As if he could sense her thoughts, Ethan shifted in his sleep, letting go of her and rolling over, turning his back to her.
Inexplicably, that made her sad.
The contentment was gone, and in its place she felt restless and uncomfortable. Maybe the night had worn out its welcome.
Of course, Ethan was her ride home, so it wasn’t like she could just leave.
After lying there for a few more minutes with the same thoughts running through her head, she rolled out of the bed and padded across the room, accidentally kicking her purse, which had been placed in front of the mini-fridge along with her clothes, neatly folded and placed on the ground. She picked it all up, clutching it to her chest, and went into the bathroom, closing the door and turning on the way-too-bright light.
Digging her cell phone out, she was thankful to still have some battery left, so she was able to send a text message. Setting the phone down, she focused on getting all of her clothes back on. Thankfully, her phone buzzed a moment later.
Quickly tapping out a reply, she pushed send and then turned the light off, walking out into the room, which was suddenly even darker than it had been before her eyes adjusted to the bathroom.
She wasn’t sure she had everything.
Her clothes were all on, she had her phone and her purse… it seemed like she had brought more with her, but she knew she didn’t.
She was just reluctant to leave the room.
Reluctant to leave him.
Dammit.
Since she still had a little time, she made her way over to the chair beside the bed and took a seat, placing her purse on the ottoman and resting her elbow on her leg, leaning on her palm as she gazed at Ethan, lying in bed asleep.
She should probably wake him up. Of course, by 4:15 am, his wife had probably figured out he wasn’t coming home—and she was sure he had a suitable excuse, since the truth obviously wouldn’t work in that scenario—but he might need to set an alarm or something.
But then he would have to come up with something suitable to say to her, and she didn’t want lies. The truth would be worse.
No words. She didn’t need words.
True to his word, even despite her own desires, he had proven what she asked him to prove to her. Even when she didn’t say no, he was able to stop.
That was good.
For some reason, it didn’t feel good, but logically she knew it was. Her brain just wasn’t working right—probably from lack of sleep.
Yeah, that was it.
Her phone lit up eventually and she stood, sighing as she took one last look at him. She wished she could encapsulate the moment, even though she knew logically it meant nothing.
Illogically, it felt like it did.
To her, anyway.
She knew that was stupid. She knew that.
So, with one last look, she made her way out of the hotel room, down the corridor, and out the door. The maroon sedan was parked right in front of it, the lights still on, waiting for her.
As she opened up the door and slid inside, hugging herself against the chilly early morning air, Willow glanced over with a sheepish smile. “Thanks.”
Her brother nodded his head, flicking a glance at the hotel door, but he didn’t ask any questions.
She loved him for that.
The only thing he asked, as he put the car in reverse, was, “You okay?”
Injecting false brightness into voice, she said, “Yeah, I’m fine.”