Ethan didn't like restaurants anymore.
At least—not this one.
Because across the room—
Nora was laughing.
Laughing.
With Alexander.
And for some reason—
That felt wrong.
"She never laughed like that with me," he muttered.
His friend sitting across from him raised an eyebrow.
"Bro… you rejected her at the altar."
"…That's not the point."
"That is literally the point."
Ethan ignored him.
His eyes remained fixed on Nora.
The way she leaned slightly toward Alexander.
The way she smiled without holding back.
The way she looked… happy.
It irritated him.
No—
It bothered him.
Okay, fine.
It hurt.
"You're staring," his friend said.
"I'm observing."
"You're suffering."
Ethan shot him a look.
"…Be quiet."
Across the room, Nora suddenly paused.
She felt it.
That gaze.
She turned—
And their eyes met.
Ethan didn't look away.
Neither did she.
For a brief moment—
Everything else disappeared.
Then—
Nora smiled.
Not at him.
At Alexander.
And continued her conversation.
Ethan leaned back in his chair.
"…I hate this restaurant."