Page 22 of Unfolding Ethan

Ignoring him, I turned back and continued doing my reps.

I pushed my body harder and ignored the gaping hole in my heart. Where was that Liam now? The one who’d beat me at every round because he believed in Superman? The one who played video games with me? The one who forced me to watch every Superman movie with him last summer just for the sake? The one who cared for me? The one I considered as my own brother?Where the fuck is he?

Touching the cold wall with my feet, I rolled and swam faster. I took a deep breath every time I came up for air and pushed harder, ignoring the resistance and exhaustion from my tired limbs and body.

Why did he lie to me and sleep with Ariana? What did I do wrong?

I stopped swimming when my right palm touched the wall. I took a gasping breath and calmed my pounding heartbeat, adrenaline still buzzing in my veins as I removed my glasses and cap. With narrowed eyes, I watched Liam grin when he walked out of the pool, his friends and coach congratulating him for scoring first.

He won.Again.

I used to be proud of Liam that he was the fastest swimmer in our team, but now I loathed it. I wanted to beat his record. I wanted to beat him in the race. Next time, Iwouldbeat him.

Feeling my gaze on him, he turned around. His dark gray eyes bored at me and his grin dropped. For a moment, I could sense the guilt and regret in his eyes, but I looked away before I could walk up to him, hug him, forgive him, and congratulate on his victory.

“Hey, big guy! You did great out there.”

I faced Kiara, who was grinning down at me, her brown eyes twinkling. All the worries and hatred for Liam vanished into thin air as soon as I saw her.

After the night at the Farmhouse, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Or the way she looked naked, swimming and laughing. Or the way she had felt pressing against my body and asking me to kiss her with her hooded eyes. But I controlled myself. What I had felt with her was more than I could have ever felt when I was with Ariana. We were best friends and we had seen each other naked. I didn’t regret what happened. And by the way she looked at me, I didn’t think she regretted it either.

But I have to remind myself that sheismy best friend and the only girl I had considered as my little sister when we were kids. She has been with me through my good days and bad days. Heck, she even gave me rakhis on Rakshabandhan. I shook my head. She had stopped doing that and I definitely didn’t consider her as my sister anymore. We had already crossed that line since the day we saw each other naked at the farmhouse.

“I tried my best,” I said, getting out of the pool, and she took the cap and goggles from my hand.

Her warm hand held my forearm and I looked down at her golden-brown eyes. “Are you all right, Ethan?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said glancing at Liam. I was surprised when I found him looking in our direction,especiallyat Kiara’s hand on my forearm.

I missed her touch when she removed her hand. I frowned when he glared at her, a look of disappointment flashing through his gray eyes, and he turned, walking away.

I asked, “What was that about?”

I could feel there was something wrong between them. And I didn’t want Liam looking at Kiara. Just like the day we met for the first time.

Kiara smiled at me, shaking her head. “Nothing important. It’s just that he’s—”

“You did great out there, man.” Rio clapped me on my back and nodded at Kiara.

“Thanks. But why didn’t you join us?”

“I was tired after all the reps. I wanted to ask you about—”

“I’ll be right back. Hold this,” Kiara interrupted, handing me my cap and swim goggles, and walked toward Liam with a furious look on her face.Uh-oh.

“What’s happening?” I heard Rio ask worriedly.

I was worried too. They were talking to each other, throwing hands in the air. I couldn’t hear anything they were saying because they were standing at the other end of the pool with no one around.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” I said, furrowing my brows when they whispered harshly to each other.

She said something that made Liam shut up. I looked at Kiara, watching her whisper something when she stepped closer to him, her face devoid of emotions except anger. She poked his chest, taunting him, and for a moment I was shocked to see so much anger and pain etched on her face.

What the fuck is happening?

Then I saw her face crumble. I tried not to gape as she stared numbly at Liam, a feeling of void enveloping her. I wanted to go there and hug her, but I couldn’t move. My legs had turned to lead. And for the first time, I saw no hope, faith, or happiness in her glittering brown eyes. They looked void, black . . .and empty.

Rio cursed, “Holy shit.”

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