Chapter 215 Where Did That Leave Me?

Ethan's POV When Katelyn agreed we should just be friends, I felt the words cut through me, but I still nodded. I didn’t trust myself to speak much. If I said too much, I might’ve tried to change her mind right there. She reached out her hand. “We’re friends,” she said with a small smile, like she was trying to make it easier for both of us. I forced myself to take her hand. “Friends,” I repeated, though the word felt heavier than it should. We let go, and the conversation moved on to safer topics, but my chest stayed tight. I told myself I’d respect her decision, but deep down, I couldn’t just turn off everything I felt. The next day at work, the weight of it all was still pressing down on me. I caught myself snapping at my team for minor mistakes. Missed formatting on a report, a late file upload, a misplaced folder. Things I’d normally let slide without a second thought became reasons to call someone into my office. I could see the way they started avoiding me in the hall, their voi