ing, the darkness of their Aspe

ay still, her breathi

o bridge the gap that had been

a hopeful

tle shift of her body that screamed

t, Ethan. I

d of the warmth he craved, the

or "a long day" or s

indled to a flicke

mix of frustration and a

felt like they were roommates,

f she felt an

a wall he couldn't

lient meetings" these days, her real estate

she

rted his days early too, but her d

was awake, often just the sound

xpensive perfume lingering, a knot

ection, the unease was a ph

eeling that something w

n the dark, that he coul

again with another vague e

no relief, only a gr

ue to form, Jessica

k," she mumbled, already dressed

his heart heavy. "A

door before he

minutes, then d

a careful distance

towards a less traveled path leading up to th

solidified int

lked, the crisp morning air d

her, a sleek black sports car he didn' t recogn

is steps silent on

them. Jessica, laughing, her head th

ssed, his arm around her

ionate kiss that stole th

and brutal, tw

anger, so potent

confront them, but a col

. Not li

ck to his car, the imag

e home, full of stories about her "s

ss. At the cab

e tried to deny it, but

offered apologies that so

ed, his f

l. He didn' t

ling a lawyer tomorrow,

nor, his voice tight. "Mom, I think...

on his family name, but not with h

nic, trying to focus on a routine check-up

bove the d

expecting his

ed in. And with her,

he would soon

stilled on Max

e, hit him. Then jealou

pace, his sanctuary, felt

ding a hand. "Ethan, right? Jess

hand. "What do y

, sensing

d, a stark contrast to

eeds your help. It' s.

explanation, her voice ea

He' s involved in something... sensiti

avely, his exp

st. For his safety. To avoid scrutiny, or worse,

his mind struggling to

ve to do with me?" he

d, tears welling in her eyes. "Just on paper. And... and we need Kyle to s

helping a man in

roat. Protection? Or a convenient way to

-streaked face to Kyle' s care

le thin