Chapter 27 Tensions Exposed

• "Is there something that you're not telling me?" I asked, casually leaning against the kitchen counter with my arms crossed defensively. Ethan looked up from his phone, his expression flashing from confusion to annoyance. I could feel the tension build between us, the silent unease that had been simmering since I overheard his ambiguous conversation with Mia. And I wasn't letting it slide without answers.
• "What's going on, Jasmine?" The casualness in the tone was too casual, as though dismissing an irritation, rather than addressing the elephant in the room.
• "Don't play dumb, Ethan. I heard Mia the other night-how she was talking about you two, how she's starting to feel things." I caught a sharp note in my voice I hadn't planned on, a slice of calm cut through and discarded. Ethan let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as if I was exhausting him with my accusations.