“Don’t start,” I warn, biting back a grin.
“I didn’t say a word.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Am I not allowed to notice how you’re glowing?”
“That’s the sweat from spending the last hour wrestling with pipes.”
“You’ve been wrestling with pipes, all right,” she sniggers.
I press my hands to my cheeks, certain they’re red as the polish on my nails.“Is it that obvious?”
“Obvious to every single person who sees the two of you in the same room.”
Warmth spreads through me.Being in the same room with Ethan is quickly becoming my new favorite thing.
“I like him, Wills.”Probably a little too much considering he’s going to be heading back to Pennsylvania soon.
“I could see that from the way you were attacking each other’s faces.”
I snort.Not to self: no more making out during business hours.Save all that pent-up sexual energy for after work.“Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”She shoots me a sideways smirk.“If you’re happy, I’m happy.Although, Lola is going to be pissed that she’s the last to know.Tomorrow night, we’re gonna expect all the dirty details.”
The tires crunch on the gravel driveway as she pulls in beside my little VW.Old Tom said Ethan’s truck should be finished by the weekendifthe new windshield arrives.Only time will tell.
“Thanks for the ride.”I unhook my seatbelt and throw open the door.
“No problem.Tell Thor I said hi,” she sing-songs as I climb out, the brown paper bag of greasy goodness clutched in my arms.
“Bye, Wills.”
I bump the door closed with my hip and jog over to my stairs.As much as I need a shower, Ethan’s going to have to deal with sweaty Chloe because, right now, I need food even more.Shifting the bag to my other arm, I drag my phone from my purse to text Ethan, only to notice my lights are on.
Weird—I’m ninety-nine percent sure I turned them off before leaving this morning.Rick got to Mugs before I did, so it couldn’t have been him.
“Hello?”I call out, stepping inside.I toe off my shoes and startle when Ethan pops out of the kitchen.
“Holy crap.”My hand flies to my thundering heart.“You scared me half to death.”
“I didn’t mean to,” he grumbles.“Although, maybe now you’ll start locking your door.”He offers a tight smile and takes the bag from me, setting it on the coffee table.
Oops.Imeantto lock the door this morning, but must’ve forgotten when Willow texted that she was waiting downstairs.
Huffing a sigh, Ethan’s head falls forward with a little shake.“What would you have done if someone else had broken in?”
That’s easy.“I would’ve given them your share of the fries.”
His eyes lock onto mine.“This isn’t a joke, Chloe.You’re a single woman living on her own, and a shitload of strangers just drove into town.You don’t know what kind of weirdo could be renting a house just down the road.”
“Who hurt you, Ethan?”I say, only half teasing.I appreciate him trying to protect me, but I’ve spent the last ten years taking care of myself and I’ve done just fine.
“Not me.”He glances away.“It was my brother.”
The smile slips from my face.“What do you mean?What happened to your brother?”
Ethan wanders over to the couch and sinks onto the cushions, his brow furrowing.“Wyatt’s a lot like you… happy all the time, trusts everyone until they give him a reason not to.A little while back, he met a girl at a gig, brought her back to his place, thought nothing of it.A couple of days later, her asshole ex waltzed right through Wyatt’s unlocked door and beat the shit out of him.”
