Chapter 3 The Complication

I woke up to the beautiful sight of Avery lying next to me. She looked peaceful, like an angel. Her chest was rising and falling with every breath, and her lips were slightly parted. I stared at her face for a while, feeling a strange flutter in my chest. It was a feeling I had never felt before, and it made me happy and scared at the same time. I didn't want to disturb her, so I slowly slipped out of bed. The floor was cool beneath my feet as I walked across the room. I was wearing only my boxers, and the morning air was a bit chilly. I shivered slightly as I made my way to the sitting room.

As I entered the sitting room, Liam and Jason stopped arguing and looked at me with mischievous grins on their faces. They were sitting on the couch, surrounded by empty beer bottles and pizza boxes. The room was a mess, but I didn't care. I was used to their messes. "Speak of the devil," Liam said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The playboy has finally graced us with his presence." I rolled my eyes, shaking my head in amusement. "What's going on here?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Jason, ever the instigator, chimed in, "We're just discussing the finer points of your love life, Ethan. Or should I say, lack thereof." I chuckled, playing along with their antics. "Ah, you mean the endless stream of ladies dying for my attention? The constant broken hearts and shattered dreams trying to own this fine specimen?" Liam snorted, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You make it sound like you're a curse, Ethan." I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "All you have to do is tell them what they want to hear, and they're putty in your hands." But as I said the words, I felt a pang of guilt, a nagging sense that I was being dishonest, not just with them, but with myself. Because the truth was, since I'd met Avery, I hadn't been interested in anyone else. She had awakened something in me, something real and raw and beautiful. My friends continued to tease me, their words a gentle hum in the background as my mind wandered back to Avery. I decided to check on her, make sure she was okay, and see if she wanted to grab some breakfast. As I walked back to the bedroom, I was surprised to find she wasn't there. I looked around, thinking maybe she'd gone to the bathroom, but she was nowhere to be found. A faint sense of unease crept up my spine, like a whisper in the dead of night. I didn't have time to dwell on it, though. My phone started ringing, and it was my little sister, Emily. I sighed, wondering what she wanted. Hope she doesn't want to convince me to let her join us on the vacation, I thought. Her words won't change my mind. I picked up the call, ready to tell her what's on my mind, but then I realized she was crying. "Em, why are you crying?" I asked, my tone softening and my senses on high alert. The next thing she said shocked me, made my heart skip a beat. "Mom's been involved in an accident, Ethan. She's in the hospital." My world came to a standstill. Mom? In an accident? I rushed out of the house, dialing the phone to arrange for a flight. I had to get to New York, to my mom's side. As I waited for the car to arrive, my mind was racing, a jumble of worst-case scenarios and what-ifs. What had happened to Mom? Was she okay? Would she... The questions swirled in my head, a mix of fear and uncertainty, as I stood there, frozen in shock, waiting for the world to come crashing down around me. I felt like I was in a nightmare, and I couldn't wake up. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, but I was trapped in a dark, cold world of fear and uncertainty. The car arrived, and I jumped in, my heart racing with anxiety. I couldn't wait to get to the airport, to get to my mom's side. As the car sped through the streets, I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss. What was waiting for me at the other end? Would my mom be okay? The car pulled up to the airport, and I jumped out, my heart racing with anticipation. I had to get to my mom's side, no matter what.