Masked Desires

m the alcohol. Ellie, already tipsy, was still going strong, laughing and chatting with some guy who had been eyeing her all night. Minnie leaned against the wall, tryi

ne for tonight," she said, swaying slightly. "But you-" she pointed a

ything felt like it was moving in slow motion. Ellie pulled out her ph

hape," Ellie said into the phone, her w

mind foggy. Ellie ended the call, stuffed the p

oward the man who had been waiting for her. "But I'm going with him, his na

bass reverberating painfully in her skull. She tried to focus, but the world around her felt like i

dows by the sidewalk. Three of them. They were looking at her in a way that made her stomach tighten. S

ers-stepped closer, his gaze appraising. "Hey, you los

shifted uncomfortably, her head spinning, and instinctively backed up against

used than concerned. He was taller, lanky, and lea

weak, and her hands were shaking. She opened her

careful out here, all alone," he said, taking another

. She could barely think straight, but she didn't want to get any closer to

The headlights flooded the sidewalk, briefly blinding the men.

contrast to the chaos surrounding Minnie. His eyes scanned the scene in an instant, and before any

an's voice was calm but fir

The one who had first spoken to Minnie sneered, "Non

men. "You're scaring her. Walk away." His voice w

d, but his voice was less certain now. "She's

toward Ethan, clutching

than said, his words slow a

ly backed off, retreating into the shadows. Ethan didn't move until they were well

er now, concerned, "What are you doing here! You're to

ried to nod, but it felt like her body wasn't quite listening. Her legs were shaking, and she felt l

ed her and held her shoulders. "Come on, let's get you

e were fragile. As he drove, the silence between them was hea

his hand on her back guiding her inside. Minnie barely registe

w blanket around her shoulders as she leaned back,

walking back to her. His face was drawn with concern. "Minnie, what happened

n why she was like this, why she pushed him away sometimes, why she was constantly hiding behind a mask. But

ile. "I didn't mean for any of this to hap

. "Hey, it's okay. You don't have to apologize. I'm just worried about you. I want to help. I want to know what's

eak, but nothing came out. She couldn't. She couldn't tell

I really do. But I can't. Not yet." She wiped away a tear she hadn't realized had fallen. "I'm n

sion in them. "Ruby, no matter what, I'm not going anyw

r voice barely a whisper. "I

a comforting gesture. Then, before he could stop himself,

against his lips, and the soft scent of her hair filled his senses. He could feel the weight

omplicated. Far more complicated than he'd allowed himself to acknowledge. He had feelings for her. He cared about Ruby-this versio

red something deeper inside him-a c

pered, his voice thick with emotion. "But

read through her chest, a comfort she wasn't used t

over her and making sure she was comfortable. As he tuc

The urge to take off her mask crept onto him. But he pushed it away and walked out t