No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

"Great question," I admitted, feeling a bit cornered. "I've been dying to hear some truth from him."

Even though I was convinced he was Ernest, and knew deep down he was, there was still a missing piece - his own admission.

Phipps looked straight at me, our gazes locking, before he replied to Allen, "I am only myself. Mr. Clark must have checked my identity thoroughly, right?" Allen chuckled lightly, "Well, good luck to you."

With those words, he hung up, leaving Phipps to finish off his meal, a feat he managed while juggling the call. My own breakfast lay mostly untouched.

"Why aren't you eating? It'll get cold," he said, as if the phone call hadn't phased him one bit.

"Allen was warning you, letting you know you're in danger," I said, my voice tight with worry.

Phipps, unflustered, wiped his mouth with a napkin, "I know."

"Aren't you scared?" I was definitely feeling the nerves.

"What changes if I am?" His calm was unsettling, not what you'd expect from a regular guy, let alone a male model. I took a deep breath, decision made. I was going to protect him. No one was going to hurt him on my watch.

revisiting Allen's earlier question, "are

the napkin, locking eyes with me. "What do

I

just smiled, continuing

studied him intently. "But I

seemed more interested in the napkin than my

aside from your face, a lot has changed about you," I

the

used

neck?"

mole all?" He dodged again, asking another

skin's improved too,

raised his eyes to mine, "Oh, you didn't like

every part of him," le said with a hint of irony.

too delicate, not pleasant. I

to my critique but continued playing with the napkin, which had somehow transformed into