14
Ethan
The moment Riley suggested we practice one last time for Liam’s wedding, I was hit with a mix of excitement and soul-crushing nerves. This was my plan—a ridiculous, dramatic, borderline petty plan—but still my plan. And Riley, my next-door neighbor-turned-partner-in-crime, had been nothing but patient, which made me feel a little guilty about dragging him into this.
“Ethan,” Riley said, his voice calm and steady, as always. “You’re spiraling again.”
“No, I’m not,” I muttered, pacing back and forth in his living room. “I’m… processing.”
“You’re panicking,” he corrected, stepping in front of me and placing his hands on my shoulders. His touch was firm but grounding. “Stop stressing yourself out. We’ve got this.”
I stared at him, trying to let his confidence seep into me. Riley was always like this—calm, collected, like he had everything under control. It was infuriating and comforting all at once.
“Fine,” I sighed, shrugging his hands off. “Let’s go through it again. From the top.”
Riley smirked, and I hated that it made my heart skip a beat. “Alright. Fake meeting, holding hands, lovey-dovey glares. Let’s make Liam really regret ever letting you go.”
At the mention of Liam, my chest tightened. That bastard. My ex. The guy who cheated on me after two years of what I thought was a perfect relationship. And now, he was marrying him. God, I hated him. If I couldn’t crash his wedding in a literal sense, I was damn well going to do it emotionally.
“All those cringe things people in love do,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. “God, I hate this already.”
“Come on,” Riley said, clapping his hands. “You’re the one who proposed this, remember? You can’t back out now.”
I groaned. “I know, I know. Let’s just… get it over with.”
We repeated with the basics—how we'd met if people asked or even Liam.
Riley crossed his arms, leaning against the arm of the couch with a smug grin. “Alright, let’s start from the top. So, where did we meet?”
“At a bookstore,” I said, already feeling the tension rise in my chest. “I was in the self-help section, and—”
“And you were hopelessly lost,” Riley cut in with a laugh. “Which isn’t even a lie.”
I shot him a glare. “Do you want me to tell it or not?”
He held up his hands in surrender, still grinning. “Go ahead, Ethan. I’m all ears.”
“Thank you,” I said pointedly. “Anyway, I was looking for a book, trying to make sense of the mess that is my life—”
“You looked curious,” Riley interjected again, his tone teasing. “Like you’d just discovered self-help books existed.”
I glared at him, trying not to smile. “Would you let me finish?”
“Fine, fine,” he said, suppressing a laugh.
I rolled my eyes but continued. “And then you came over to help. You recommended a book—something about confidence or whatever—”
“Actually, it was How to Stop Overthinking,” Riley corrected, smirking.
I snapped my fingers. “Right. That’s the one. And then you practically begged me for my number at the end.”
Riley barked out a laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, no. That’s not how it went, and you know it.”
“Yes, it is,” I said, crossing my arms.
“No, Ethan,” Riley said, his voice lowering in mock seriousness. “I didn’t beg. You were so flustered after I helped you find that book, you practically shoved your number into my hand like it was a grenade about to go off.”
“That’s not—” I started to argue, but then I faltered, forgetting what I was supposed to say next. I stood there, blinking at Riley like a deer caught in headlights.
He raised an eyebrow. “You okay there, Romeo?”
“I forgot my line,” I admitted, my cheeks heating up.
Riley let out a laugh, a real one this time, and it was the kind of laugh that made the room feel lighter. “It’s fine, Ethan. This isn’t Broadway. You don’t need to be perfect.”
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. “Why am I so bad at this?”
“You’re not bad,” Riley said, stepping closer. “You’re just overthinking, like always. It’s supposed to be fun, remember?”
“Fun,” I repeated, deadpan. “Right. Crashing my ex’s wedding as your fake boyfriend is so much fun.”
Riley grinned and leaned in, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “It will be if you let it be.”
“We’ve been practicing this for a week,” he pointed out, crossing his arms. “You should have them memorized by now.”
“Yeah, well,” I muttered, “you didn’t date Liam. You don’t know what it’s like to want to… I don’t know, destroy someone emotionally.”
Riley raised an eyebrow. “True. But I do know how to fake being in love.”
The words hung in the air for a moment, heavier than they should have been. I cleared my throat, pushing the thought away. “Okay, fine. Let’s move on. Holding hands.”
