Page 22 of When We Ignite

sorry for bothering you

I’ll let you get back to work

I shook my head and decided to call him. It rang a couple of times before he answered.

“You’re not bothering me,” I said.

His breathing came through on the other end. I wished I could see his face and read his expressions.

Lowering my voice, I asked, “Do you want to see me, darling?”

“No,” he finally replied, his voice a bit strained.

I chuckled softly. “It’s okay if you do. I won’t tell,” I said, keeping my voice in that deep, rumbly register.

He exhaled loudly, clicking his tongue. “I don’t get it.”

“What don’t you get?”

“You.”

A soft huff of laughter escaped past my lips. “I think I’ve been pretty straightforward,” I replied.

“So why did you stop?”

I closed my eyes. He was too fucking perfect. Ethan was sharp; he’d noticed something was off, even if it took him days to confront me about it. It only made him all the more appealing.

“Did I stop?”

“I don’t want to keep talking to you. Can we hang up?”

“Don’t hang up. Why don’t you want to talk anymore?” I pressed.

“Because talking to you is really fucking confusing,” he admitted.

I could almost picture him clenching his jaw, struggling to get the words out. That word—confusing—was music to my ears. It was exactly what I’d aimed for.

“Then let’s meet.”

“No, that’s worse,” he protested. “Let’s just hang up, Sebastian. Let me hang up.”

“You don’t have to be embarrassed. I promise, I won’t tell anyone,” I assured him.

“I’m not embarrassed,” he snapped defensively.

“Ethan, come on,” I coaxed.

He huffed—a sound so endearing it made me grin.

“Fine. Yes, I want to see you,” he confessed. I laughed softly. “Could you stop laughing at me?”

“I’m not laughing at you, my darling. I’m just happy you said it. I want to see you too.”

He exhaled loudly again.

“I can come pick you up,” I offered.

“I thought you had to work,” he said petulantly.