Love, curves and heartbreak Chapter 44

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

And here we go again... the stubborn and cold Ethan returns.

"Ethan... is Tommy, your cousin" I reply.

"Tommy? Really?"

"Yes Ethan, the Babe that appears on my cell phone is Tommy, that's how he calls me and, you know how he is..."

"Tommy? The same one you said you had nothing to do with, nothing romantic... you saved him as... Babe? Really, Priscilla? It sounds... like a boyfriend!"

He sounds very upset and uses my full name, not Prissy, not Princess, not Baby. I can't believe it, but he is furious.

"Ethan, please..."

He raises his arms and puts his hands on his head and ruffles his hair in frustration. He sighs and breathes through his teeth. He is quiet for a while, pacing the room. I just want to get out of here.

"Do you really think I'm stupid? What do you take me for?" he says angrily.

"Ethan, this is Tommy we're talking about!"

"You promised Priscilla... we agreed to be exclusive," he says, pointing at me with his index finger.

"And we are! He's my friend, Ethan, almost my only friend. I told you we usually go out, for dinner, brunch, dancing... friend stuff, we talked about it from the beginning".

"I was your friend too, in the beginning" he says with an annoyed look on his face. I sigh.

"You were my friend. Many years ago, then we didn't see each other for a long time".

"I was always your friend!" he shouts. I can't believe this man.

"It's different, I followed the communication with Tommy.... instead, we didn't see each other anymore. Things happened... time changed us..."

He seems to get desperate with this confession. I don't know if what I'm telling him helps, or at least calms him down and brings him to his senses.

"Of course! How can't I see that! The good old Tommy stayed with you, accompanied you, took care of you while I was being a dick, that's what are you saying Priscilla?" he says, raising his voice and pronouncing the name Tommy with force and almost hate, he is possessed by rage.

"You are saying things I did not say! I have never said anything like that!" I yell.

"I can't believe it... he is with you..." he says with his hands in his face.

"Ethan... I know that Tommy and you... don't get along well. But he's my friend. He wrote all the time, and he wasn't always with me, but he helped me" I say, and his face is red with anger, so I quickly add.

"And it's not that you were a dick... I would never blame you for leaving, you had things to do... go to university, study... this city wasn't enough for you"

And...yeah… my explanation doesn't help.

"The point, Priscilla, is that I know you. I have seen you for years, glued together like twins, always laughing, always happy, like you were made for each other".

"Yeah! Twins like siblings! We have always been friends, nothing more, there is no way that I see him romantically, here is no way that we have anything more than a great friendship" I say desperately.

"And why is that?" he asks now with crossed arms. And to think I had a perfect morning, it's a tragedy.

"Why? Because... I... I can't explain it," I say, almost stuttering.

Because he's gay, that's why. But I can't say that. Because Tommy doesn't want to tell his own cousin, and I really can see right now why. Ethan is... unbelievable sometimes.

My God, the rivalry between these two men is ridiculous.

"Why not Priscilla?"

"Because I can't! Ethan, you can't be jealous of Tommy, it's ridiculous!"

To make matters worse, my cell phone rings at that very moment, and obviously it's Tommy. Ethan looks at me in a way that if looks could kill, I wouldn't be here.

"I have to take this call," I say, almost apologizing, as if I were committing an act of treason.

"Of course... by all means..." he replies bitterly. I thought he would go away and leave me alone, but oh boy, how wrong I was.

"Babe! I was worried about you! I'm on my way! Where are you? Lily's close," my friend says, sounding quite stressed.

I'm almost sweating, I don't think Ethan heard anything, he shows no sign of a change in mood, neither worse nor better.

"Tommy, sorry, I was busy. I'm just about to leave," I say apologetically.

"Are you okay, babe? You sound weird..." he asks, and I get more nervous. Tommy knows I'm sleeping with his cousin, but he doesn't need to know so many details, like I'm right in his department.

"All good Tommy, see you there"

"I love you, babe" he tells me affectionately. My sweet friend.