Without hesitation, Riley reached for my hand. His fingers were warm and steady, wrapping around mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. I stared down at our intertwined hands, my throat suddenly dry.
“Relax,” he said, his voice softer now. “It’s just practice.”
“Right,” I said, forcing myself to focus. “Practice.”
We moved on to hugs, laughter, and those stupidly intimate looks that couples shared—the kind that used to come so easily when I was with Liam. Riley was annoyingly good at it, his blue eyes locking onto mine with just the right amount of tenderness to make my stomach flip. It was unsettling how convincing he was.
“Smile like you’re in love with me,” Riley said, his lips twitching into a smirk.
I scowled. “I can’t smile if you keep saying stuff like that.”
“Ethan,” he said, his tone teasing, “you need to sell it. Think about Liam seeing us together. Think about his face when he realizes you’ve moved on with someone hotter, smarter, and—”
“Okay, okay, I get it,” I interrupted, rolling my eyes. But the thought did help. I forced a smile, trying to channel every ounce of love-struck energy I could muster.
“There you go,” Riley said, giving me an approving nod. “That’s the look.”
We ran through the rest of the routine—laughing at each other’s fake jokes, brushing hands, stealing glances. It was painfully awkward at first, but by the end, it felt almost natural. Almost.
When we finally collapsed onto the couch, I let out a long, exhausted sigh. “This is insane.”
“Probably,” Riley agreed, leaning back and resting his arms on the couch behind him. “But it’s also going to be fun.”
“Fun for you, maybe,” I muttered, staring up at the ceiling. “I just want Liam to pay. He cheated on me, Riley. He lied to me for months. He—”
“Ethan,” Riley said, cutting me off. His voice was calm but firm. “I get it. But tonight isn’t just about making him jealous. It’s about proving to yourself that you’ve moved on. That he doesn’t control you anymore.”
I turned to look at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. “You really think that?”
He nodded, his expression softening. “Yeah. And hey, if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll even have a little fun in the process.”
A reluctant smile crept onto my face. “You’re annoyingly good at this whole pep talk thing.”
“It’s a gift,” he said, grinning. Then, after a beat, he added, “Now get some rest. We’ve got a wedding to crash.”
15 Riley I headed back to my room after Ethan went to get ready. It hit me that I still hadn’t decided what to wear. Sure, tonight was all about Ethan, but I couldn’t exactly show up looking like I’d just rolled out of bed. The clothes I bought with him were still in the bag on my chair. I pulled them out and held the shirt up to my chest in the mirror. It was nice—sleek, fitted, and way classier than my usual vibe. Perfect for tonight. Still, I was feeling a little... stressed. It wasn’t just about Ethan pulling this off; it was about me not screwing it up. What kind of friend would I be if I let him down now? I quickly got dressed, the jeans fitting just snug enough to make me wonder if I’d eaten too much pizza lately. The shirt, though, was a winner. When I buttoned it up and gave myself a once-over, I had to admit I looked decent. Not that it mattered. “Alright, Riley,” I muttered to myself, pacing my room as I pulled on my shoes. “You’re here to help Ethan, not to stress
16 Ethan We moved toward the grand entrance of the venue, and my jaw nearly dropped at the sight of the place. The towering golden gates framed by ivy, the soft glow of fairy lights hanging from the trees, and the sound of a distant string quartet—it all screamed elegance. Inside, I could already see well-dressed guests milling around, glasses of champagne in hand. I swallowed hard, feeling my stomach churn. My nerves were shot. My hands felt clammy, my heart raced, and I had the sudden, irrational urge to turn and run. God, I was so nervous I felt like peeing and pooping at the same time. My stomach hurt so bad I thought I might actually keel over. Riley, walking confidently beside me, must have noticed my panic because he reached over and grabbed my hand in his own. His grip was firm, warm, and grounding. I turned to look at him, wide-eyed, like a deer caught in headlights. “Breathe,” he said softly, his voice steady. “You’ve got this.” His words, paired with the gentle p
