My Secret Lover, Her Public Charade

table, the sound lost in the cheerful

his coffee cup fo

Chicago, Ethan?" she

eone you might

smile. "Work's

a behind the weekend visit. He was twenty-nine, a software developer with a good

e was a fam

town Chicago loft, the city lights

Maya's name flas

immediate, cut throu

?" he tex

came instantly. "Rooftop. Y

Rodriguez, twenty-five, an event planner with a taste for th

had been a secret, a whirlwind of

rooftop, the wind whipping

, her flashy red sports car

," he said, his voice tight as he joine

hed, a bright,

her lips finding his

y unbuttoning his shi

he murmured ag

e breathed,

encounters, the thrill

where they pretended to be casual acq

er boldness, but he chalked it up to her youthful e

– citing Rick's overprotective nature and her own desi

ded blanket he kept hidden on the r

patterns o

et tonight,

ed. "Just

bo

eling heavy. "My parents are..

up on an elbow, he

nd of qu

Settling dow

ed. She leaned in,

ll of affection. "I'm getting ready

shed over Ethan. He

all

er gaze sincere. "I love y

ords were a balm, soothing the anxi

as secure. He just needed to

sm, the city lights below

hrowing a lavish welcome

y. Leo, Maya's high-school "dream guy," had just

a, a knot tighten

er laughter a little too bright

der, a familiar feeling

eeding air, and found a secluded

's closest friends, Chloe and Zo

ck with Leo tonight," Chloe sai

tice' with Etha

rehearsing every move, every line. Etha

e glass in his

ly came back," Chloe continued. "From how to argue and make up, to what

asked, "Wait, so Ethan w

nd dismissive, joined them. S

was my live-in, five-year intensive training program. You don't get good at any

d into Ethan wit

The rooftop, the cit

the laughter of Maya and he

constructed around his l

g her through Rick,

ng, "Stay away from my little

ersistent, char

g him feel like the most

g her declarations of love

, each stolen moment, each whispered promi

ntimate touch, every plan f

hearsal for

s a raw, ga

humiliated,

or, the city lights blurring t

ck to his lo

d shared so many times, a spac

e lingered faintly in t

ow blanket on his sofa,

hands shaking, and hu

t, to escape this c

rang. Hi

ou okay? You sounded

family, the desire to settle dow

se. "I think... I think I'm re

e had to star

Maya. He wouldn't giv

appear from her w