"That's a coward's plan."
His jaw tightens. "Maybe. But it's the right one."
"For who?"
"For everyone."
"Not for me. Not for you either if you'd be honest for two seconds."
"I am being honest. This thing between us, it's going to hurt people. It's going to hurt Luke."
"You don't know that."
"I do. You didn't see his face this morning at breakfast. The way he talked about trusting me with you. The way he said I'm the kind of guy he'd want around his sister."
The words land like stones. I can picture it. Luke sitting across from Ethan, coffee in hand, completely oblivious to what's actually happening between us.
"He doesn't own me," I say quietly.
"I know that."
"Then why does it matter what he wants?"
"Because he's my friend. Because his opinion matters. Because I can't look him in the eye knowing I'm going behind his back."
"So don't go behind his back. Tell him."
Ethan laughs. It's a bitter sound. "Tell him what? That I want his sister? That I've wanted her for months and I'm barely holding it together?"
"Yes. Exactly that."
"And then what? He gives us his blessing? We all live happily ever after?"
"Maybe. Or maybe he's angry at first but gets over it. Or maybe he's fine with it and you've been torturing yourself for nothing."
"You really think he'd be fine with it?"
I don't answer. I can't answer honestly.
Ethan nods like I just proved his point. "That's what I thought."
"So your solution is to leave. To put three weeks and hundreds of miles between us and hope that makes it go away."
"It's not going to go away. I know that." He meets my eyes. "But maybe it'll be easier. Maybe the distance will help us both think clearly."
"I'm thinking clearly right now."
"No, you're not. Neither of us is. If we were, you wouldn't be here."
"Maybe I don't want to think clearly. Maybe I'm tired of doing the right thing all the time."
"Callie."
"Don't." I hold up a hand. "Don't say my name like that. Like I'm some problem you need to solve."
"You're not a problem."
"Then what am I?"
