Regret Came Too Late

Other than that one flimsy excuse, Simon couldn't think of any other reason. Ethan had been out of it all night, and it was as if he hadn't even heard half of what Simon said. He looked lost in his own world.

Simon, frustrated, slammed back a shot of whiskey. "Ethan?" he called.

Only then did Ethan lift his head, his voice distant. "What is it?"

"You good, man? You've been zoning out all night."

Ethan rubbed his forehead, his fingers pressing into his temples when his phone buzzed quietly on the table. He glanced at the screen, then said flatly, "I'm leaving."

Simon stared at him in disbelief. Seriously?

Tonight's meeting this whole damn setup-was Ethan's idea. He had practically twisted Simon's arm to come meet Grace and throw a project her way. Simon had agreed. Now, before they even finished the first drink, the guy was bailing?

Simon clenched his teeth, feeling ridiculously stifled. "You" He barely got the word out before Tim appeared to wheel Ethan out.

Simon slumped back in his seat, fuming. He pulled out his phone, his mood in the gutter.

Without thinking, he shot off a text to his usual hookup. "I'm asking you a question. What the hell are you so busy with?"

last message he sent had gone unanswered. And

thought as he glared at his screen, "There's no

there was nothing. The silence gnawed at him. From the day he was born, he had never, ever been treated like an afterthought.

hesitation. And now that

was in the middle of a meeting, seated at a long table surrounded by screenwriters. They were finalizing the next round of scripts when

had an agreement," she said evenly,

Simon stiffened.

He had set the rules from the start-no prying into each other's private lives,

sheets. If either of them wanted out, they could walk away at any

He hadn't expected her to- agree

and his power, women were supposed to fall over themselves for him,

with her. He hadn't expected it to

bedroom, they were practically strangers. They never talked about their lives. He didn't even

touches, hesitant reactions. She was pure, no

and untouchable. Who would've guessed she was that untouched underneath? It lingered

Nothing felt