“For what?”
“I told myself it was just to talk.”
“And then?”
“He kissed me.”
“Did you stop him?”
Hannah remained silent.
Ethan had his answer.
“Did you kiss him back?”
“Yes.”
The word landed quietly.
Ethan looked out the hotel window.
Cars moved along the highway.
People went to work.
Everything outside continued normally.
His life did not.
“I need time.”
“I understand.”
“No calls today.”
“Okay.”
“No messages.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t contact Ryan.”
“I won’t.”
Ethan paused.
“If I find out you did…”
“You won’t.”
He hung up.
For the next three days, Ethan stayed with his brother.
He told almost nobody what happened.
Not because he wanted to protect Hannah.
Because repeating it made it real.
On the fourth day, Ryan called.
Ethan almost ignored it.
Then answered.
“What?”
Ryan’s voice sounded tired.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“I need to tell you something.”
Ethan waited.
“I pushed it.”
“What does that mean?”
“I knew Hannah was unhappy.”
“And?”
“I liked her.”
Ethan’s hand tightened around the phone.
“For how long?”
“A while.”
“You sat in my house.”
“I know.”
“You drank my beer.”
“I know.”
“You listened to me talk about proposing to her.”
Ryan went silent.
That was new information for him.
“You were going to propose?”