Chapter 1 : Before the start.
The café smelled of burnt caramel and desperation-coming from Mia, who sat across the table clutching her phone. Ari stared at her as she continued to stare at the blank screen. "Give it some rest will you?" Ari asked as she sipped her latte.
Suddenly, Mia's eyes widened with excitement as a text popped up on her phone screen. "Ari!, Liam just texted me-" Ari cut her off "Let me guess, He's sorry, and he's definitely changing this time? Do you really believe that?"
Mia’s eyes darted up, guilt pooling in them like ink in water. Ari had the sudden urge to reach across and slap some sense into her—but she didn’t. That wasn’t what friends did. Friends listened, advised, and occasionally wanted to throttle you for bad decisions.
"Mia." Ari softened her tone. "He cheated on you. Twice. And he lied about—what was it? Oh right- his job, and the fact that he’s a walking red flag parade. Do we really need to have this conversation again?"
Mia groaned, dropping her head into her hands. "I know, I know. But he’s just-" She peeked through her fingers. "He’s really charming when he wants to be." Ari stared at her in disbelief "I agree, he is charismatic, but the problem is, he only has charisma. No brain or common sense"
They laughed, but it was thin and brittle around the edges. Ari could see the tsunami forming behind her friend’s eyes—the push and pull of wanting someone who hurt you because they also made you feel special. Ari knew that war too well.
So when Mia finally muttered, “I...think I need your help,” Ari didn’t hesitate for a second, this is what she has been praying for. She didn’t ask what that meant, because she knew. She just nodded, because that’s what she was the best at: fixing things, until it was her own life she has to fix.
The plan, of course, would spiral out of control. But Ari didn’t know that yet.
For now, she only knew this: Mia deserved better. Ari would make sure she got it. Even if it meant seeing Liam one more time. Even if it meant standing in the same room as him and pretending not to wanting to end him.
And she had no idea that when that happened, the universe would laugh in her face—because standing next to Liam, with the same sharp jawline and that smile Ari had memorized years ago, would be the one and only Ethen Grey. The boy she’d never stopped loving.
