Page 58 of Enchanted

I glanced at the clock. “It’s getting late. Why don’t we find somewhere around here to crash tonight?”

“We can’t do that.” Ethan sounded appalled, but underneath that there was a sense of longing. A quiet desperation to be out of the city, at least for now. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t.” I flashed him a grin. “I offered. Don’t worry, we can get two rooms. Your virtue is safe with me.”

Ethan laughed weakly. “Honestly? That didn’t even occur to me.”

I tried not to let that sting. Of course he hadn’t been thinking that. For all I knew, he was still in a relationship.

I didn’t allow myself to consider the fact that it was likely over between him and Dave. Ethan didn’t need me pursuing him right now.

He needed a friend.

I handed him my phone. “Here. Passcode is 2501.”

“That’s odd,” Ethan said.

“What is?”

“Your passcode,” he said. “We must share the same birthday. Twenty-fifth of January, right?”

My mouth was suddenly dry. “Um, yeah.”

Another lie. Fuck. But how could I tell Ethan that I’d picked that number randomly? That I used it for everything, despite Nate nagging me to mix it up every now and then?

“Why did you give me your phone?”

“Can you look up the nearest place to stay, please? I’m running low on fuel.”

I could do it myself, of course. Unlike humans, using a phone while driving wasn’t going to distract me. My reflexes were far superior to even the best Formula One drivers. But, for the sake of appearances, it was better for Ethan to do it.

“There’s somewhere close by,” Ethan said, brows furrowed as he read the screen. “Looks kind of pricey though. Has a three-night minimum stay too.”

Even better. “Do you have anything you need to get back for?”

“We have our shoots.”

“You know what’s great about living with the guy who organises the shoots? The ability to tell him to reschedule.”

“We can’t do that,” Ethan protested. “Sam might fire me.”

“Trust me, that’s never going to happen.”

I pulled off onto the side of the road and took the phone from him. With a few clicks, I had a two-bedroom cottage booked in my name. “Says they have complimentary toiletries, plus a washer and dryer. Perfect.”

Ethan gaped at me. “Rami, you can’t just book that. Did you not see how expensive it is?”

I snorted as I rejoined the carriageway. “I don’t mean this to come out braggy, but you’ve seen where I live, right? I’m not hurting for money.”

“Doesn’t mean you should be spending it because of me.”

I laughed internally. Little did Ethan know that I’d spend it all on him if it made him happy. “Look at it this way—I’m getting a few nights chilling in a beautiful spa cottage. It’s not a hardship, Ethan.”

“What about your schedule? Don’t you have other shoots coming up?”

“Nope.” I flicked my indicator on as we approached a sign for the Wilderness Retreat. “I cleared my schedule for you. I’m free as a bird. Now we can get a head start on that friendship we discussed.”

I parked outside a small hut with a chalkboard sign declaring it as the reception. Turning to Ethan, I smiled. “Ready to be pampered?”