"Why would we regret it?"
"Because of Luke."
"Luke doesn't control my life."
"He's my best friend. He’s the only person who's been there for me through everything. I can't betray that."
Callie's jaw tightens. "Betraying him would be lying. All I'm asking is for you to admit what's happening between us."
"Nothing's happening between us."
"Stop." She closes the distance. We're inches apart now. "Stop lying."
My hands curl into fists. Every instinct is screaming at me to touch her. To close the final gap and prove her right.
I don't move.
"I need to go," I say.
"Ethan."
"This was a mistake. I shouldn't have come."
"Please don't leave like this."
"There's no other way to leave."
I turn toward the door, suddenly her hand catches my arm.
The contact burns. I freeze.
"Just tell me one thing," she says. "If Luke wasn't a factor. If there was nothing stopping us. Would you want this?"
I look at her. Really look at her. At her green eyes and the way she's biting her lip and the hope mixed with frustration on her face.
"It doesn't matter what I want."
"It matters to me."
"Why?"
"Because I need to know I'm not imagining this."
I should lie. I should tell her she's imagining everything. That I don't feel anything beyond friendship. That leaving for Denver has nothing to do with her.
Instead, I tell the truth.
"You're not imagining it."
Her breath catches. "Ethan."
"But that doesn't change anything. Luke trusts me, he trusts us. I'm not going to destroy that."
"Even if it means destroying this?"
"There is no this. There can't be."
She lets go of my arm. Steps back. The hurt on her face nearly breaks me.
