Ethan arrived at his office early, as usual, expecting the day to start with mundane meetings. But Lena wasn't there. Not that it was unusual for her to be late—but something in the emptiness of her desk felt wrong.
His phone buzzed. A message from her:
"I have to leave town. Don't try to find me. –L"
The words hit him harder than he expected. Rage. Confusion. Desire. All tangled together.
He hated that he cared this much. He hated that he wanted her here, now. And most of all, he hated that he couldn't make her stay.
By the time he reached the airport, he realized he didn't even know where she was going. Every instinct screamed at him to chase her. But for the first time, he hesitated.
And maybe that was the worst part.