Regret Came Too Late

Damien grew even more suspicious, craning his neck to look into the car. "Who

are you texting? We blow up your phone and you never answer us," he grumbled.

Ethan calmly shoved Damien's head out of the way and rolled the window up

without a word.

Undeterred, Damien knocked on the glass. "I'm supposed to meet a few of the

college leaders. Since you're already here, wanna grab dinner later?"

"I don't have time for that," Ethan said flatly.

Damien felt like he had just been punched in the gut. Then why the hell was he

even here?

He turned to leave. But just then, another car pulled up and parked right in front of

Ethan's.

The window rolled down, and there was Grace, flashing a stunning smile as she

waved over at Ethan. "Mr. Henderson, I just booked a place for lunch. Do you

want to join me?" she called.

Ethan's window lowered again. He let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah."

Damien stood there, frozen. He honestly thought he was hallucinating.

At that moment, Damien's assistant, Oliver Cooke, walked over and leaned in.

"Mr. Jensen, we should head out. Your meeting is about to start."

But Damien, without thinking, yanked open Ethan's car door and slid inside. He

waved Oliver off. "Push the meeting back. Tell them something came up."

Then, he turned to Grace, who was still sitting in her car ahead of them.

"Ms. Lambert, hope you don't mind me joining," Damien said with a sly smile.

Grace didn't mind at all. She had just gotten the jump on Damien by snatching

Jasper out from under him, and if staying friendly kept things from getting messy,

she was more than happy to play nice.

the way while Ethan's followed behind. What Grace didn't

the mood inside the

darker by the

himself from stealing glances at him, studying him like a science

unless he had to. He stayed silent

a single

pulled up outside the restaurant

silence.

and you said you were busy," he said in a deadpan

and you're suddenly free? Ethan, man, something's up with

Once something didn't sit right

wouldn't let it go.

him completely, got out of the car, and

Tim moved to push

behind, sneaking out his phone

number.

ever notice something weird between Ethan

his

suspected something before, but it always seemed too crazy

seriously believe.

on his couch with his long legs kicked

way earlier, but he loved sitting back and watching chaos

Julian said

know how

"I asked

and he said he

minutes later,

free. Now,

with my

eyes."

hearing

third-wheel Grace and Ethan.

he drawled lazily. "Then you'd better keep

off."

worry. I won't

he hung

at his

slowly shaking his

clearly gone to

finally

it

ruined.

...