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?"

sent had gone unanswered. And now, this one didn't get a

screen, "There's no way she'd

minutes, but still, there was nothing. The silence gnawed at him. From the day he was born, he had never, ever been treated like an afterthought. Feeling even more irritated, he

came no hesitation. And now that it's me reaching out, you're brushing me

They were finalizing the next round of scripts when his voice crackled through her earbuds. Her

agreement,"

Simon stiffened.

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

was between the sheets. If

then, he had thought he was being generous. If she hadn't liked it, he would have just found someone else. He hadn't expected her to- agree so fast, with such obvious relief as if she had been hoping for exactly

wrong way from the beginning. He was Simon, damn it. With his looks, his money, and his power, women were supposed to fall over themselves for him, not act like he was

night, pissed off and rebelling against his family, he ended up actually sleeping with her.

They never talked about their lives. He

night, her inexperience had been obvious-awkward touches, hesitant reactions. She was pure, no

sharper. She looked so polished, cool, and untouchable. Who would've guessed she was that untouched underneath? It lingered in his

he lit a cigarette and took a drag. Nothing felt right— not the room, not