Jalissa tapped her fingers against the armrest of the couch, glancing at the clock for the third time in five minutes. It was nearly midnight, and Ethan still wasn't home. She had tried calling him twice, but both calls went straight to voicemail.
The excuses were becoming predictable: "Late night with the team," "Kate needed my input on the presentation," or the ever-frustrating "It's just business." But tonight, Jalissa wasn't in the mood to brush it off.
The sound of keys jingling at the door made her sit up. Ethan walked in, looking disheveled and tired, his shirt untucked and his tie loosened.
"Hey," he said casually, dropping his bag onto the floor.
"Hey?" Jalissa repeated, her voice sharper than she intended. "It's almost midnight, Ethan."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know. Sorry, the meeting ran late."
"With Kate, right?" she asked, folding her arms.
"Yes, with Kate," he said, a hint of irritation creeping into his tone. "She's my business partner, Jalissa. You know this."
"And what am I, Ethan?" she shot back. "Your girlfriend or just someone who cleans up after you while you build your empire with Kate?"
Ethan froze, his expression shifting from annoyance to guilt. "Jalissa, come on. That's not fair."
"Fair?" she repeated, her voice trembling. "You promised me that things would change after you graduated. You said you'd have more time for us, but you're still putting herâand this businessâbefore me."
Ethan sat down on the couch, his shoulders slumping. "I'm trying to secure our future, J. Everything I'm doing is for us."
Jalissa felt a bitter laugh escape her lips. "You keep saying that, but when does it start feeling like 'us'? When do I stop being the afterthought?"
Ethan reached for her hand, his expression softening. "I know I've been distant, and I know it looks bad, but you have to trust me. Once this business takes off, everything will be different. I'll take care of you, I promise."
Jalissa looked into his eyes, searching for the man she had fallen in love with. She wanted to believe him, but the growing cracks in their relationship made it hard to ignore the doubt creeping into her heart.
"Okay," she said finally, her voice quiet. "But I need to see the effort, Ethan. I need to feel like I matter."
"You do matter," he said, pulling her into a hug. "I'll do better. I swear."
Gina
The following weekend, Gina convinced Jalissa to join her for a night out at a trendy bar downtown. "You need a break from all this Ethan drama," Gina said, tugging Jalissa by the arm as they walked in.
The bar was packed, the dim lighting and pulsing music creating an electric atmosphere. Jalissa tried to relax as Gina ordered their drinks, but her mind kept wandering back to Ethan's promises.
As they found a spot near the corner, Gina's expression suddenly shifted. "Uh, J," she said, nudging Jalissa.
"What?" Jalissa asked, turning around. Her heart sank.
There, on the other side of the bar, was Ethan. He was standing with Kate and a small group of their friends, laughing and looking completely at ease.
Gina gave her a pointed look. "You're telling me he had no time to spend with you tonight, but he's here playing social butterfly with Kate?"
Jalissa's stomach churned. She wanted to turn around and leave, but before she could make a decision, Ethan spotted her. His eyes widened briefly before he waved her over.
"Jalissa! Gina!" he called out, his voice overly cheerful.
Jalissa hesitated, but Gina grabbed her hand. "Nope, we're doing this," Gina said firmly, pulling her toward the group.
"Hey, babe," Ethan said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I didn't know you'd be here."
"Clearly," Jalissa said, her tone clipped.
Ethan either didn't notice or chose to ignore the edge in her voice. "Guys, this is my girlfriend, Jalissa, and her friend Gina," he said, gesturing to the group.
Kate
Kate stepped forward, her perfectly manicured hand outstretched. "It's so nice to finally meet you," she said, her tone overly pleasant. "Ethan talks about you all the time."
Jalissa forced a smile as they shook hands. "Nice to meet you too."
The introductions continued, but the awkwardness was palpable. The group's conversation flowed easily, but Jalissa felt like an outsider. Kate and Ethan exchanged inside jokes, their easy camaraderie only deepening Jalissa's discomfort.
Gina, ever the blunt one, leaned closer to Jalissa and whispered, "I don't like this."
"Neither do I," Jalissa muttered, her gaze fixed on the way Kate lightly touched Ethan's arm as she laughed.
After what felt like an eternity, Jalissa excused herself to the bathroom. Gina followed, her expression stormy.
"That girl is way too comfortable with your man," Gina said as soon as the door closed behind them.
"I know," Jalissa said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you seriously just going to let this slide?" Gina pressed.
"I don't know what to do, Gina," Jalissa admitted, her eyes brimming with tears. "I've tried talking to him, but he keeps saying it's all for us. What if he's right?"
"And what if he's not?" Gina countered. "You can't keep sacrificing your happiness for someone who doesn't even notice."
Later that night, Ethan and Jalissa sat in tense silence in their living room.
"So, you didn't think to tell me you'd be out at a bar tonight?" Jalissa asked, breaking the silence.
Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. "I didn't think it was a big deal, J. We were just unwinding after a long week."
"With Kate and the team," she said, her voice laced with bitterness.
"Yes, with Kate and the team," Ethan snapped. "Why do you always make it about her?"
"Because it feels like it's always about her!" Jalissa shot back. "She gets your time, your attention, your energyâwhat do I get?"
Ethan groaned, running a hand through his hair. "We've had this conversation, Jalissa. I'm doing this for us. Why can't you just trust me?"
"Because I feel like I'm losing you," she said, her voice breaking.
Ethan's expression softened, but he didn't move to comfort her. "You're not losing me," he said quietly. "But you need to understand that this is a critical time for me. I can't afford distractions."
Jalissa stared at him, her heart sinking. "Distractions," she repeated. "Is that what I am to you now?"
"Of course not," Ethan said quickly. "That's not what I meant."
"It's what it feels like," Jalissa said, standing up. "I've been nothing but supportive, Ethan. I've put my life on hold for you, and all I'm asking for is a little effort. Is that really too much?"
Ethan looked away, his silence speaking volumes.
Jalissa felt the tears streaming down her face, but she refused to let him see her break. "Goodnight, Ethan," she said, walking toward the bedroom.
"Jalissaâ" he began, but she closed the door before he could finish.
The weight of their argument lingered long after the lights were out. Jalissa stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with doubts. She wanted to believe Ethan's promises, but the small voice in the back of her head whispered otherwise.