“Hey,” she said softly, trying to keep the exhaustion out of her voice.
“Hi, baby,” Ethan’s warm voice filled her ear. “I’m actually near your place. Can I come over now? Just for a bit—I miss you.”
Lexi closed her eyes and sighed. Guilt pricked at her chest. Ethan had always been the safe choice, the warm fire in a cold room. But right now, he was also one more reminder of the life she was trying to balance on a blade’s edge.
“Yeah,” she said after a beat. “No problem. Come over.”
Fifteen minutes later, Ethan was standing in her living room, holding a paper bag from her favorite Thai place and a hopeful smile on his face. Lexi offered a small smile, trying to seem more composed than she felt.
“I brought your favorite—spicy noodles and crispy spring rolls,” he said, setting the bag do
