“That’s not the point. You don’t bring up suggestions, so I do. I don’t know if it’s you not wanting to be seen out.”
“You’re the one wearing the hat out all the time. Do you want to wear it at a fancy restaurant?”
“I’m doing that for you.”
“You did it on the first day,” she argued.
“That was different. That was before we loved each other. Before my family knew and accepted you as one of them. The wheel is in your hands. I’ll admit, I hate it. It’s not like me to let someone else drive, but I’m doing it.”
“And you’re saying you’re not sure how much longer you will?”
She needed him to be honest with her. To be very clear.
“I’m not saying that at all. I’m telling you, I love you. I’m honoring your request right now. I’d like to change it, but I won’t. I’m not going to force you to do or be something you’re not comfortable with. I can’t believe you don’t trust me.”
The last thing she wanted to do was fight again.
Not when they cleared the air yesterday morning and then had a great day with his family.
“I trust you,” she said, reaching for his hand. “I really do. I’m sorry. I feel as if I’m in over my head and barely treading water.”
“Well, I can swim. I’ve got you. I need you to believe that.”
“Maybe I’ve been waiting for you to say it just like that.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Nora. I can say it until I’m blue in the face, but you’re not going to believe it until you witness it. You just have to decide when you’re ready for that to happen. Until then, I’ll keep passing you the keys.”
“I love you, Ethan.”
He kissed her on the forehead. “I love you too.”
“I’m getting there. I really am.”
“I know,” he said, sighing.
“Even if you want me to get there faster?”
“Well, I’d be lying if I didn’t say yes, but again, I’ll just be a passenger for now.”
33
RISK IS WORTH IT
Ethan parked in the public lot, then walked the block to Nora’s apartment two weeks later.
It hadn’t occurred to him once that he hadn’t been inside her place. She hadn’t even said it, but he wondered if that played a part in the whole “he took care of all the time together” comment when they had their little disagreement.
She didn’t know he was coming just yet and he thought maybe he’d surprise her.
There wasn’t the security here that he had. He could get on the elevator and up to her floor, then knock on the door.
When he did, he heard her moving around, then could almost sense her behind the door looking through the peephole. Then she pulled it open. “Ethan. What are you doing here? Why didn’t you text me first to be ready?”
“Wow, nice to see you too, but I wanted to surprise you.”
He’d had a late meeting and didn’t spend last night with her. He hated that, but she didn’t want to be in his condo without him, and couldn’t get in either.
“You did,” she said. “Come in. You’re not parked out front are you?”
