His Eternal Flame

by Layla Valentine

  When I leave the office an hour before everyone else, no one asks where I’m going. Whereas I used to hate that I felt so invisible at this paper, now it’s working in my favor. The last thing I want right now is anyone in my business.

  I’m so excited and anxious as I walk down the street that I might throw up. At the coffee shop down the corner, I pause outside and give myself a moment of deep breathing. I’m fifteen minutes early anyway, so it’s unlikely that she’s here yet.

  I did it. I found Ethan’s ex-girlfriend. What’s even more awesome is that she still lives in the area—and works in the same part of San Francisco as I do. When I sent her a message asking if she’d be willing to talk, I had a response back within thirty minutes.

  So here I am. About to get the scoop. And, boy, it’s going to be a good one—with a cherry on top and everything.

  “Noelle?”

  I spin around so fast my high heel nearly snaps.

  “Ethan?”

  He’s looking at me with a mix of confusion and pleasure. “I thought that was you.”

  “I was just getting some coffee.” I gesture to the shop behind me.

  “I’m glad I ran into you.” He glances over his shoulder before taking a step closer to me. “I wish I could see you tonight, but I have to fly to LA last minute.”

  “That sucks,” I genuinely answer with a smile.

  “Text me. Tell me how you’re doing.”

  “I will.”

  He gets even closer, touches my waist. “I’ll be back tomorrow. You should see if your boss will let you skip out early.”

  My heart rate increases. It’s not just because of Ethan’s touch, though. His ex-girlfriend from college, the very one Zach ‘stole’ from him, could show up any minute. If he catches sight of her, my cover is blown. I’ll have lost all chances of digging up the truth.

  “When does your flight leave?” I quickly ask.

  “In an hour.”

  “Oh, wow! You should go. You’re going to miss it.”

  “It’s fine. I have time to get coffee.”

  “Are you sure?” I think fast. “There’s a really long line in there. I just saw it and came back out.”

  Ethan frowns. “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Hm. I guess I’ll make do with the espresso on the jet.”

  Poor Ethan Ford Jr., having to ‘make do’ with the conditions on what is surely a private jet. I try not to laugh.

  I press my hands against his chest and inhale his deep, musky scent. Even out on this crowded street, it’s distinct.

  “Go,” I tell him. “Don’t miss your flight. I’ll see you soon.”

  A growl rolls from deep in his throat and he pushes his lips against mine. “Get ready. I’m going to be desperate for you by the time I get back.”

  My lady parts jump with an electric jolt. I watch Ethan walk away. He waves as he gets to the corner and climbs into the back of a waiting car.

  Once more, I have to take a moment to compose myself. I’m no longer nervous for this meeting, but running into Ethan was a close call. With one quick look in the wrong direction, everything could have been ruined.

  But it wasn’t. I’m still on track.

  Checking my watch, I note that Harmony should be arriving about now.

  Going into the (not at all crowded) coffee shop, I order a black coffee and take a seat near a window. My leg shakes with excitement. This is it. If Harmony has the answers I’m looking for, this mystery will be as good as over.

  I recognize her the second she comes into view on the other side of the glass. Although the picture I initially found her in was taken years ago, I also took a peek at the most recent photos on her profile. Though her face has become rounder and her hair longer, she’s still a gorgeous blonde. I see why both Ethan and Zach fell for her.

  “Harmony.” I wave and stand. She nods at me in acknowledgment and makes her way over.

  “Noelle Edwards.” I offer my hand. As Harmony shakes it, she eyes me with a hint of suspicion.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “Can I get you anything?”

  “No, I’m fine, thanks. I really can’t stay long. I have to be at daycare in an hour.”

  “I won’t keep you then,” I answer, sitting down. “Thanks for coming.”

  Harmony nods and places her oversized bag on the floor next to her seat. She has a comfortable but professional style, wearing a form-fitting pantsuit and a silk handkerchief as a headband. I note the wedding ring on her hand, its diamond glinting in the late afternoon light.

  “How did you find me?” she asks.

  “Facebook tags.”

  “Ah. I see.” She smiles slightly. “You’re actually the first journalist who has ever contacted me about Ethan or Zach. I mean, other people ask me all the time. They want to know what it was like to go to school with people who ended up that successful.”

  I nod and place my clasped hands on the table. “They’re both very impressive men.”

  “I haven’t seen them in years.” Her eyes narrow slightly. “What did you say your article was about?”

  I pause on an inhale. Do I give her a vague, shielded spiel? Or just go for full-throttle honesty?

  I make a split-second decision to go with the second choice.

  “Originally, it was about Zach’s journey to success. I still have that article, written and ready to go… But there’s something else I’d like to write about as well. I’d like to do a more personal story.”

  “On those two?” she slowly repeats.

  “That’s right. Are you aware that they’re not friends anymore?”

  A sad look crosses her face. “That’s too bad. They were inseparable during college. Do you know what happened?”

  I shift my weight forward, coming to sit at the very edge of my seat. “I was hoping you could fill me in on that.”

  Harmony’s lips twist, and she looks away. “I’m not really sure, honestly.”

