Page 25 of Desperate Temptations

“Ethan?” I call out again, walking to the spare bedroom and through the living room. “Ethan?”

Dread coils in my chest and I swallow down the ache clawing up. I head back to my bedroom and grab my phone to call him.

Call not completed. The number you have dialed is unavailable.

I stare at the screen, my heart beating in my throat. My hands shake as I try to send a text. After a few minutes, it says the message cannot be delivered and I sink onto the bed.

Jumping up, I check through his closet and dresser, finding it empty as I suspected. The reality that he left without evena goodbye steals my breath. I sink onto the floor, staring at nothing as I try to force my lungs to take in air. My chest hurts so profoundly and my eyes are dry, unable to comprehend thoughts or any feelings.

I rub my hands over my face before pulling at my hair and then laugh, shaking my head.

“Fuck me.” I groan and laugh again as the tears start and a sob climbs up my throat.

I knew I fucked up by saying what I did last night, but I didn’t think it would cause him to run. He’d promised that this wouldn’t ruin our friendship at the end of the day, and me loving him is nothing new.

THIRTEEN

ETHAN

My fingers grip the strap of my bag on my shoulder tighter, staring at the boarding agent. He glances around the empty gate before turning his attention to me.

“Last call, mate. You going or staying?”

Six Months Later

FIFTEEN

TRENT

Clicking through the photos, I nod and smile before giving the couple a thumbs up. “Let’s break for a few minutes and then move to another spot in the park. With the sun going down, I want to get it at the right angle.”

The soon-to-be bride grins and walks over to me. “Sounds good. We’re going to walk back to the car and grab some food, you mind?”

I shake my head.“Not at all.”

“Want us to grab you anything?”

I smile. “I’m good, thanks for asking though.”

She swats at me. “Marie would kill me if I didn’t take care of her little brother.”

My sister scoffs, coming to stand next to me and grabbing the camera to switch out the SD card and battery. “Please, my brother can take care of himself just fine.” Then she grins at her best friend. “The photos are stunning, Bre. You’ll love them.”

Bre hugs her briefly then looks back at me. “Thanks again for doing this. Marie tells me you have like a year's long waitlist.”

I shrug. “If people want to call it a waitlist, I kind of just pick and choose what interests me. But you’re as good as family.”

She smiles, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “Thank you so much, Trent. Call us if we’re taking too long.”

I walk with Marie to the bench and sit down with a sigh. She watches me with her hands on her hips, a strange expression on her face.

“What?” I ask, stretching my back against the rough wood.

My sister narrows her eyes. “So what happened with that date last week?”

A small swirl of anxiety ricochets in my chest. “What date?”

“The one with that guy from the bank.”

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