17EthanThe night felt heavier with every passing minute. Despite the laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the casual chatter, my mind was a whirlwind of frustration, confusion, and regret. Riley seemed to notice me withdrawing, but he never stopped being his usual, easygoing self, turning the mood lighter whenever I seemed close to spiraling.“You alright, man?” Riley’s voice broke through the fog of my thoughts. He leaned in, his voice dropping low enough that only I could hear.“Yeah,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Just… thinking.”“Don’t let it eat you up,” he said, his tone far too wise for someone my age. “You’ve got two choices, Ethan: You can let this night swallow you, or you can own it. You decide.”I swallowed, looking at him for a moment. “How do you always know the right thing to say?”Riley shrugged, grinning. “It’s a gift. Plus, I’ve had a lot of practice pretending to know what I’m doing.”I laughed. Really laughed. For the first time t
1826 Ethan The moment the MC announced "Table 3," my heart sank, and my face burned. I darted a glance at Riley, hoping for some miraculous intervention. Instead, he grinned, exuding the kind of confidence that could make the world pause, he was already grinning like a man who lived for chaos. His tousled dark hair, sharp jawline, and piercing eyes seemed to command the attention of every guest in the room. “Looks like we’re up,” Riley said, nudging my arm. “Come on, it’ll be fun.” “Define *fun,*” I muttered, my voice laced with dread. “Humiliating Liam and Owen in front of a crowd counts as fun, doesn’t it?” His smirk widened. “Besides, you said you weren’t giving him the satisfaction. What better way than this?” I groaned, but the way Riley casually adjusted his cufflinks—drawing audible gasps from a group nearby—left me no choice but to follow him. As we made our way to the dance floor, the murmurs grew louder. “God, look at him,” I overheard someone whisper. “He’s so elega
19RileyI hadn’t meant for Ethan to notice. Hell, I hadn’t meant to do it. The coffee table incident was a slip, plain and simple—a stupid mistake caused by nerves and too much pent-up energy. But when I saw the way he looked at me, eyes wide and full of questions, I knew I’d messed up.Now, as Ethan sat across from me on the couch, his brows furrowed in that annoyingly determined way, I could feel the tension hanging heavy in the air. My wolf instincts, normally buried deep beneath layers of control, were buzzing—restless, heightened, and far too attuned to him.When he’d brushed my hand earlier, just the lightest touch, it was like a spark had shot through me. Not the kind of spark you’d get from static electricity—no, this was something deeper. Primal.And that was the problem.I couldn’t afford to let my wolf instincts take over, not here, not with him.“Better left alone,” I’d said. It was true—my secrets weren’t just mine to keep. They were a matter of survival. For me. For my
20EthanThe moment Riley suggested we practice one last time for Liam’s wedding, I was hit with a mix of excitement and soul-crushing nerves. This was my plan—a ridiculous, dramatic, borderline petty plan—but still my plan. And Riley, my next-door neighbor-turned-partner-in-crime, had been nothing but patient, which made me feel a little guilty about dragging him into this.“Ethan,” Riley said, his voice calm and steady, as always. “You’re spiraling again.”“No, I’m not,” I muttered, pacing back and forth in his living room. “I’m… processing.”“You’re panicking,” he corrected, stepping in front of me and placing his hands on my shoulders. His touch was firm but grounding. “Stop stressing yourself out. We’ve got this.”I stared at him, trying to let his confidence seep into me. Riley was always like this—calm, collected, like he had everything under control. It was infuriating and comforting all at once.“Fine,” I sighed, shrugging his hands off. “Let’s go through it again. From the t
21EthanI said goodbye to Riley and headed back to my apartment next door. The moment I stepped inside, the nerves hit me again like a freight train. My chest felt tight, my palms were sweaty, and my mind was racing with every possible way this could go horribly wrong.I paced back and forth in my tiny living room, unable to sit still. My anxiety had reached the point where I was gnawing on my fingernails—a nasty habit I couldn’t seem to break when I was extremely stressed. I hated how I always spiraled like this.Luna, my gray cat, rubbed against my feet, purring softly. Normally, she was a calming presence, but right now, I couldn’t deal with her either. “Not now, Luna,” I muttered, gently pushing her away with my foot.She let out an indignant screech before swiping at my ankle with her claws. “Ow! Luna!” I yelped, glaring at her as a stinging scratch appeared on my skin. She hissed at me, tail flicking angrily, before darting off into my bedroom.“Fine! Be like that!” I shouted a
