010 | Master of Deceit

Ethan’s POV

For the second time in less than eight hours, I found myself staring longingly at Doctor Aria as she walked away.

I needed to pull myself together.

I leant back against the front door, its maple-leaf wreath jabbing me in the back, and watched as she hurried towards the car park with her son. She slowed, glanced around, and, when she thought nobody could see, she dropped the coffee I’d bought her in the bin.

But why? She had no reason to hate me, and yet it seemed like she did. Maybe she was in a relationship with someone, and saw my friendliness as unwanted advances. My chest pinched at the idea of her with another man, which was even crazier than the fact I’d got up before the dawn to get her a coffee.

What was wrong with me?

Sterling coughed out a laugh. ‘Where do I even start?’

I groaned. ‘Not now. I need to think.’

‘What, about how that beautiful woman wants nothing to do with you?’

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I said, ‘Why wouldn’t she drink the coffee?’

‘Why did y