My Best Friend Stole Him. So I Stole Better. Chapter 07
Ethan looked stunned. When neither of them was watching, he shot me a discreet thumbs-up.
The rest of the meal, Ethan was the only one having a good time.
He laughed and chatted, teased me now and then, dropped little jabs at Julian and Sienna.
The two of them, on the other hand, looked like we owed them money.
Before we parted, Ethan said to Sienna with mock innocence, “Sienna, your best friend has finally decided to stop torturing herself chasing a guy. Why do you look so upset?”
Sienna forced a smile. “I’m not. I’m thrilled for her.”
The downturn of her mouth betrayed her.
Julian left without saying a word.
Watching his retreating back, a flicker of disgust rose in me.
In high school I’d loved novels, especially the cold, brilliant male leads.
But in real life, Julian’s coldness—looked at closely—was just disrespect. Bad manners.
Ethan pretended not to notice Sienna’s hollow expression and spoke breezily.
“Summer says you’re staying at a friend’s place, so I won’t drop you off.”
“Summer, let me take you home.”
I nodded and got in the car.
Sienna called out after him, exasperated. “Ethan, I need to talk to you!”
She rarely showed this side of herself. Around Ethan, she was always strong, elusive, magnetic.
Ethan didn’t even turn around. “Text me.”
Once we were in the car, he gripped the wheel and laughed until his eyes watered.
“Nice, Summer. I always knew you were smart, but I didn’t know you held grudges like that.”
I teased back. “Of course. Cross me and there’s no coming back.”
“Scared?”
Ethan rubbed his chin, the corners of his eyes crinkling.
“Not at all. A girlfriend who doesn’t take crap? I’d be thrilled.”
“Summer, what do you want to eat? Today counted as free entertainment. Let me take you somewhere better.”
He looked at me with a gentle question in his eyes.
Thinking of how he’d stood up for me, I smiled. “Sure.”
…
When I got back, Sienna sent me several probing messages.
Asking if I was free, if we could talk, if she could move back in.
I answered with a single line: “Not convenient.”
Ethan sent me screenshots.
Sienna hadn’t just come after me. She’d gone after him too.
Playing the victim, saying she had nowhere to stay, hinting he might let her crash with him.
Ethan: “Am I some kind of pathetic backup plan? She fights with Julian and I’m supposed to be the rebound? Give me a break.”
Me: “Right? Julian messaged me too. Apologized for standing me up the other day. Said he bought Lincoln Center concert tickets to make it up to me. I said yes.”
Ethan: “…”
“You actually said yes? That guy’s bad news…”
“Concerts are boring. Don’t you love that European violinist? Let me book flights, we’ll fly to Vienna, see the show, do some sightseeing.”
“You can’t go with him. You can’t… betray our alliance! crying emoji”
He kept sending ridiculous messages.
I laughed out loud.
I was halfway through typing when Ethan called.
His voice sounded a little sulky.
“Summer, I don’t do subtle. I don’t want you to go with him.”
Chasing Julian, I’d gotten used to his brooding silences, his refusal to say what he meant, his need to make me guess at everything.
Being around a normal person like Ethan felt like coming up for air. I stopped teasing him.
“I’m messing with him! He’s stood me up how many times? I stand him up once, so what?”
“Besides, do you think he actually wants to take me to a concert? He and Sienna are in a cold war.”
This was just Julian’s way of punishing Sienna.
I had no interest in playing a role in their drama.
Ethan let out a breath and launched cheerfully into plans for Vienna.
I listened, chiming in with suggestions.
Before I knew it, we’d been on the phone for two hours. I was getting sleepy.
Hearing me yawn, Ethan chuckled softly, his voice warm.
“Sleep, Summer. I’ll come find you tomorrow when I finish work.”