I said nothing.
For a moment, the only sound was the rain and the clinking of ice in my glass.
"You have been avoiding me." she said, stepping closer. "We were good together, Ethan. Don't you miss that?"
I met her gaze finally, unblinking. "We were convenient. There is a difference."
That hit harder than I expected it to. Her expression faltered for just a second before she recovered, smiling again — but this time, it did not reach her eyes.
"You know," she said, turning toward the window, "your mother said the same thing once. That you only keep people around for convenience. But I am not that easy to replace."
Her words hung in the air like smoke.
Melissa sighed, crossing her arms. "Ethan, you know how your parents think. They want stability — someone who understands this life, this business. I do. I have known you since we were kids. You do not have to pretend you are looking for something else."
"That is just it." I said quietly. "I am not looking."
