The Taste of Trouble

Ethan's words still hung in the air, heavy and unshakable.

"He's coming."

I should have been focused on that.

On the danger creeping closer, on the warning signs we had ignored for too long.

But instead?

Instead, all I could think about was the way Ethan's expression had darkened the second I told him the truth.

The way his jaw had tensed, his hands curling into fists.

And worst of all?

The way he had shut down completely.

Like the Ethan I knew had just vanished.

I paced across Ethan's apartment, my arms crossed tight over my chest.

He stood by the window, staring out like he was waiting for something.

Like he was waiting for Jax.

The silence stretched too long, too sharp.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

"You're not saying anything," I muttered.

Ethan didn't turn.

His voice was calm. Controlled. Too controlled.

"What do you want me to say, Liv?"

I clenched my jaw.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe that you're not about to do something reckless?"

His shoulders tensed.

I had hit a nerve.

Good.

Because I wasn't about to let him shut me out of this.

Not when I had just let him in.

Ethan turned; his dark eyes locked onto mine.

"You should stay out of this."

I scoffed. "That's not happening."

His jaw clenched. "Liv—"

"I mean it," I cut him off. "I'm already in this, Ethan. Whether you like it or not."

His hands tightened into fists.

And then, before I could stop myself—

I said the one thing I probably shouldn't have.

"Tessa was right about you."

Ethan froze.

My breath caught.

Because I saw it—the flash of something dangerous in his eyes.

Then, just as quickly, he shut it down.

His voice was low. Cold.

"You've been talking to Tessa?"

I exhaled sharply. "She's still my best friend."

Ethan let out a bitter laugh.

"Could've fooled me."

I stiffened.

"You think I don't care about her?" I snapped.

His jaw ticked. "I think you don't know how to pick a side."

My stomach twisted.

Because that?

That wasn't anger.

It was jealousy.

And not just about Tessa.

It was about the fact that I had gone to her instead of him.

That I had trusted her when I should have trusted him.

And God, the way he was looking at me now?

Like I had just betrayed him.

I crossed my arms. "You're being ridiculous."

Ethan took a step closer. Too close.

"Am I?" His voice was low. Sharp.

I swallowed hard, refusing to back down.

"She's worried about me."

His lips curled into something bitter.

"And what, you think I'm not?"

I clenched my fists.

"Of course I think that."

Ethan scoffed. "Could've fooled me."

I snapped.

"Not everything is about you, Ethan!"

His gaze burned into me.

"No," he murmured. "But this? This is."

And God help me, I knew he was right.

The tension crackled between us.

The kind of tension that wasn't just about anger.

It was about everything else we refused to say.

About how this wasn't just a fight.

This was a pattern.

The push and pull.

The fire that never died.

The fact that no matter how much we tried to run—

We always came back to each other.

But before I could say anything, before I could even breathe—

Ethan made the first move.

One second, we were standing too close.

The next—his hands were on me.

Gripping my waist, pulling me in, his lips crashing into mine like he was drowning.

Like I was the only thing keeping him afloat.

And God help me, I kissed him back.

Because I couldn't stop.

Not when his hands tightened on my hips.

Not when his mouth moved against mine, desperate and demanding.

Not when this felt like the only thing that made sense.

Because no matter how much we fought—

This was where we always ended up.

We broke apart, breathless.

His forehead rested against mine, our breaths tangled, heavy.

For a moment, I let myself believe this was enough.

That whatever was happening between us?

It could survive everything else.

But then—reality crashed back in.

And suddenly?

This didn't feel like a victory.

It felt like a mistake.

Because nothing had changed.

Jax was still out there.

Tessa was still gone.

And Ethan?

Ethan still had that darkness in his eyes.

The kind that told me he wasn't going to let this go.

No matter what it cost him.

No matter what it cost us.

The silence stretched too long, too heavy.

Then, before I could stop him—

Ethan grabbed his keys.

I froze. "Where are you going?"

His jaw was tight. Unreadable.

"To handle it."

Panic shot through me.

"No, Ethan. Don't—"

But he was already out the door.

And this time?

I knew.

I might not be able to bring him back.

Ethan and Liv's jealousy leads to another fight—but it only pulls them closer.

A heated kiss shifts everything, but nothing is truly fixed.

Ethan makes a reckless decision—he's going after Jax.

Liv has to stop him before it's too late.