Parker paced around his apartment, running a hand through his hair as he tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his chest. The week had blurred by, Sophia finding every excuse to stay here, to be near him, but he knew this couldn’t go on. He felt something for her—he couldn’t deny that—but he knew it was wrong.

With a small sigh, he finally turned to her, his voice laced with desperation just enough for her to notice. “Sophia… I think you should go. I’ll call you a cab.” The words felt like stones in his mouth, harder to say than he’d expected. “It’s been a week now, and you...