Ethan’s tone was calm and steady, but his gaze was intense and sincere, almost blinding. Even his hand, tightly interlaced with mine, was trembling ever so slightly.

I stood there, frozen. He leaned in closer, his warm breath brushing against my ear. “If I’m not your boyfriend, I don’t even know in what capacity I can protect you. Charlotte, be with me, okay?”

The tears I had just forced back started falling again, but Ethan patiently wiped them away, one ...