14. Crossing the Line

Chapter 14

Crossing the Line

Libby

W hat in the world had I walked in on? I’d been looking forward to getting back to the office but had stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Ethan’s tall frame filling Leo’s doorway.

Why was my best friend threatening my boss?

A boss that I now knew he was very aware that I had slept with.

My stomach twisted, and I found myself angry instead of upset. How dare Ethan shut me out and ignore me all night and morning and then march into my place of work to threaten Leo.

Ethan turned to leave, his eyes widening in surprise. “Uh, hi.”

I didn’t have any words for him, so I did what any mature twenty-six-year-old would do and went to my office. There was a time and place for personal discussions, and in the middle of the office on my first day was not it.

“Libby! Wait!” Ethan was right on my heels, and he didn’t let me shut the door on him. “He’s taking advantage of you, and I can’t let-”

I wheeled around, pointing my finger at him. “You have no right to barge into my sex life! Especially at work!”

He looked down at his feet. “I’m sorry. I snapped and… don’t be angry with me. I was trying to protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting.” I sat down heavily in my chair, opening my laptop even though I knew it was going to be a while before I calmed down enough to focus. “I have work to do, so if you could shut my door on your way out, that would be great.”

“Libby-”

“Leave!” My voice cracked and tears welled in my eyes. “Please, just leave, Ethan,” I whispered.

He stood there for another few seconds before sighing and shutting the door softly behind him. The words on my laptop screen blurred as my tears threatened to spill over. What the hell was happening to my life?

He’s in love with you.

A hysterical laugh bubbled up in my throat, but I swallowed it down. This wasn’t funny; it was a disaster.

Not even a month ago, I had been dumped because Justin didn’t like that I’d be living with my male best friend, and now I was in the middle of some bizarre love triangle with my boss and my best friend. The image of them facing off in Leo’s office flashed through my mind, and my chest tightened.

I buried my face in my hands, trying to steady my breathing.

“Stop it,” I muttered to myself, but it was no use. The dam broke, and I found myself sobbing quietly at my desk, my shoulders shaking with the effort to keep it silent.

Ethan meant everything to me, and if it came down to a choice, it should, no questions asked, be him. But then there was Leo. While I didn’t know him that well yet, I felt this undeniable pull toward him, no matter how much he got under my skin.

How could I be feeling things for both of them? What kind of person did that make me?

I knew I was having foolish thoughts—people could have feelings and love more than one person—but the guilt and feelings of uncertainty were still there.

A knock at the door made me jump. “Libby? Are you okay?” It was Carter, and I hastily wiped my eyes, trying to compose myself.

He had conveniently forgotten his tablet when we went to lunch and still wanted to show me the photos from the weekend. Lunch with him had been nice and he’d definitely been a flirt, but I didn’t feel anything for him other than perhaps becoming friends.

“I’m fine!” I called out, wincing at how obviously not fine I sounded. There was no point in trying to hide it now. He’d probably heard everything anyway. “Come in.”

The door cracked open, and Carter’s worried face appeared. “You don’t sound fine.” He slipped inside, shutting the door behind him. “What’s going on?”

I opened my mouth to brush it off, to say it was nothing, but instead, I found myself spilling everything. The confusion, the guilt, the anger—it all came pouring out in a jumbled mess of words and fresh tears.

When I finally ran out of steam, he gave me a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay to be confused. You’re human, and sometimes, we catch feelings for more than one person at a time. It doesn’t make you a bad person. Isn’t your brother in a multi-person relationship?”

“Yes, but they wanted that from the beginning. Ethan and Leo hate each other.” I took a deep breath, feeling some of the tension leave my body. “What am I supposed to do?”

Carter shrugged. “Kick them to the curb and date me instead.”

I laughed and wiped my nose. “Carter…”

“Don’t worry, I know when I’m not wanted. Story of my life.” He smiled, even though it was forced. “Anyway, do you want to see these pictures? I can send them to you instead since Ethan’s feelings for you are a sensitive subject right now and his feelings are very clear in these photos.”

“Sending them to me would probably be better. I don’t know if I can emotionally handle them at the moment… and thank you, Carter.”

He winked as he stood. “Anytime, princess .”

I couldn’t help but smile as he left my office.

I left work feeling emotionally drained. Not just from the situation with Ethan and Leo, but from a job I felt I wasn’t the least bit prepared for.

I had absolutely no clue how to be a program director of a community center, and it had been painfully obvious when I spent the afternoon trying to figure out what positions were needed and their job descriptions. On top of that, knowing I was going to have to supervise whoever I hired was a lot. Imagining myself firing someone who wasn’t up to par was enough to give me hives.

In time, I knew I’d figure it out, but right then, I wanted to march right up to my brother and tell him he was insane for wanting me in that role. At least he’d had enough brains not to make me the foundation director.

