I was on a roll now, and while I couldn’t apologize to my dad, I could make things right with Ethan. Even if he wanted to have nothing to do with me after this, I had to tell him how I felt. I was going to wear him down, eliminating each and every one of his objections like I would a panel of jurors in the courtroom. Except this was different. And winning over Ethan mattered more to me than any case I’d ever pleaded.
“Please.” I gripped his uninjured hand, trying to ignore the fact that he hadn’t reciprocated my touch. Hadn’t responded in any way. “Please, Ethan. Give me another chance. Maybe I started out wanting to sell the house, but I don’t anymore. I haven’t wanted to for a while.”
He slid his hand from mine and shoved it in his pocket. “How can you expect me to believe a word you say? I trusted you. And you fucked with my head, Audrey. You, of all people…” He huffed. “You have to realize how that makes me feel.”
A tear slipped out, falling down my cheek. He was right. He was absolutely right. And hearing those words made me sick to my stomach. How could I have done this to him—to us?
“I…” I sighed. “You’re right.”
He dragged a hand through his hair and started pacing, making the small room feel even smaller. I didn’t know what more I could say to make him believe me, but I knew when I was fighting a losing battle. And I was losing this one, just like I was losing him.
I swallowed. “I’m flawed, okay? And the past few years, I lost my way, lost my sparkle,” I said, hoping he’d remember what he’d once told me about loving someone and accepting them. “But you…” I sniffled, knowing I was going to lay it all on the line and might still lose him. I had to say something; I couldn’t let him believe it had all been a lie. “You’re the best thing in my life. You help me not just sparkle, but shine.”
I was pouring my heart out, and it was cheesy as hell. But I didn’t care because it was honest. “I’m so,sosorry, Ethan. Please, give me another chance. Give us another chance.”
When he said nothing and stopped pacing to stare at the opposite wall, I knew it was over. I hung my head, defeat washing over me. With a resigned sigh, I knocked on the door, tears ready to spill over.
“Audrey,” Ethan said, his arm circling my wrist. “Wait.”
His front was pressed to my back, his heat seeping through my clothes. My skin burned from the simple touch, the spark between us ready to ignite.
“I was wrong too. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. But it takes a lot to earn my trust, and I granted it to you freely.”
“I know.” I dropped my forehead to the door, feeling even worse. It was as if we were teetering on the edge. Would we fall or fly?
“I want to trust you, I do.”
I tried to remain calm even as hope soared within me. I turned to face him, needing to see his expression. “You can.” I nodded. “I promise.”
He searched my gaze, and I held his, trying to communicate my feelings. The hurt, the remorse, the love. And I saw all those reflected back at me.
“I’m not perfect either,” he said, cupping my cheek. “And I’m sorry for the hurtful things I said.”
“Thank you.” I reached up to touch his face then thought better of it. “That looks really awful.”
“Want to kiss it better?” He arched an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk.
“I’m a lawyer, not a nurse,” I teased, relief coursing through me. I would do anything to make it better. “Besides, I think I can put my oral skills to better use elsewhere.”
His eyes darkened. “That’s the first thing we agree on,” he husked, likely remembering the night I’d pulled him in my mouth and sucked him off as he watched from above.
I yearned for him, but still…I didn’t know where he stood. Sex—that had never been the problem. Communication was. I wasn’t going to hold back anymore.
“When we were together,thatwas the true me. You helped me rediscover that part of myself,” I said.
“And where exactly do you see the ‘true’ you living? Boston or…somewhere else?” His blue eyes searched mine.
“Somewhere else. Somewhere with a sense of hygge.” I grinned. “I envision a small town with nice people. A beautiful Victorian home with a man and a dog who snore.”
“I do not snore.”
I laughed. “You so do. But you compensate for it in other ways.”
He smirked, my body softening as he leaned into me. I sucked my lower lip into my mouth, enjoying the way his eyes tracked my every move.
“What about Boston? Your job?”
“I have to go back for a hearing, but then I intend to give my notice. I want to do something more meaningful, more impactful. And while I figure out what exactly that is, I have some cash to float me in the meantime.”
