63| Confronting the Distance

Sophie's mind was a whirl of confusion and hurt as she walked into Mia's bakery.

The warm, inviting smell of freshly baked bread and pastries greeted her, but it did little to ease the turmoil in her heart.

She had texted Mia earlier, asking if they could meet. Mia, always the supportive friend, had agreed without hesitation.

The moment Sophie stepped inside, Mia looked up from behind the counter, her face lighting up with a smile—

That quickly faded when she saw the look on Sophie's face.

"Sophie, over here."

She waved her over to a cozy corner table.

Sophie made her way through the thankfully almost-empty bakery and sank into the chair opposite Mia.

Without hesitation, Mia reached across the table and took her hand.

"What's going on, Soph? You said you wanted to talk—and without Lily. It's not bad, right?"

Sophie's eyes filled with tears.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice.

"It's Ethan. He's pushing me away. I know it—I can feel it. And I don't even know why, Mia. He's avoiding me. Do people change that fast? I'm not crazy, right?"

Mia squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"No, you're not crazy."

Sophie let out a shaky breath.

"He's always at work, staying late, barely spending time with me. And when we are together... it's like he's not really there. Like he's somewhere else entirely."

Her voice broke as she admitted the next part.

"And he barely even kisses me anymore."

She wiped away a tear, swallowing past the ache in her throat.

"It's like he's putting up a wall between us, and I don't know why."

Mia listened carefully, nodding.

Then she said it—

"You'll have to ask him, Sophie."

Sophie let out a humorless laugh.

"God, Mia, I have asked him! That's why he keeps avoiding me."

She shook her head, wiping another tear away.

"I'm scared, Mia. What if he doesn't love me anymore? What if everything we have just... shatters? What if I lose him?"

Mia leaned forward, her eyes full of understanding.

"Sophie, stop overthinking. I know Ethan loves you. I've seen the way he looks at you, the way he talks about you. Whatever's going on, I don't think it's about you. It sounds like he's dealing with something he doesn't know how to talk about."

Sophie sniffled, wrapping her hands around the warm coffee Mia had placed in front of her.

"But what if it's something I can't help him with?" she whispered.

"What if he decides he's better off without me?"

Mia shook her head firmly.

"Don't think like that, Soph. You and Ethan have a bond—stronger than you realize. Sometimes people go through rough patches, but that doesn't mean they don't love each other. It means they need to find a way to get through it together."

A small flicker of hope bloomed in Sophie's chest.

"You really think so?"

"I do." Mia's voice was steady, confident.

"The only thing you can do is let him know you're there. No matter what."

Sophie nodded, feeling a bit more reassured.

"I just... I don't want to lose him."

"I know, Soph. I know."

Then Mia hesitated, squeezing her hand again.

"But you might need to fight for him. Just... not at the expense of yourself."

Sophie blinked.

Not at her expense?

What did Mia mean?

She didn't know.

But she did know one thing—

The first step was talking to Ethan.

Lately, he had been sending the driver to pick her up in the evenings.

Avoiding direct contact.

She knew what she had to do.

It was dishonest.

But it was her only option.

Sophie pulled out her phone, hesitating for only a moment before typing out the message.

"Ethan, help."

It didn't take long.

Her phone lit up immediately with his frantic reply.

Then another. And another.

A call.

More texts.

"What's wrong?"

"Sophie, answer me."

"I'm on my way."

But Sophie ignored them.

She placed her phone face-down on the table.

Put it on silent.

And waited.

It wasn't long before Ethan rushed into the flower shop, his face pale with worry.

His eyes scanned the room until they landed on Sophie, and in an instant, he was in front of her, grabbing her shoulders gently.

"Sophie, what happened? Are you okay?"

Sophie looked up at him, her breath catching. His face was pale, his expression filled with worry—real worry. Guilt curled in her stomach, twisting into a painful knot.

"I needed help closing the shop," she lied softly.

