The first thing I notice when I wake up is Ethan’s teddy bear mascot is peeking out of the closet where he threw it, and I make a mental note to rescue it later. That bear deserves better.
Ethan stirs behind me, his hand sliding up my stomach in a way that suggests he's not interested in getting out of bed anytime soon.
“Morning,” he says in a sleepy voice.
“Morning.”
“What time is it?”
I check my phone on the nightstand. “Almost eight.”
“We should get up.”
Neither of us moves.
His hand continues its lazy exploration, and I arch back against him, feeling exactly how awake certain parts of him are. But the bed squeaks ominously when I shift.
“We can't have sex on this bed without alerting the entire neighborhood,” I say in a grumpy voice.
He sighs heavily. “I know.”
We lie there for another moment, frustrated but unwilling to separate. Finally, I force myself to sit up and swing my legs over the edge of the mattress.
“I'm going to shower and then help your mom with breakfast,” I say.
Ethan pulls me down for one more kiss, but before it escalates, I draw back. He protests as I grab my clothes from the floor and make my way to the guest bathroom.
The hot water feels incredible after sleeping in a cramped bed, and I take my time, letting the steam clear my head.
Today is our last full day in Eau Claire. Tomorrow we fly back to New York, back to reality. These past few days have been a bubble. A perfect, wonderful bubble where Ethan is just Ethan, and I'm just Natalie, and nothing else matters.
But that's tomorrow's problem. Today, I'm going to enjoy every remaining minute.
Downstairs, Danna is already in the kitchen, humming to herself while she flips pancakes. The smell of coffee and bacon fills the air.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” She smiles when she sees me. “Sleep well?”
“Very well, thank you. Can I help with anything?”
“You can set the table. The plates are in the cabinet by the fridge.”
I gather plates and silverware while Danna works her magic at the stove. The kitchen is warm and cozy, filled with morning light and the soothing sounds of cooking.
“I wanted to thank you for coming here with Ethan,” Danna says without turning around.
“It's my job.”
“It's more than that, and we both know it.” She glances over her shoulder with a smile. “I've never seen my son look at anyone the way he looks at you. He loves you.”
My cheeks warm. “He told you that?”
“He didn't have to.” She flips another pancake onto the stack. “He's been so closed off since his injury. So angry and scared and unwilling to let anyone help. Then you came along and something changed.”
“He's still angry and scared sometimes.”
“But he's letting you in.” She turns off the stove and faces me fully. “My son carries the weight of this whole family on his shoulders. He thinks he has to take care of everyone, that he's not allowed to need anything for himself. It's exhausting and lonely, and no amount of my telling him otherwise has made a difference.”
Tears spring into my eyes.
