"
Amy laughed. "You too should definitely come, we'd be honoured, the date hasn't been finalized yet, but it'll most likely be sometime in June."
She looked at Ethan. "I'd really like it if you came."
Then she smiled at Olivia. "Both of you."
Olivia's face lit up. "Really?"
"Of course." Amy said.
Ethan looked genuinely touched. "I'd be honored."
"We're definitely coming." Olivia added.
Ethan smiled warmly. "Thank you... for inviting us."
Amy nodded. There was no awkwardness.No lingering questions even though she had slightly wondered what would have happened if she had allowed herself kiss Ethan when he and Jace were on a break. But all that doesn't matter now, everybody seemed to have moved forward and she is also happy for Ethan, Olivia seems sweet and they look good for each other.
Amy glanced at the time on her phone. "I should get going before Jace starts wondering where I disappeared to."
Ethan chuckled. "Tell him I said congratulations."
"I will." She replied and picked up her box. "I'd make sure to send out the wedding cards physically or through the email"
"Alright" Ethan said. With one last wave, Amy headed toward the elevator, a smile lingering on her face.
As the elevator doors slid shut, she leaned lightly against the wall. Life had a funny way of surprising people.
Once, Ethan had a huge thing for her and now he has a stable relationship and now for her, the future is Jace. The elevator descended quietly, carrying Amy toward the next chapter of her life.