22RileyI headed back to my room after Ethan went to get ready. It hit me that I still hadn’t decided what to wear. Sure, tonight was all about Ethan, but I couldn’t exactly show up looking like I’d just rolled out of bed. The clothes I bought with him were still in the bag on my chair. I pulled them out and held the shirt up to my chest in the mirror. It was nice—sleek, fitted, and way classier than my usual vibe. Perfect for tonight. Still, I was feeling a little... stressed. It wasn’t just about Ethan pulling this off; it was about me not screwing it up. What kind of friend would I be if I let him down now? I quickly got dressed, the jeans fitting just snug enough to make me wonder if I’d eaten too much pizza lately. The shirt, though, was a winner. When I buttoned it up and gave myself a once-over, I had to admit I looked decent. Not that it mattered. “Alright, Riley,” I muttered to myself, pacing my room as I pulled on my shoes. “You’re here to help Ethan, not to stress
Riley’s POVI woke up to the feeling of warmth pressed against my chest, Ethan’s body curled into mine, his breath steady and slow.For a second, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to process everything.Holy shit.Last night was… intense. Incredible. Better than I ever could’ve imagined.I glanced down at him. His face was peaceful in sleep, his lips slightly parted, his dark hair a mess from my fingers running through it.God, he was beautiful.I felt a grin creep onto my face.Careful not to wake him, I ran my fingers lightly down his arm, enjoying the way his skin felt beneath my touch. His body shifted slightly, and I heard a sleepy groan escape him.“Mmm… what time is it?” he muttered, his voice raspy from sleep.I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. “Almost ten.”He groaned again, burying his face into my chest. “Too early.”I laughed softly. “Too early? After everything we did last night, I’d say we got plenty of rest.”He peeked up at me, his eyes still heavy
Riley’s POVI woke up to the feeling of warmth pressed against my chest, Ethan’s body curled into mine, his breath steady and slow.For a second, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to process everything.Holy shit.Last night was… intense. Incredible. Better than I ever could’ve imagined.I glanced down at him. His face was peaceful in sleep, his lips slightly parted, his dark hair a mess from my fingers running through it.God, he was beautiful.I felt a grin creep onto my face.Careful not to wake him, I ran my fingers lightly down his arm, enjoying the way his skin felt beneath my touch. His body shifted slightly, and I heard a sleepy groan escape him.“Mmm… what time is it?” he muttered, his voice raspy from sleep.I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. “Almost ten.”He groaned again, burying his face into my chest. “Too early.”I laughed softly. “Too early? After everything we did last night, I’d say we got plenty of rest.”He peeked up at me, his eyes still heavy
31RileyI didn’t sleep after that.Neither did Ethan, but he at least pretended to. I could hear him shifting under the blankets, the tension in his breathing giving him away. I lay still, staring at the ceiling, every muscle in my body tight. That sound in the hallway—it hadn’t been nothing. Someone had been there. Watching. Waiting.And I had a damn good idea who.By the time evening rolled around, I was done waiting for answers to come to us. If someone wanted to play games, I was going to beat them at it.Ethan was still half-asleep when I slipped out of the apartment, pulling on my jacket. I didn’t tell him where I was going—he’d only try to stop me.I needed to check my apartment again. Alone.The place was just as trashed as I’d left it. Papers still littered the floor, furniture overturned, the scent of dust and old whiskey lingering in the air. But as I stepped inside, something else hit me. A scent that didn’t belong.It was faint. Almost buried under everything else. But t
?$$! 31Jane tapped her screen, opening her social media app. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, crafting the perfect post:Jane Cooper:"Betrayal cuts the deepest when it comes from someone you once trusted. After years of sacrifice, I was on the verge of securing the biggest deal of my career—until my ex-husband, Dylan, ruined everything out of petty jealousy. He couldn’t handle my success, so he made sure I lost it all. Some men just can’t stand to see a woman rise above them."She paused, rereading the words. They were strong, but they weren’t enough. She needed to twist the knife deeper. With a wicked gleam in her eyes, she continued:"And while I’ve been rebuilding from the damage he caused, he’s been doing just fine—thanks to Helen Nelson’s generosity. It’s funny, isn’t it? Some men will do anything to avoid earning their own way in life."Lisa let out a low whistle. “Savage. I love it.”Jane stared at the post for a moment longer, then, with a satisfied smirk, hit Post.31
