He dragged us both over, and as I got under the covers he took his pants and shoes off, before getting in with me. We lay there for a few minutes, tangled in each other, my head against Elias’s chest. Being with him was so intense, every moment magnified. Maybe it was this place—Ethiopia and its magic. Or maybe it was me once again moving too fast. Still, I couldn’t deny the way he made me feel. Like everything made sense in his arms.

After a few minutes, I dislodged myself from him and sat up. “I need to get cleaned up. I feel like we’re going to get stuck together.”

He chuckled and pulled me down for another kiss before letting out a long sigh. “I should probably head out soon, too.”

Right, because he was taking a risk even coming up to my room with me, let alone trying to sneak out at all hours of the night.

I didn’t say anything and went to the bathroom for a washcloth. After a few minutes, I came out with a damp towel for him. As soon as I saw his face, I knew something bad had happened. The smile on his lips from just a few minutes ago was gone, his brow knitted with worry at whatever he was seeing on his phone. “What’s wrong?”

He looked over like he was surprised to see me there, as if in the time I’d been in the bathroom, he’d forgotten where he was. He was busy tugging on his pants and looking at his phone, which was on the bed lighting up with notifications. “My father’s in the hospital. I had my phone turned off, so I didn’t see the messages until now.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I felt like shit for keeping him away from his family, and terrified for him. Instantly I had worst-case scenarios flooding my head—of his dad being dead, of him not getting there in time. I was trying hard to breathe and not having much luck when I felt firm hands tighten around my arms.

“Desta.”

I turned my face up to him and saw him looking down at me with worry. I had to get it together. His dad was sick and I didn’t need to make it about me. I tried to shake off my own baggage about my dad and focused on him.

“I’m sorry. Of course you should go.” I tried to sound normal. But I heard the tremor in my voice.