  The answer is disappointing, to say the least. I’m not giving up yet, though. I get the sense that there’s something she doesn’t want to say.

  “Zach and Ethan both told me they had some kind of falling out the night of graduation,” I explain.

  Her eyebrows rise, her mouth dropping. “Oh my God, I didn’t realize…” She shakes her head. “I mean, when you said they weren’t friends anymore, I thought that maybe…” She looks down at her hands. “But I didn’t want to believe it.”

  “Didn’t want to believe what?”

  “That I had something to do with their friendship ending. Ethan broke up with me that night. He wouldn’t say what it was about, though.”

  “He didn’t mention Zach at all?”

  “No. And I asked him several times. He was just so vague.” She frowns. “I think he said that it was just time for him to move on, since it was graduation and we would all be starting new soon. But I always wondered if he had seen me and Zach together that night.”

  My stomach sinks. So the story Ethan told me is true. Zach did steal his best friend’s girlfriend. I swallow down the bile rising in my throat, try to tell myself that it was a long time ago. He’s a different man now. He wouldn’t do that today.

  But then I remember what Ethan told me about Zach having a weakness for pretty faces. Could it be the captivating man really is the womanizer I feared he was?

  Disappointment courses through me, but I have to keep it together.

  “So you and Zach got together the night of graduation,” I clarify, “and it sounds like Ethan came in and saw you guys after all.”

  Harmony shakes her head. “No. Zach and I didn’t get together.”

  “But Ethan said…”

  She sighs. “My sorority sisters dared me to kiss Zach that night. I was a little drunk, so I took the dare. Like I said, I didn’t even know Ethan was there. I thought he’d never find out. It was a stupid thing to do. I mean, looking back, I know now that Ethan and I weren’t right for each other. But if
I had known that it would destroy their relationship…something so good…I would have never done it.”

  I absorb this news. “The picture that I found you in, it’s one of you and Zach at a party graduation night.”

  Harmony warily studies my face. “What are we doing?”

  “You’re just sitting on this couch. In the background of a photo. I took a chance and hoped it was you.”

  Harmony groans. “That must have been right before I kissed him.”

  “Did he…?” I clear my throat and do my best to find my professional voice. “What happened after you kissed him?”

  “He pushed me away and asked what I was doing. I just laughed and ran off. Again, I was wasted.” She rolls her eyes. “Zach would never steal another man’s girlfriend. He’s a great guy.”

  “Wow.” I sit back against my chair and look at my untouched, now cold, coffee. “And that was it?”

  She shrugs. “Basically. Ethan broke up with me later that night. I was sober by then, so understood what was going on. Really, though, at the time I didn’t think he had seen what had happened. I already felt so bad about it…”

  “And did you talk to Zach after that?”

  “No. I left a couple days later to start an internship in LA. I was gone for the next two years, until I moved back here. I always assumed they had stayed friends. This is… I’m really sorry to hear they haven’t. I feel really responsible.”

  The look on Harmony’s face convinces me she’s telling the truth.

  “I want to fix things between them,” I announce.

  “How are you going to do that?”

  “I’m hoping that the truth will fix things. It sounds like the end of their relationship was based solely on a misunderstanding.”

  “Hm.” She looks doubtful. “I don’t know. They’re both pretty stubborn.”

  I bark out a laugh. “Don’t I know it.”

  Harmony looks at me with new interest. “You know them pretty well?”

  “I, um, I work for Ethan… And, yes, I know Zach as well.”

  “That’s nice.” She smiles faintly. “If I can be blunt, Noelle, you seem like a really nice girl. They’re lucky to have someone who’s so invested in them.”

  I nod. “Thanks.”

  Unfortunately, I don’t think someone messing around in their business is something either Ethan or Zach want. But I’m doing this regardless. It’s for them. And it’s for me as well. I needed to know who the men I’m dealing with really are.

  And now I do.

  Ethan Ford and Zach Garner might both have tough, no-nonsense exteriors, but underneath those facades are two loyal, caring men. From the details I’ve gleaned, Ethan truly loved Harmony. And Zach never would have done anything to hurt his best friend. He pushed Harmony away, not willing to cross the line and hurt Ethan.

  It might seem crazy that neither of them know the full story of what happened that night, but with these two I can believe it. They’re both headstrong, not the kind of guys who easily admit to being wrong or weak. If someone were to shun either Ethan or Zach, I can confidently say they would respond with silence and distance.

  Inside, though? Inside, I bet they’re both still hurting, the reverberations from that night still thrumming against their souls.

  Harmony glances at her phone. “Is there anything else you need from me?”

  “No, I think that’s all. Thanks again. This really clears some things up.”

  She nods. “Of course. Do you think you can say hi to them for me? That is… If they don’t hate me for what happened.”

  I shake my head. “They can’t hold anything against you once they find out the truth.”

  Harmony’s lips purse. “I hope you’re right.” She grabs her purse and stands. “It was good to meet you, Noelle. Good luck with everything.”

  “You too.”

  I stay in my seat as she leaves the coffee shop, my mind spinning. So it really was all a misunderstanding, just as I guessed. Two headstrong men ripped apart by one sorority dare.