"Me too," I say nervously and hang up. Now I can see the address of the restaurant on my cell phone, and I have forty-five minutes to be there on time. I think it's possible.

"Are you going to leave, aren't you? ..." he says sourly and turns around, not even listening to my explanation.

"Ethan... I promise to help him with something important... I just forgot after... well, the whole night we spent together. Maybe I can come later, is that okay?"

"Forget about our plans! Forget about everything!" he yells.

"Ethan... please."

"You know what, Priscilla…? You're free to do whatever you want, but I... I just don't want to hear about you. Okay?" he says closing his eyes, he doesn't want to hear a single word from me.

"Please... just..."

"And...our agreement is over. You don't have to see me anymore, I won't bother you, Priscilla" he says coldly and looks at me with hatred. I feel as if I have stopped breathing for a moment, I feel a huge emptiness.

"What?... this is a mistake...I"

"Yes it is... I can see it now..." he answers me bitterly.

"It's not what you think," I say, almost begging.

"When people say that, it's usually what the other person thinks" and he leaves me alone. I, defeated, look for my clothes and dress as best I can. Sadly, I leave the apartment.

"Ethan..." I say one more time before I leave, but he doesn't even say goodbye.

I never thought I would feel so defeated and heartbroken, especially after the night we had. I took a taxi to meet Tommy and Lily.

I arrived punctually, and we enjoyed a delightful brunch together. I made an effort to push Ethan out of my mind and focus solely on Tommy.

As expected, Lily was warm, affectionate, and understanding. The afternoon concluded with embraces and tears of joy, and she even extended the offer for Tommy to bring a partner to her wedding without any hesitation. My friend was so happy!

Tommy and I remained by each other's side, strolling hand in hand through a nearby park as night fell. He was brimming with happiness.

Despite feeling a pang of sadness inside, I was committed to never leaving him alone. I cherished our friendship, and he had stood by me when no one else did. I intermittently checked my phone, but there were no messages from Ethan.

I had sent him numerous messages urging him to reconsider our situation, expressing how much he meant to me, how he had transformed my life, and the simple truth... that he brought me joy. Yet, I received no response.

"Is everything okay, babe?" Tommy asked me and I sighed.

"It's Ethan...he's so stubborn sometimes. So cold and doesn't listen to reason" I say and he nods.

"You're falling in love with him, aren't you? Oh, Babe..."

"I just...he's..."

"I know, Babe... he's always been important to you. And I know how you are... you're not the kind of person who can have casual sex... you care a lot about people, about their feelings" I look at him sadly.

"Maybe I'm just lying to myself" he puts his hands on my shoulders and looks at me sincerely.

"I am not criticizing or judging you... I am the first to say that you need and deserve happiness in your life. It's just that I don't want to see you get hurt," he says, and I nod.

A few days went by, and I still had no sign of Ethan, I guess he was too proud to even answer my texts. He didn't show up at the office either, it really seemed like he could come and go as he pleased with no consequences. This was definitely not my case.

And I felt sad, abandoned. I thought about the reasons why he was so upset, it was a very silly thing to argue about.

There was no way to appease his jealousy! Jealousy or ego, thinking I was with someone else, that I had broken our deal, or that I was really with Tommy. If he only knew! But I'd rather do anything than break Tommy's trust.

I know the situation was not the best, I left Ethan at his house after an incredible night and a wonderful morning, after he made me breakfast and was so attentive, so considerate... as if we were a real couple. Even though we're not, and I don't think we ever could be.

He's unaware of the true reason why I can't pursue a relationship with his cousin; I simply view him as a great and wonderful friend.

Perhaps we weren't meant to be together. One moment, I felt elated to experience love and belonging in his embrace, with someone I've always looked up to and cared for.

But then, in the next moment, I departed from his apartment in tears, feeling rejected due to a misunderstanding. I never saw him again, never received any communication from him, and we lost all contact.

I think we are over... really over.