**Sophia's POV**
Sophia tossed her keys into the dish by the door and dropped her bag with a sigh. The apartment was quiet, save for Jaime clattering around in the kitchen, probably already in full snack-gremlin mode.
She leaned against the door for a moment, closing her eyes.
Why did it feel like something inside her was turning over? Like a memory she couldn't touch was brushing up against her ribs?
Ethan's face flashed in her mind. The way he looked at her—like he knew her. Like he'd been looking for her.
She didn't know why that scared her more than it should have.
"Do you want garlic bread or actual food?" Jaime called from the kitchen.
"Both," Sophia replied, her voice a little rough. She pushed herself off the door and walked toward the couch, sinking into the cushions like she was trying to disappear into them.
Jaime poked her head out, holding a piece of frozen garlic bread like it was a weapon. "You okay?"
Sophia stared at the TV, though it wasn't even on. "He said I don't remember him."
Jaime froze. "Wait, what?"
"He said it like… like I should"
Jaime blinked. "Well, that's definitely not cryptic at all."
Sophia gave a small, humorless laugh. "Right?"
"Do you think he meant, like, you've met before? Like at a gala or something? Or…" Jaime trailed off, eyes narrowing. "...or something more serious?"
"I don't know," Sophia whispered. "That's the thing. I don't know—and it's driving me crazy."
Jaime crossed the room and sat beside her, pulling a blanket over both their legs like it was a ritual. "Listen. You're not the kind of girl who forgets guys like him. So if you don't remember, then maybe it's not just something random. Maybe it's buried deep for a reason."
Later that night, long after Jaime had fallen asleep on the couch mid-episode of New Girl, Sophia lay wide awake in her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her mind wouldn't stop racing.
She turned over, grabbed her phone from the nightstand, and opened her camera roll. She wasn't even sure what she was looking for—maybe some clue that would explain Ethan's familiarity. A chance photo from a gala, a company event, anything. But nothing jumped out. Nothing connected the man from tonight with her past.
She set the phone down and rolled onto her back again.
Her heart kept circling back to one thing he'd said.
I'll always make sure you're safe, Sophia.
It was the always that got her. People didn't say that when they just met you.
People didn't mean it unless they already had.