Lie - (E. Hunt)

where does it end

I watched as Ethan's boss left him alone. I knew exactly what they had been talking about. I knew exactly how it affected Ethan.

And it broke my heart to do this to him.

I looked down at the girls, the two of them happily spooning their breakfast into their mouths. They adored Ethan above all the other agents protecting them.

And I could understand why.

It had been the reason why I fell in love with him. Why I had married him.

I quickly shuttered my thoughts and tried to steer my thoughts away from that time in my life. Away from Ethan.

My will didn't last long as Mr. Hunley approaches me. My mind went immediately to Ethan's reaction of my request. Of how he tensed. Of how he clenched his fists.

He was still chasing me.

"Jemma?"

I nodded at his request and turned to follow him. The girls didn't notice my absence. Hunley sat down in the living room and I followed suit.

"How are you holding up, Jemma?" Was his first question.

I wanted to shrug and give him a half answer. But, I knew that would send Ethan after me, his watchful eyes following me and picking up on everything I was trying to hide.

And he could not pick up on what I was hiding. There was too much at stake. There was too many lies attached to the truth and I feared his reaction to the truth.

So the truth would stay hidden. He would ask me again tonight what he did wrong and I would ignore him. I would answer Hunley with an answer that would satisfy Ethan. And then I would go on trying to get through the day.

"Jemma?"

"Sorry." I started rubbing my hands together, "I've been holding up okay. It's hard having the girls and knowing that I can't see my mom. Or even let her know where we are. And I know the girls miss her."

He nodded, his eyes sympathetic. When I had first met Hunley, I knew that I had an ally in this. He reminded me of my dad, who died five years ago.

I swallowed hard, my mind resting in that year. So much had happened that year. So much sorrow. So many tears.

And Ethan hadn't been there for any of it.

I pulled myself away from the bitter thoughts and tried to focus on Hunley.

"I talked to Ethan about your request." Hunley didn't continue, his dark eyes on me. I met his gaze.

Funny, I had never noticed his dark blue eyes. They weren't as pretty as Ethan's grey-green eyes. They were more expressive, where as Ethan's eyes showed nothing.

"I'm keeping him here."

It had been cowardly to try and get Ethan moved off this mission. Absolutely cowardly. But I had made the request, hoping that somehow it would ease the pain.

I nodded, breaking Hunley's gaze. My eyes fell to my feet and I took a breath.

"Can you tell me why you don't feel safe around him?"

I shifted my head to the right, feeling the answer flood to my lips.

But I held back.

Because telling him the truth could hurt someone. That someone being Ethan. And more than anything, I didn't want to see him hurt.

So I buried my answer, deep in my heart, knowing that one day I would have to tell him. And that he would hate me for the truth.