  I lick my lips, excitement building. There’s trepidation too, though. Now that I have all the information, the next thing I need to do is present it to Ethan and Zach. Since I have no idea how they’re going to react, that will be the hard part.

  Chapter 16

  Come over tonight, Zach’s text message reads. I’ve missed you.

  I’ll be back at the office in ten, Ethan’s text announces. Can’t wait to see you.

  Sitting in my cramped little cubicle, I read the messages over and over. They arrived within one minute of each other.

  The irony is too much. Zach and Ethan may not even talk anymore, but they sure seem to be on the same wavelength.

  I put my phone away and stare at the two open documents on my screen. One is the article I told Ethan I’m writing: a piece about Zach’s professional success. The other, much more intimate one, has a completely different tone…and is completely unfinished.

  I gnaw on the edge of my fingernail before I realize what I’m doing and drop my hand. I could show the new document to Ethan now.

  Or I could wait.

  The more I think about it, waiting seems better.

  My desk phone rings, making me jump.

  “Hello?” I answer.

  “Noelle, Mr. Ford would like to see you in his office.” The secretary hangs up before I can respond.

  Leaving my laptop in the cubicle, I head down the hallway. A good plan of action seems to be to talk to Ethan first. There’s no sense in springing the article on him. Still, I’m not so sure coming right out and telling him I met up with his ex-girlfriend yesterday is the best course either. I’m toeing the line here, desperately hoping I’ll be able to nudge Ethan toward his own realization of what happened.

  I knock on the door, and he answers with smoldering eyes. His voice is crisp, though, all professionalism.

  “Noelle. Good to see you. Come right on in.”

  He closes the door behind us then steps forward to pull me against him. The kiss, strong and quick, shakes me. It almost makes me forget what I came in here to do. Almost.

  “Come to dinner with me tonight,” Ethan says, stepping back and sitting in one of the plush chairs.

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  I press my hands together. “I can’t tonight. I’m busy. Sorry.”

  His eyebrows thread together. “Doing what?”

  “It’s… Just seeing a friend.”

  Wow. What a pathetic excuse. I’m no good at lying, though. And staring Ethan down, desperately trying to stop myself from looking away, doesn’t seem to be helping any.

  I switch gears fast. “How was your trip?”

  “It was fine.” He crosses his arms, his body stiffening. “I was really hoping to unwind by spending an evening with you. We’ll have to shoot for some other night this week.”

  “Yeah,” I agree. “That would be nice.”

  The space between us suddenly feels too much. I take a few steps toward him, hovering close. Ethan reaches out and pulls me into his lap, studying my face.

  “The article. Is it done yet?”

  I hesitate. “Yes…”

  “Great. Send it over to Graham. There should be just enough time for it to make the morning edition.”

  “Actually…” I gulp down my fear. It pops right back up.

  Ethan cocks his head. “What?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about that. Well, about something in relation to that.”

  A long silence.

  “Okay,” he slowly says. “Is this about Zach?”

  “Yes.”

  His jaw tightens. “How close have you two been getting?”

  “We… We’ve been hanging out. We went on a trip this weekend.”

  He nods and looks at the floor, his emotions obscured. I’m still sitting on his lap, and it seems such a weird location for me to be right now.

  “This isn’t about me and him,” I quickly say. “It’s you
r relationship with Zach that I wanted to talk about.”

  He stiffens under me. “There is no relationship.”

  “But you must still think of him some. You told me I could write this article any way I wanted. Does that mean you’re not going to write a tell-all book on him now? It does, right?”

  Ethan says nothing. He’s shutting down, pushing me away with silence. I hate it. It’s a cruel act, and it only makes me talk more.

  “You have to still care about him, Ethan.”

  “I appreciate your concern, Noelle,” he tensely says. “But there’s a lot that you don’t understand.”

  “Really? Is there? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like your friendship ended over a simple misunderstanding.”

  On the armrest, his hand curls into a fist. I’m afraid I’ve gone too far, but it doesn’t matter. It’s too late now.

  “Noelle, I’m going to say this one more time, and I really do hope you heed my advice. Stay out of mine and Zach’s situation. I like you, and if you insist on butting in, it is only going to hurt our own relationship.”

  My throat tightens. “I’m doing this because I care about you, Ethan.”

  “Really?” His eyes flash. “Or is this about Zach? Because it sounds like you two have been getting awfully cozy.”

  Tears fill my eyes. This was exactly what I was afraid of. Instead of my discovery bringing Ethan and Zach together, it’s only tearing us all further apart.

  I don’t know why I thought I had to do this, why I got it in my head that all three of us could be… What? Some kind of unconventional, happy family? One girl, two boyfriends? Neither of them has even asked me to get serious with them. Neither of them has shown that I mean more to them than a casual fling.

  But I just had to stick my nose where it didn’t belong. I had to get attached to both of these guys. Now I get to pay the consequences.

  I stand up, wiping tears from my eyes, and turn away from Ethan. I can’t stand for him to see me cry right now.

  Light flashes on the windows across the street. I envy anyone who might be in the building over there working, keeping their head down and just doing their job. Why can’t I be more like them?