The Taste of Trouble

I stared at the door, my pulse skidding off track.

The knock came again—louder, more impatient.

"Ethan, I know you're in there."

Tessa's voice sent a wave of panic crashing through me.

I turned to Ethan, my breath uneven. "What do we do?"

His jaw tightened; his entire body coiled like a spring ready to snap.

He knew.

I knew.

If she saw me here—if she put the pieces together—everything would implode.

But the problem?

It already was.

Ethan exhaled, his mind racing.

"Go to the bedroom," he muttered.

I frowned. "What?"

His eyes snapped to mine. Urgent. Sharp.

"Liv, just go."

I swallowed, my stomach tightening with unease.

But I didn't argue.

I turned, slipping down the hallway just as he pulled open the door.

And then—

I heard her voice.

"Finally," Tessa muttered, stepping inside.

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart hammering.

Because this?

This was a disaster waiting to happen.

Ethan's voice was calm, controlled.

Too controlled.

"What's up, Tess?"

She scoffed. "Seriously? That's what you're going with?"

I held my breath, straining to hear.

"I haven't seen you in days," she said, accusation heavy in her tone.

"You won't answer my calls. You're acting weird. And now, you're hiding out in your apartment like you have something to be guilty about."

Ethan exhaled sharply. "I've been busy."

Tessa snorted. "Right. Busy."

A pause.

A long, dangerous pause.

Then—

"Are you hiding something?"

My stomach plummeted.

Because I could picture it.

The way Tessa's eyes would narrow, the way she'd cross her arms, waiting for a crack in his defense.

Ethan was good at lying.

But Tessa?

She was good at knowing when someone was lying.

Silence stretched for too long.

I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating.

Then—

A sound.

Soft.

Barely there.

But loud enough to shatter everything.

My breath.

I had exhaled too sharply.

The tiniest sound.

But Tessa heard it.

I knew she did.

Because suddenly—the air shifted.

A pause.

Then—

"Who else is here?"

My stomach knotted.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Waiting.

Hoping Ethan would find a way to fix this.

But Tessa?

She was already moving.

Her footsteps grew closer.

Then—

She turned the corner.

And stopped dead.

Her eyes locked onto mine.

Shock.

Confusion.

Then—

Realization.

The pieces fell into place too fast, too brutally.

She blinked.

Then whispered, "No."

I opened my mouth.

But what was I supposed to say?

That it wasn't what it looked like?

That it was a mistake?

That I hadn't meant for this to happen?

Tessa let out a hollow laugh.

"Oh my God," she whispered, shaking her head. "Tell me I'm imagining this."

Neither of us spoke.

Because we couldn't.

And that?

That was her answer.

Her breath hitched.

She took a step back, like she couldn't stand to be near me.

Like I had just become a stranger.

I swallowed hard. "Tess—"

She let out a bitter laugh. Sharp. Broken.

"Don't," she snapped. "Just don't."

I felt the sting of her words.

The weight of betrayal settling in.

And suddenly, I knew.

I had just lost her.

Ethan stepped forward.

"Tessa, just let us explain."

She turned on him so fast, I thought she might slap him.

"Explain what?" she hissed.

Her hands were shaking.

Her eyes burning.

"You were sleeping with my best friend behind my back?"

Ethan clenched his jaw. "It's not like that."

She let out another laugh.

"Really?" Her voice broke. "Because from where I'm standing, it sure as hell looks like that."

Her gaze flicked between us, sharp with betrayal and disbelief.

Then—

She shook her head.

"You know what? I don't even care anymore."

My breath hitched.

Because that?

That wasn't anger.

It was hurt.

A hurt I had caused.

Tessa exhaled, stepping back.

Then she looked at me—really looked at me.

And I'll never forget that look.

Because it was the moment I realized—

This wasn't just the end of a friendship.

It was the beginning of a war.

Tessa's voice was calm.

Too calm.

"I hope he's worth it," she whispered.

Then—

She turned and walked out.

And this time?

I knew she wasn't coming back.

The second the door slammed; I felt it.

The weight of what I had just done.

I turned to Ethan, my breath shaking.

And for the first time, I asked myself the question I had been too afraid to face.

Was he worth it?

I didn't know.

But one thing was certain—

I had just tasted trouble.

And it was going to destroy me.

Tessa finally knows. And she's done.

Liv and Ethan are left in the wreckage of their choices.

Liv starts to question if this was ever worth it.

The fallout begins.