Page 103 of Manhattan Secret

I deserve this perpetual heart river, because I did it to my own damn self.

I’ve never had a broken heart before. I wasn’t prepared for how much it would hurt all day long, or how much I just didn’t want to doanythingthat means being present. Only being verbally bitch slapped by Priya this morning means I’m actually wearing pants today.

Get through the day is my only focus, then I can climb back into bed where it still smells of Lachlan.

I’m going to be one of those sad women with crusty bed sheets, aren’t I?

Riley is almost in step with me as we both head towards the door.

The universe hates me.

What can I do but acknowledge her. “Miss Baker.”

Speed walking ahead of me, she only mumbles my name.

Thank god she’s not going to be one of my interns.

The day turns out as tediously long as I expect. All day my eyes stray to Lachlan’s seat at the back of the class, my head drifting into his smirk, the one he wears when he watches me.

I miss him.

Everywhere I walk, I see his echo.

Laughing his arrogant man-boy laugh. Leading his crew like he’s the piped piper. Every corner I turn, there his apparition is, taunting me, smirking to let me know I’ve made a colossal mistake.

Thanks, ghost, Lachie, I already know.

Those first days are grueling, but they keep my mind busy.

Four days into the new semester, I run into one of Lachlan’s friends, the sidekick that has no filter, and I brace myself for his sharp confrontation. Ethan is brutally loyal to his friend, so when he clocks me, as he waits in line at the café counter, his eyes narrowing at first and then he saunters over.

I look up from my book, rethinking my decision for a quiet coffee when he towers over my table making me tilt my neck.

“Hello, Ethan,” I say, waiting for him to lash out.

“Teach, how’s it going?”

“Fine, fine. And you? How’s the first days of college treating you?”

He half smirks, cradling his steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a white bag in the other. “So damn hard. They set classes so early, I’m rethinking about becoming a barista instead.”

I smile. “I don’t miss those days. You’ll do fine, I’m sure.”

At that, we both hear. “Hey, Ethan,” from behind. He turns to see Riley tentatively watching us. It’s obvious she’s in fight or flee mode with her cheeks highlighted in color. Her one mistake means she’s ostracized herself from her former friends and I experience a twinge of sympathy seeing the apprehension in her eyes as she waits for a sign from Ethan that she’s accepted again.

It doesn’t come.

He looks her up and down then dismisses her with his cold eyes, his lip curling before turning away. “Go drown in a puddle, Riley.” He offers over his shoulder.

Oh.Ouch. She scurries out without ordering a thing. Now there’s his cold tongue lashing. Ethan leans a hand on my table, speaking quietly. “You look tired, teach. Burning the candle at both ends?”

“Something like that.”

He makes a noise that I don’t understand as he watches me soberly, then adds. “If you need anything, let me know.”

It isn’t the last time I see Ethan around. Mostly we just say hi and talk about his studies while I bite my tongue off, so I don’t ask how Lachie is.

Of all people, I never expected in a month of Sunday’s, for Ethan to be kind to me. He hasn’t said how dumb I am. Nor does he mention Lachlan.

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