And now I had to deal with my incompetence in my personal life.

As I approached my condo, a knot formed in my stomach. Ethan would be home, and I’d have to face him and the feelings that had put distance between us. It would either push us further apart or bring us together in a way that I was scared shitless about.

What if we tried for more than friends and it didn’t work out? What if I couldn’t ignore my feelings for Leo? What if everyone left me, just like they always did?

Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Ethan was sitting on the couch, staring at the blank TV screen. He looked back over his shoulder as I kicked my shoes off and dropped my bags on the console table.

“Hi.” His voice was soft and uncertain. “Can we talk?”

I nodded, joining him on the couch. We sat in awkward silence for a moment, the tension between us growing.

Ethan finally broke the silence. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have confronted Leo like that, but Lib… he’s…”

“He’s a womanizer? I’m aware of his history.”

“But you’re not aware. I’m not sure how much of that conversation you heard, but he didn’t even remember when we almost…”

“Almost what?”

“Slept together after the company Christmas party... We were drunk and he wanted to go up to his room. He passed out as soon as we were there.” He reached for my hand, which I pulled away. “I should have told you.”

I stood, my frustration bubbling over. “So, that’s why you’ve been a complete asshole to him? Because you wanted him?”

Ethan got to his feet. “I’ve been an asshole to him because I’m fucking in love with you!”

“Well, you have a really great way of showing it.” I turned to leave but didn’t get very far before he spun me around and his lips met mine.

For a moment, I was frozen, my mind racing to catch up with what was happening. Then, a rush of warmth spread through my body as if my feelings for him were finally being unraveled.

His lips were soft, yet insistent, and I gripped his shirt as his hands went to my waist, pulling me closer. He was still Ethan, my best friend, but now he was something more. Something exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

The room spun around us, my world tilting as I let myself get swept up in the moment. His hands moved up to cup my face, and I felt the urgency in his kiss, the pent-up emotions finally breaking free.

But even as I kissed him back and let myself melt into his embrace, there was a nagging voice in the back of my mind.

What about our friendship? What about all the risks and complications that came with crossing this line?

Guilt gnawed at me, but so did desire. I wanted this, wanted him, more than I’d ever admitted to myself. But I was also scared of what this meant, and of how it could change everything.

I pulled back slightly, my breath catching in my throat. “Ethan, we can’t...” I whispered, my voice hoarse with desire and doubt. “I mean, I want to, but...”

Ethan’s forehead rested against mine, his eyes closed as if he was savoring the moment. “Libby,” he sighed, his voice thick with emotion. “I know we’ve got a lot going on, and I’m scared too, but I can’t keep pretending what I feel isn’t real.”

I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down into the unknown. One step forward could mean freefall, but it could also mean flight.

He took a step back, giving me space. “We don’t have to figure everything out right now, okay? We can take this slow.”

“I think I need some air.” I rushed to the entryway, hastily slipping on my shoes and grabbing my purse, my mind still reeling from what had just happened.

“Libby!” Ethan called after me, his voice concerned with a hint of desperation.

But I couldn’t stay. I needed space, air, and time to process the whirlwind of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Without looking back, I yanked open the door and bolted into the hallway.

I quickly walked to the elevator and jabbed at the button repeatedly, silently willing the elevator to arrive faster.

Ethan hadn’t come after me, and for that, I was grateful. I felt like complete trash for running, but I needed a minute or two. I hoped a quick trip to the lobby would be enough. Then, I could deal with everything like a well-adjusted adult who wasn’t completely terrified of love and the potential loss that love brought.

The soft ding of the arriving elevator was like music to my ears. As the doors slid open, I lunged forward, ready to escape, but collided with Leo, who was exiting.

“Whoa there.” Leo’s strong hands steadied me, his eyes turning from amused to concerned. “Where’s the fire?”

Of all the people I could have run into, it had to be him.

“I... I was...” I stammered, trying to regain my composure. But my mind was blank, unable to come up with a coherent reason I was panicking.

Leo’s eyebrows furrowed as he took in my flustered state. “Are you okay?” His tone softened with genuine concern.

I nodded quickly, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. “Fine! I’m fine. I... need some fresh air.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, clearly not buying it. “Didn’t you just get home?”

I bristled at his questioning, my earlier frustration with him resurfacing. “I wasn’t aware I needed your permission to go for a walk, Leo,” I snapped.

He held up his hands in surrender, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Easy, princess. I’m not trying to stop you. But if you’re looking for company...” He left the invitation hanging in the air between us.

“No. I need to be alone.” I moved into the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

I thought he wasn’t going to listen, but he stepped out of the elevator. “I’ll order us dinner.”

The door closed before I could argue, and I leaned back against the elevator wall, exhausted.