Amy unlocked her apartment door after work that day. The bookstore closed early and she drove off almost immediately. She stepped inside, not bothering turning on the lights. Late afternoon sun filtered in through the curtains. Her cardigan was still draped over the couch.
Everything was just as she left it.
She moved quietly to her room, collecting a few notebooks, some clothes, her toothbrush, a bikini and sunscreen. She paused a moment, letting her mind run through to check whether she left anything behind.
With nothing else left to pack, she zipped her bag and opened her apartment door and almost at the exact same moment Ethan's door swung open.
They both stopped.
Ethan blinked first, then smiled, soft, familiar, a little tired. He was holding a paper bag in one hand and wearing a blue sweatshirt.
"Amy," he said like her name surprised him. "Hey."
"Hey." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Um, I just came to pick up a few things. I'm… staying over at Jace's this weekend."
He nodded too quickly, too lightly.
"Yeah. Right. That makes sense."
His voice was casual.
His eyes were not.
Amy shifted her bag over her shoulder. "How've you been?"
"Good," he said, then hesitated. "Well… tired. But I'm functional, so that counts, right?"
She huffed a small laugh. "Yeah. That counts."
A quiet beat passed between them.
The kind that used to feel comfortable.
Now it felt like something balancing on a thin thread.
"Oh!" Amy said suddenly, brightening. "Um actually, we're going to the beach tomorrow. Me, Jace, Sophie, and her boyfriend,Darren. Maybe… if you're free, you could come too?"
Ethan blinked then laughed under his breath, a little sad.
"Amy," he said gently, "I think I would die of awkwardness."
"I insist Ethan" She smiled.
"No... really....I can't do that"
She frowned. "Why?"
He looked at her fully for the first time.
"Because last time I saw Jace," he said, "I was holding a bottle of cheap red wine and talking absolute nonsense.I don't think he's forgotten."
She laughed softly. "He actually thought you were funny."
"Oh good," he muttered. "So I was a comedic disaster."
"Its not like that" she said quietly.
Something softened in his expression. But then he exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Amy… it's your group. Your people. I'm not… part of that." His voice stayed gentle. "And it's okay maybe I'm not supposed to be."
Her smile faded just a little.
"I'm your friend...you're my friend Ethan" she said.
He nodded but this time the smile didn't reach his eyes.
It was a careful, kind smile.
"You are," he said. "And that's enough. Really."
She opened her mouth to insist but he shook his head lightly.
"Go. Have fun. Hot sun, ocean breeze, romantic weekend with your photographer boyfriend." He ran a hand through his head. "You deserve good days."
Her chest tightened again but in a different way this time.
"Thank you," she said softly.
He stepped back into his doorway, giving her space as she walked past him. "If you need anything or want to still have a wine hangout.....you can always come over or you can call."
She laughed through her sigh. "Deal."
He gave her one more small smile,sincere this time.
"Have a good beach day, Amy."
"You too," she wanted to say then realized he wasn't going anywhere. "Have a great day" She said instead.
He just nodded as he watched her walk to the elevator.
...
Amy had just merged onto the main road, the city buzzing gently around her when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw Sophie's name flashing.
"Hey, Soph," Amy said, a small smile tugging at her lips as she answered.
"AMY!" Sophie practically squealed through the phone, her voice full of energy and excitement. "Where have you been? I've been blowing up your phone with messages all morning....where have you been?"
"I'm sorry Soph,the bookstore was very busy today, didn't really get the chance to go through my phone but I'm driving back to Jace's now," Amy replied, keeping one hand on the wheel and the other holding the phone. "I just went to grab my bikini and a few other things from my place."
"Oh my gosh, FINALLY!" Sophie gushed. "I was starting to think you'd flunk at the last minute. You do realize tomorrow is going to be epic, right? I've got snacks, sunscreen, a pack of that orange juice you love, we're talking ultimate beach day vibes!"
Amy laughed softly, her shoulders relaxing at the sound of her friend's contagious excitement. "I know, I can practically feel the sun already. I can't wait either."
"You better not be late, or I swear I'll leave you stranded with Darren and Jace," Sophie teased, her voice full of playful menace.
"Ha! Not happening," Amy said, chuckling. "Jace and I will be there before you two, don't worry,i'll save you a spot in the sand."
"You got it! Get ready for waves, sunburn, and me totally winning at beach frisbee," Sophie said, her laughter echoing through the phone.
"I'm so excited, can't wait for tomorrow" Amy grinned, feeling a warm flutter of anticipation.
"Honestly, I'm just glad you're excited too," Sophie said, her voice softening slightly. "You've been buried in that laptop of yours since after your visit to the museum last week,I don't know what you saw there, and I swear if you don't get out into the sun, you'll start writing in your sleep or something."
"Oh please, I just got enough inspiration and I'm putting it into writing, Kyra was really good at touring" Amy said smiling.
"And there again with the Kyra girl"
"OMG!, Soph, you're just like her" Amy said.
'I am like myself" Sophie said. "Hope you packed your sunscreen, you don't want to be lobster red by noon..... do you??"
"Don't worry,I've got everything in my bag"
"Alright then, see you tomorrow"
"Deal, bye girl" And she hung up.
Amy dropped her phone on her lap as she glanced out the windshield at the city bustling around her. The windows reflected the sunlight in sharp golden angles, and a breeze slipped through the slightly cracked window.The weekend with Jace, Sophie, and Darren, laughter, sand, sun, and a little bit of mischief was exactly what she needed.
A soft smile settled on her lips as she thought about it all.