Love's Toxic Echo

iam came by Ethan's

g the last of hi

m, a troubled l

is, Ethan? Moving to A

," Ethan said,

... she's been under a lot of stres

acking. He d

uggest Ethan and Cassie might still have a chance. He didn't know about the depth of Etha

d feelings might be dormant

ould talk again?

packing. He

oid of any of the old l

talk about. Cassie has mad

howed Liam a news article he

y gossip

e event the night before. They were holding han

derbilt and Damian Pierce: Back

wants. That life, that person... it's not me. It

s own forgotten blog, Cassie's a

felt nothing looking at the pict

photo, then at Et

d to go out of

ietly. "Yeah, I gu

m sorry, man. For everything you we

always been a good frie

tter what. I won't bring her up again if

am. I appre

ess tie to the past he

nsisted on a small fare

ends, at my place. Lo

ant but agreed

m's apartment and

and Damian Pierce

the window, laughing a

ely tensed for Ethan. H

apologetic grimace. He clearly hadn't expected them, or p

ring, Cassie was a constan

laughed at his jokes, her eyes s

lay of affection, cl

us to Ethan's presence, or pe

ug, occasionally glancing towar

em, focusing on talking

ant, uncomfortable reminder of

rty game. "Truth or Da

estion was, "Tell us about your

group. Everyone knew abou

atching him, a guarded expression

wouldn't name her. He

is truth, or what h

teady, "was with a friend's sibling. I loved her. Deeply. F

neral, not looking

g time trying to be someone I thought she w

e learned from it.

s. Some of Liam's friends looked sym

lushed. She sto

said, her voice sharp, cu

ur 'pursuit,' as you call it, was entirely one-sided.

yourself as some tragic hero. You made your own

"Let's go, Damian. I'v

n, then followed Cassi

ammed shut