Not My Type

''The Wrong Target''

"You don't get to tell me what to do," he said quietly.

Ethan stepped closer. "I do when it comes to her."

Tom scoffed. "She's not yours."

Ethan's fists tightened. "She's not yours either."

Tom didn't respond.

He didn't need to.

The tension between them was thick enough to choke on.

She was still on the bleachers with Lily and Ryder, laughing at Ryder's terrible impression of their gym teacher.

She didn't see Ethan shove Tom. She didn't see Tom's jaw clench. She didn't see the two boys staring each other down like they were seconds away from exploding.

She had no idea.

But Lily noticed something.

She glanced across the gym and frowned. "Uh... why do Tom and Ethan look like they're about to fight."

Charlotte looked up — but too late.

Ethan had already walked away, heading toward the bleachers with a forced smile.

Tom stayed where he was, breathing hard, eyes locked on Charlotte.

Ethan walked across the gym with a forced smile, trying to look calm even though he'd just shoved Tom for absolutely no reason.

Charlotte didn't notice.

She was still laughing at Ryder's dumb joke, Lily hiding her face in embarrassment.

Ethan stopped in front of them.

"Hey, Char," he said, voice too bright.

Charlotte looked up. "Oh—hey."

Not excited. Not flirty. Just... normal.

Ethan's smile faltered for half a second.

He sat down beside her, a little too close.

Ryder raised an eyebrow. Lily shifted awkwardly. Charlotte didn't move away, but she didn't lean in either.

She just kept talking to Ryder.

Tom pretended to stretch. Pretended to focus on the weights. Pretended he didn't care.

But his eyes kept drifting back to Charlotte.

Sweatpants. Maroon tank top. Messy ponytail. Laughing with Ryder. Ignoring Ethan. Ignoring him.

Tom's jaw tightened.

He still felt the shove in his shoulder. He still felt the anger burning in his chest.

And seeing Ethan sit next to her like he belonged there?

It made something twist painfully inside him.

"So," Ethan said loudly, "I was thinking we could hang out again today."

Charlotte blinked. "Today? I have homework."

"Oh," Ethan said, deflated. "Right."

Ryder smirked. Lily bit her lip to hide a laugh.

Ethan tried again. "Maybe after? Or tomorrow?"

Charlotte shrugged. "We'll see."

Not a yes. Not a no. Just... uninterested.

Ethan's smile tightened.

She stood up and stretched. "I'm gonna go grab a mat."

Ryder hopped up too. "I'll come."