Page 91 of Rare Blend
“My throat hurts,” I lie. It’s probably the one symptom I don’t have.
His forehead wrinkles, but he doesn’t question me. “I think I picked up some throat spray. Let me go check.”
He leaves, and I let out a long breath. I’m not sure what’s come over me. I think we’ve been spending too much time together, and it’s confusing me. The lines are blurring, and the memory of our kiss is still sitting at the forefront of my mind.I can’t let deep feelings develop. This feeling is fleeting, only a crush, an infatuation, nothing more. Our lives are going in two different directions. It would be pointless. It’s why he put a stop to things. Because unlike me, he thinks with his head.
“Found it.” Ethan returns, holding a bottle of throat spray.
“Thanks,” I croak, twirling my thumbs. “You don’t have to stay. You’ve been here since yesterday taking care of me. Go home, get some rest. Goose probably misses you.”
“He’s with my parents. And really I don’t mind.”
“I’m fine. Seriously. Go home.” I offer a smile, hoping he’ll buy it and leave.
He releases a long exhale. “I can’t. There’s something I need to tell you.”
CHAPTER 34
Marisa
HIS HANDSHAKE WAS LIMP
“She’s not coming,” Ethan repeats.
I heard him the first time, but I didn’t respond. My mom isn’t coming.
“Oh,” is all I manage to get out.
I should be feeling more.
More upset?
More emotional?
I feel none of those things. I feel nothing. A dark pit of nothingness.
“That’s why she kept calling,” he adds hesitantly.
“Well.” A forced smile pulls at my lips as I sigh, my blinking eyes betraying what I can’t hide with a smile. The sting of tears tickles my nose, so I take a deep breath and force them back. “Did she say why?”
He twists his watch nervously. When his eyes cut to mine, they’re filled with sadness. He feels sorry for me. I look away, hating it.
“She didn’t really say. She said she would call you to talk about it when you’re feeling better.”
I shrug, throwing the covers off myself, the bed suddenly feeling suffocating. “I’m sure she had her reasons.”
A shower. That’s what I need. I’m all goopy and snotty and clammy. I think a nice, hot shower would do wonders for me right now.
“Marisa,” Ethan starts. “What are you doing?”
I grab a towel from my closet. “I’m going to shower.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
A bitter laugh jumps out of me. “No. I’m good.”
He stands at the entry to the bathroom, blocking me from getting through. “Are you okay? You seem…”
His words die, but he holds his eyes to mine.
