“We’re not…” she mutters, but she doesn’t finish her sentence.

“Fine,” I answer, pushing past her toward the door. Holding it open for her, I say, “I get off work at 7...if you change your mind.”

With one last glance at my bed, she walks straight out of my apartment, and I let her leave alone. I could leave too, but I don’t think I can handle being on an elevator alone with her at the moment.

Shelby

I spend the rest of my day feeling entirely out of alignment. Which is dangerous for a nurse. I lost count about six times today while taking heart rates, and I almost wrote down the wrong patient’s name on a prescription form.

This thing needs to get settled, and by lunchtime, I have myself convinced that I will avoid Rafe at all costs. I can ignore him. I’ll join a dating app and maybe meet someone new. Someone normal—with low toxicity levels.

Sure, they probably won't be into that hands-behind-my-back, tied up stuff, but there’s nothing wrong with a little good old vanilla sex. Plus, I’m twenty-eight. I don’t need to be worrying about getting laid right now. I need to find someone serious and focus on trying to settle down.

But then I think about that kiss. God, that kiss.

I end up eating my lunch in my car on the drive between clients. After picking up my sandwich from the drive-through, my bluetooth starts ringing in the car.

For a short split second, I actually imagine it’s Rafe. I don’t know why. He’s never called me before. I don’t even think he has my number.

Then I peer down and see Ezra’s name on the screen. Clicking the button on the steering wheel, I greet him, pulling into a parking spot so I can at least scarf down my meal without the risk of driving off the road.

“Hey, Ez,” I call out, but he doesn’t greet me back. I just hear heavy breathing, and my heart drops. “Ezra?”

“I’m a terrible brother,” he groans.

“No, you’re not. Stop it.”

“I am. I never should have asked you what I did. That was so fucked up. What if he finds out and takes it out on you? I should never ask you to lie for me like that.”

There’s so much stress in his voice, I know this probably kept him up all night. This is what Ezra does. He finds one thing to worry about, and he lets it devour him.

“I haven’t done anything, Ezra. If you don’t want me to do anything, I won’t. Don’t worry about what you asked me. I’m a big girl, you know.”

“I’m such a piece of shit,” he mutters.

“You are not a piece of shit,” I reply. “Look, why don’t we do dinner tonight?” I could use the distraction anyway.

“Yeah, that sounds good,” he answers. “Can we do a late dinner? I have work stuff until seven.”

My face falls. “What kind of work stuff?”