Ethan glanced at his phone, watching Gianna's name flash on the screen with her latest message. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, but instead of replying, he locked the phone and shoved it into his jacket pocket. The soft hum of music filled the dimly lit bar, its warm glow a stark contrast to the coldness growing inside him.
This place, a small, upscale lounge tucked away in one of the quieter corners of the city, was his escape. Here, he wasn't just Ethan—the sweet, doting boyfriend Gianna believed him to be. Here, he was someone else. Someone freer, unburdened by the expectations that had begun to suffocate him.
He ran a hand through his perfectly tousled blond hair, his blue eyes scanning the room. His usual table was already occupied by familiar faces—people who knew this version of him. People who had no idea who Gianna even was. He made his way over, greeted by a sly grin from the girl sitting closest to the edge of the booth. Her dark hair fell in waves over her bare shoulders, her lips painted a deep red that matched the drink in her hand.
"About time you showed up," she purred, leaning forward to give him a slow, teasing kiss on the cheek. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten all about me."
Ethan smirked, sliding into the booth beside her, his arm draping casually over her shoulders. "How could I forget, Ruby?" he murmured, his voice low and smooth.
Ruby laughed softly, resting her head against his chest. "Mmm, I like the sound of that." She took a sip of her drink, her eyes glinting as she looked up at him. "So, how's the little girlfriend?"
Ethan tensed, his jaw clenching slightly, but he forced a smile. "She's fine," he replied, keeping his tone light, dismissive. He didn't like talking about Gianna here. This place wasn't for her. It was his escape from that part of his life, a world where he didn't have to pretend to be the perfect boyfriend.
Ruby raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with his vague answer. "Fine, huh? You say that like she's not your whole world or whatever it is you tell her." She chuckled, though there was an edge to it, a hint of bitterness.
Ethan shifted uncomfortably, reaching for the glass of whiskey in front of him and taking a long drink. The burn of the alcohol was a welcome distraction from the unease creeping up his spine. "She doesn't know about this," he said, his voice quieter now. "About us."
Ruby's laugh was louder this time, full of disbelief. "Of course she doesn't know, Ethan. That's the whole point, isn't it? She's the good girl you keep on the side while you come here to have a little fun."
He didn't respond right away, his gaze fixed on the amber liquid swirling in his glass. It wasn't that simple. At least, that's what he kept telling himself. Gianna wasn't just some girl he kept on the side—he cared about her, in his own way. But lately, being with her felt like playing a part in a script he hadn't written, and he was starting to hate the role he was stuck in.
Ruby leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear. "You could just tell her, you know. End things. Make this your only life."
Ethan turned his head slightly, his breath catching as her lips grazed his skin. "It's not that easy," he muttered.
Ruby pulled back, her eyes narrowing. "Why not? You clearly don't want to be with her. Or is this just some game to you?"
He met her gaze, feeling the weight of her question. It wasn't a game—not exactly. But the thrill of sneaking around, of living two different lives, was addictive in a way he couldn't fully explain. With Gianna, everything was predictable. Safe. But here, with Ruby and the others, it was wild, reckless... alive.
"I don't know," he admitted quietly, a rare moment of honesty slipping through. "Maybe I just don't know what I want."
Ruby studied him for a moment, then shrugged, as if his answer didn't really matter. "Well, while you're figuring it out, I'm here," she said, leaning in for another kiss. This time, it wasn't just a tease. It was deep, lingering, a reminder of the life he'd carved out for himself outside of Gianna's world.
The kiss broke as someone at the table cleared their throat. Ethan glanced up, his expression hardening slightly as one of his friends, Max, raised an eyebrow at him.
"Planning on sticking around tonight?" Max asked, his tone casual but laced with meaning. "We've got business to discuss."
Ethan nodded, the coldness slipping back into place. He had other reasons for being here—reasons that went beyond Ruby. This group wasn't just about partying or casual flings. There was more happening beneath the surface, things Gianna wouldn't understand even if he wanted to tell her.
"Yeah," Ethan said, his voice steady again. "I'm here."
As the conversation shifted to other matters, Ethan's mind wandered back to Gianna for a brief second. She was probably still waiting for his reply. A part of him felt guilty, but the larger part of him—the part that craved this freedom—pushed it away.
Gianna didn't need to know about this side of his life. As long as he kept the two worlds separate, everything would be fine. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
But deep down, Ethan knew that living two lives couldn't last forever. Sooner or later, something would give. And when it did, the fallout wouldn't be pretty.