Clearing the Air

Rachel stared at Ethan in disbelief for a few moments with her mouth open slightly before she had to pull her gaze away and look elsewhere. Her head felt hot.

"I can't change your feelings about the situation," Rachel admitted. "But if you ever seek me out again, I'm not going to turn you away. I see it as something natural even if you're ashamed."

Ethan could look at her now that her eyes were no longer on him. He was in complete disbelief.

"Don't tell me that," he groaned. "I hate keeping secrets like this."

Rachel's arched eyebrows lowered.

"I still don't understand your need to keep it a secret," she admitted. "Even on that day, you said something like that. Who cares what other people think?"

Ethan sighed.