RileyEthan was avoiding me.Not obviously—not in a way that anyone else would notice—but I knew.He was quieter than usual. Fidgety. Kept his eyes on the TV but wasn’t actually watching. His fingers tapped against his knee like his thoughts were running too fast, like he couldn’t settle. And most importantly? He wasn’t looking at me. Not really.Which was funny, considering how, just minutes ago, he’d been pulling me down on top of him like he wanted me to ruin him.I smirked at the thought, shifting on the couch, letting my arm drape over the back of it—casual, easy. Ethan didn’t move away, but he didn’t lean into it, either.Interesting.“You’re thinking too much again,” I murmured, voice low.He tensed, a flicker of something crossing his face. “Am not.”I chuckled. “Liar.”That got me a glare, but it was half-hearted at best. His lips parted like he wanted to say something else, but then he stopped himself, shaking his head and focusing back on the screen.Right. That was enough
Ethan I didn’t move at first. Didn’t breathe. Didn’t think. Because Riley was kissing me. Again. And just like the first time—just like at the wedding—I didn’t stop him. My brain barely had time to catch up before my body betrayed me, melting into the kiss like I’d been waiting for it. Maybe I had. His lips were firm, sure, like he already knew I wouldn’t pull away. Like he was daring me to push him off but knowing I wouldn’t. Because I never did. I wasn’t bold like him. I hesitated, second-guessed, let my thoughts get in the way of everything. But Riley? He just did what he wanted. Took what he wanted. And right now… He wanted me. The realization sent a shock through me, made my fingers curl into his hoodie, holding onto him as his hand slid to the back of my neck. He wasn’t letting me go. And hell, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to. But then— The microwave beeped. Loud. Obnoxious. Ruining everything. Riley pulled back first, but he didn’t go far. Just enough to smirk, his
EthanI didn’t move at first.Didn’t breathe.Didn’t think.Because Riley was kissing me. Again.And just like the first time—just like at the wedding—I didn’t stop him.My brain barely had time to catch up before my body betrayed me, melting into the kiss like I’d been waiting for it. Maybe I had. His lips were firm, sure, like he already knew I wouldn’t pull away. Like he was daring me to push him off but knowing I wouldn’t.Because I never did.I wasn’t bold like him. I hesitated, second-guessed, let my thoughts get in the way of everything. But Riley? He just did what he wanted. Took what he wanted.And right now…He wanted me.The realization sent a shock through me, made my fingers curl into his hoodie, holding onto him as his hand slid to the back of my neck. He wasn’t letting me go. And hell, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to.But then—The microwave beeped.Loud. Obnoxious. Ruining everything.Riley pulled back first, but he didn’t go far. Just enough to smirk, his breath fanning
31RileyI didn’t sleep after that.Neither did Ethan, but he at least pretended to. I could hear him shifting under the blankets, the tension in his breathing giving him away. I lay still, staring at the ceiling, every muscle in my body tight. That sound in the hallway—it hadn’t been nothing. Someone had been there. Watching. Waiting.And I had a damn good idea who.By the time evening rolled around, I was done waiting for answers to come to us. If someone wanted to play games, I was going to beat them at it.Ethan was still half-asleep when I slipped out of the apartment, pulling on my jacket. I didn’t tell him where I was going—he’d only try to stop me.I needed to check my apartment again. Alone.The place was just as trashed as I’d left it. Papers still littered the floor, furniture overturned, the scent of dust and old whiskey lingering in the air. But as I stepped inside, something else hit me. A scent that didn’t belong.It was faint. Almost buried under everything else. But t
35Ethan“I can’t slow down! This is GOLD!” she interrupted, her laughter bubbling through the phone. “Hold on, I’m sending you a link. No, actually, put me on speaker. Riley has to hear this!”I glanced at Riley, who was already looking at me with raised eyebrows. With a sigh, I hit the speaker button. “You’re on,” I said.“RILEY!” Ava shouted, her excitement palpable. “Check your phone right now! It’s all over Twitter, TikTok, everything! Liam’s wedding is the *scandal* of the year!”Riley’s eyes widened, and he immediately pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen. “Wait, no way,” he muttered, his expression shifting as he scrolled. Then, suddenly, he let out a bark of laughter. “Oh my God. She’s right. Ethan, you have to see this.”“What are you looking at?” I asked, still trying to process everything.“The hashtags are insane,” Riley said, turning his phone to show me the screen. “‘#LiamLiar,’ ‘#OwenDeservesBetter,’ ‘#WeddingGoneWrong’—dude, you’re *everywhere*.”