“Seriously?Him?No offense, but he’s a dick.”
Embarrassment burns up my throat at the way Steve just acted out there.He isn’t normally a dick—at least I don’t remember him being one.He’s probably just exhausted from the long drive down here and super hangry.
“What can I say?I have a type.”It’s meant to be a joke, but from the way Ethan’s expression shifts, he mustn’t think it was very funny.“Sorry.That came out wrong.”
He drops the mug onto the drying rack and finally turns toward me.But when his gaze meets mine, there’s no sign of the warmth that used to live there.“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.It was mean, and?—”
“And nothing.You don’t owe me an explanation.You don’t owe me anything.Like you said at your appointment, we’re just hooking up.”
My lips fall open.We’re more than that.Ethan knows it, and so do I.I’m not going to stand here and let him be as foolish as I was to say any different.
I’m about to shut him down, but his next sentence steals the wind from my sails.
“I’m leaving in two days anyway, so this guy’s timing is perfect.”
I freeze.“Two days?When were you going to tell me?”
He pushes off the counter, mouth turned down in his trademark frown.“I just did.”
Any words I could possibly say become trapped in my throat.
I thought we had more time.
I thought… maybe he would change his mind about leaving and choose to stay here instead.Maybe the ferry gods sent him to me after all to fulfill my wish.Was that silly of me?Sure.But I’m nothing if not hopeful.
In an instant, all those hopes have been swept away by the sea of reality.
“Look,” Ethan begins, blowing out a breath, his tone calmer.More controlled.More distant.As if he’s already gone.“I’m sorry, Chloe, but we both knew this thing wasn’t going to last forever.I got a call earlier this morning.They need me back at work on Monday, and I’m finished at Mom and Dad’s.There’s no sense in delaying the inevitable.”
He stands there, staring at me, and I gulp back a rock the size of Everest.
I don’t know what to say.He’s completely blindsided me.
When I remain silent, Ethan lets out a breath and strolls right out the back door, leaving my mouth hanging open and my heart falling to pieces in my chest.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
ETHAN
I spinthe wheel of my truck toward Mom and Dad’s, my shoulders slumped from the weight of the cement that someone just poured in my chest.
You see,thisis the problem.This feeling I have right now is exactly why I didn’t want to get involved with Chloe in the first place.
I saw it coming.
Still, I let myself fall headfirst anyway and lost control.I should’ve trusted my instincts, focused on the house instead of the woman who makes me feel as though I’ve just woken up when I didn’t even realize I was asleep.
Walking out the way I just did only makes everything worse.But when I saw her hug that fucking frat boy in the Hawaiian shirt, so warm and familiar with him, I couldn’t stand being there another second.
My truck veers past the Sand Dollar, and an idea hits me.Instead of drowning my sorrows on the breezy deck tonight, maybe I’ll head there for dinner.It’s a nice spot, and who knows when I’ll be back in Inner Shores.Maybe Chloe’s friend, Lola, will be working, and I could pry some information out of her about Frat Boy.
Do I even want to know?Chloe said they dated before.Does that mean he’s her ex?I have exes, but you don’t see me bringing them gifts.
How serious was their relationship?
He called her “sexy,” like he already knew every curve of her body.