She hadn't thought this far ahead. She knew he would come, but she hadn't rehearsed what she would say.

Ethan's brows furrowed, confusion flickering across his face before frustration took over.

"You scared me half to death for that?" His voice rose slightly, sharp with lingering panic. "I thought something terrible had happened!"

Sophie swallowed hard.

"I'm sorry, Ethan, but it was the only way to get you to come."

Her voice trembled, the weight of her own desperation settling deep in her chest.

Ethan's hands dropped from her shoulders as he took a step back, running a hand through his hair.

"Do you think this is funny?" His tone was tight, controlled—but beneath it, she could hear the exhaustion. The frustration. The pain.

"I was worried sick, Sophie. You—" He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You don't seem to care how I feel."

Sophie flinched.

Her eyes burned. "I do care, Ethan."

"Then why—"

"Because you wouldn't have come unless you thought I was hurt!" The words tumbled out, raw and desperate. "You've been avoiding me, pushing me away. Why, Ethan? Why are you pushing me away?"

The words hit him like a blow.

The anger drained from his face.

For a moment, he just stood there, staring at her.

The hurt, the desperation in her eyes cut through him, breaking through the walls he had spent years perfecting.

His chest ached. Didn't he promise to protect her heart?

And yet, here he was, hurting her.

Still, his face remained unreadable.

His silence stretched painfully between them.

Sophie's heart ached with each second that passed.

She tried again, her voice softer, pleading.

"Ethan, please. Talk to me. Let me in."

Ethan took a step back.

Like he needed space to think.

Like he needed distance from her.

"Sophie, I just... I can't right now," he said finally, his voice distant. Cold. "There are things I need to handle on my own."

Sophie's breath hitched.

"Ethan, we're supposed to handle things together. You don't have to do this alone."

But he only shook his head.

His gaze avoided hers. "I'm sorry, Sophie. I just need some space."

Space?

The word cut through her like a knife.

Was he serious?

Everything had been fine not long ago.

And now—this?

She had only wanted to talk to him, to reach him.

But somehow, it felt like they were only driving each other further apart.

Why did his walls feel impenetrable today?

She took a shaky step forward, her voice trembling. "Is this about your father?"

Ethan stiffened.

"You've changed since you went into that office with him. What did he say to you?"

His jaw clenched.

But he didn't answer.

And in the deafening silence, she realized.

It was his family.

It was always his family.

But how could she cross that border if he wasn't ready to take her with him?

If he wasn't ready to share it with her?

A wave of helplessness washed over her.

She wanted to help him, to be there for him, to carry the weight with him—

But he wasn't letting her.

And with every passing second, it felt like the emotional chasm between them only grew wider.

Sophie exhaled shakily, her voice breaking.

"Ethan... I'm here for you. Whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be here."

Mia had been right.

This was all she could do for now.

Ethan's expression softened slightly, but the exhaustion in his eyes didn't fade.

He gave her a brief, strained smile—but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Thanks, Sophie. I appreciate it."

God, she hated this.

She nodded, blinking rapidly against the burn in her eyes.

The man she loved was drifting away.

And she felt powerless to stop it.

"It's late. I'll drive you home," Ethan said softly.

No, Ethan. No.

Leave me alone.

Sophie wanted to protest.

Wanted to fight him on this, to be mad at him, to demand more from him—

But she knew it wouldn't help.

So she swallowed her frustration.

"I'll get my things," she said, her voice steady.

And soon, she was in the car, sitting beside Ethan in silence.

Usually, their drives home were filled with laughter, warmth, conversation.

Tonight, it was cold.

Quiet.

Ethan gripped the steering wheel too tightly, staring straight ahead.

Sophie turned toward the window, watching the streetlights blur past them.

And then, the realization hit her.

Ethan wasn't willing—or maybe even able—to let her in.

And she didn't know how to break through the walls he had built around himself.

For the first time, Sophie felt truly alone.

Even with him sitting right beside her.

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