Page 7 of It's Only Ever Been You

And then Ethan steps out.

For a second, time stops. He’s taller, broader—his shoulders filling out the way you only see in movies. His hair’s longer, falling over his forehead in a way that makes him look older, more grown-up. But it’s not just how he looks; it’s the way he carries himself now—confident, sure, as if he’s stepped into some version of himself I don’t quite recognize yet.

I try to swallow the lump rising in my throat, but it doesn’t go away. My best friend. That’s all this is. So why does it feel like something’s shifted?

“Hey, stranger,” he says, his voice deeper than I remember. He slings his duffel bag over his shoulder and heads toward me, his eyes twinkling in that way they do when he’s up to something. Nothing but a troublemaker.

“Hey yourself,” I say, managing to keep my voice steady even though my heart feels as though it’s about to leap out of my chest. “Long time no see.”

“Miss me?” He raises an eyebrow, stopping just a few feet away. There’s something playful in his tone, but also something else—something I can’t quite put my finger on. Is he testing me, waiting to see howI’ll respond?

I roll my eyes, trying to act unaffected, even though I’m sure my face is giving me away. “Maybe. You know, a little.” I hold up my fingers, pinching them together.

He grins, that lopsided smile I’ve seen a thousand times before, and yet it feels brand new. “I’ll take it.”

He drops his bag on the porch and steps closer, pulling me into a hug. It’s nothing unusual—we’ve hugged a million times before. But this time, there’s a shift I can’t ignore. His arms wrap around me, solid and warm, and instead of the quick squeeze I’m used to, he lingers just a beat longer.

The scent of his cologne hits me—warm and spicy, and nothing like the Ethan I remember. It’s new and familiar all at once, and it makes my stomach do this strange, fluttery thing.

When he pulls back, his eyes meet mine for a second longer than normal, and I feel the heat creeping up my neck, settling in my cheeks. I glance away quickly, pretending to adjust my hair, but I can still feel the ghost of his touch, the faint warmth of where his arms were.

“So,” he says as we plop down on the porch steps, our arms brushing against each other. It’s something we’ve done a thousand times before, but this time, it feels different. His arm against mine sends this warm, fuzzy sensation through me, like I’ve justtouched a live wire. I try to ignore it, but it’s there, humming beneath my skin. What is that?

“What’d I miss?” he asks, glancing over at me with that easy grin of his.

“Not much,” I say, trying to sound casual, even as I lean in just a little, close enough that our knees bump. My heart gives an embarrassing little flutter, and I hope he doesn’t notice. “Just a typical summer, I guess. You were busy, remember?”

He nudges me with his shoulder, his grin turning playful. “Yeah, yeah. But I’m back now, so we’ve got plenty of time to catch up.”

His words are simple, almost throw-away, but there’s something about the way he says them that feels like a promise. Like he’s telling me, without really saying it, that he’s here, that he’s not going anywhere. The thought sends a little jolt of relief through me, mixed with that strange, warm tingle I still can’t figure out.

I nod, trying to keep things casual, but it’s hard when he’s looking at me that way, his gaze a little too intense, as if he’s noticing things about me he hasn’t before. “So, football camp. Did you survive?”

He laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Barely. It was brutal, but worth it, I guess. Coach said I’ve got a shot at Captain this season.”

“That’s amazing, Ethan,” I say, genuinely impressed. “I mean, I knew you were good, but…wow.”

He shrugs, though I can tell he’s excited about it. “Yeah, well, I had some pretty good motivation.”

“Oh really? And what was that?”

He leans in, his eyes gleaming. “Knowing I’d get to come back and show off for you, of course.”

I blink, taken off guard. He’s never really talked to me like this before, and I don’t know if he’s joking or if there’s something more behind it. “Well, I’m impressed,” I say, trying to keep my tone light, though there’s a knot of something unfamiliar twisting in my chest. I glance up at him, studying his face for a moment before adding softly, “You seem… different.”

“Different, huh?” He raises an eyebrow, tilting his head as he studies me. “Good different or…?”

I swallow, suddenly feeling in over my head. “Just…different. You look…older.”

He smirks, clearly enjoying this way more than he should. “Guess that means you look younger than me now, huh?”

I roll my eyes, trying to act unaffected. “Right. Because you’re so mature now.”

“Hey, I could be,” he says, laughing. “You’d be surprised.”

Ilaugh along with him, but there’s this strange feeling between us, something I can’t quite put my finger on. He’s been my best friend for five years, but now it’s like everything’s shifted, almost as if I’m noticing things I’ve never noticed before. Or maybe it’s me—maybe I’m the one who’s different, and being around him just makes it harder to ignore.

We sit on the porch, catching up about camp and summer, and the whole time, I can’t stop sneaking glances at him. The way he leans back, his arm casually draped over the step behind me, looking so completely at ease. His smile, a little too confident, sends a flutter through my chest, making me wonder if he knows exactly what he’s doing to me. And maybe he does. But again, maybe it’s just me.

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