Sophie hadn't expected much when she agreed to meet Tom's friend, Liam, at the coffee shop across the street from their office. Tom had introduced them a few times, but they'd never really connected. However, after her breakup with Tom, she realized she needed new distractions—someone to share her thoughts with, other than Ethan.
Sophie walked into the café and scanned the crowd for Liam. He stood up from his seat when he saw her, offering a casual wave. He was a bit taller than Tom, with dark hair and a relaxed demeanor that instantly put Sophie at ease.
"Hey, Sophie. Good to finally have a chance to sit down and chat, huh?" Liam grinned, pulling out the chair for her.
Sophie smiled back, sitting down. "Yeah, it's been a while. I'm actually surprised you wanted to meet up."
"Well, you're always so fun to talk to at work," Liam said, taking a sip of his coffee. "And I know how hard breakups can be. Figured a change of pace wouldn't hurt."
As they talked about everything from work to movies, Sophie realized how refreshing it was to be around someone who didn't have all the emotional baggage that Ethan seemed to bring up every time they were together. Liam was easy-going, funny, and, most importantly, a good listener. Their conversations were light-hearted, and they spent hours just chatting without any underlying tension.
Over the next few weeks, Liam and Sophie started spending more time together, whether it was grabbing lunch or attending events. At work, Ethan noticed the change, and for the first time, he felt a gnawing feeling in his chest. Sophie was spending less time with him. She still came to him for advice sometimes, but it wasn't the same. He had to admit, it bugged him more than he liked.
Meanwhile, Sophie continued to receive gifts from her secret admirer. Each delivery was more thoughtful than the last—a handwritten book of poetry, a soft scarf with a note that simply said, "Wrap yourself in my thoughts," and another bouquet of roses, this time with an added twist: a small plush bear tucked between the stems. Sophie couldn't deny that the mystery behind the gifts intrigued her. Even though she enjoyed spending time with Liam, she couldn't help but wonder who was behind the notes.
But despite the constant flow of gifts, Sophie couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She'd gotten so used to Ethan's teasing, his smirks, and his sharp comments, and yet she hadn't seen much of him lately. The small glances he shot her when they passed in the hall seemed more charged than before. And whenever they did speak, there was an underlying tension, like Ethan was holding something back.
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The Love Triangle
Liam had quickly become a reliable friend, someone Sophie could count on. But as their friendship blossomed, she began to feel guilty about the increasing time she spent with him. It wasn't that she wanted to cut Ethan out, but his occasional coldness and jealousy over her newfound friendship left her uncertain.
One evening, Sophie was walking to her car when she noticed a familiar figure leaning against the side of her building—Ethan.
"Ethan?" she asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Ethan pushed himself off the wall, his face unreadable. "Waiting for you, apparently."
Sophie hesitated. "Is everything okay?"
Ethan's gaze flickered to the parking lot, where Liam's car was parked. "I just don't get it, Sophie. You've been spending all your time with him lately."
"Liam's just a friend, Ethan," Sophie said, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're the one who's been distant lately. I thought maybe you didn't want to hang out anymore."
Ethan's jaw clenched, but he didn't say anything for a moment. Instead, he simply reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small envelope.
Sophie took it, surprised. "What's this?"
"It's from your secret admirer," Ethan muttered, his voice tight.
Sophie glanced up, her heart racing. "What? How do you—?"
"Just open it," Ethan snapped.
Inside was another note, this one more direct than the others: "No one will ever love you the way I do, Sophie. You're mine, and I'll always be watching over you."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she read the words, the meaning behind them sinking in.
Ethan watched her, his face unreadable. "I guess it's not just flowers and chocolates anymore, huh?"
Sophie looked up at him, feeling a strange mix of frustration and confusion. "Ethan, I don't know what's going on with you lately. But this—this feels... uncomfortable."
Ethan stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I don't want you getting too comfortable with Liam. He's not the one who's been here for you, Sophie."
Sophie opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by the sound of her phone ringing. She glanced at the caller ID. It was Liam.
Without thinking, she answered the phone, her voice sounding a bit shaky. "Hey, Liam. Everything okay?"
As she spoke, Ethan's gaze darkened, his expression tight with emotion. It was clear now—Sophie had no idea what kind of grip he had on her life. But he was willing to change that.