Page 75 of Boss and Brat

“Yeah,” Carter said, brushing a thumb across Ethan’s cheek. “We’re not letting her ruin our day.”

Something warm flickered in Ethan’s chest at that—small, but real.

They went back to the kitchen. The omelet had gone cold, so Carter reheated it in the pan while Ethan poured fresh coffee. His hands still shook a little, but Carter didn’t comment. He just stayed close, steady, like he was making sure Ethan didn’t drift too far into his own head.

They sat at the table, plates between them, morning light slipping through the blinds. Ethan pushed his eggs around with his fork before speaking.

“She always does this,” he said. “Shows up. Pushes. Makes everything about what she wants. And I—I always feel like I’m ten years old again.”

Carter looked at him, not judging, just listening. “She’s got a firm grip on you. Has for a long time.”

Ethan nodded. “I hate how fast I fall apart around her. I hate that she still scares me.”

“She scares you because she never let you grow up,” Carter said. “She kept you small so she could control you.”

Ethan swallowed hard. Hearing it out loud hurt, but it also felt… true.

“She thinks she owns me,” Ethan said. “Like I’m not allowed to make choices unless she approves.”

Carter leaned forward across the table. “You made a choice today. You told her no. That matters.”

Ethan rubbed his palms on his jeans, staring at the table. “My dad… he lets me screw up. Like when I blew all that tuition money from my last semester? He didn’t stop me. He just said, ‘You’re paying it all back,’ and I’m dealing with that mistake now.”

He swallowed hard. “But my mom… she never lets anything even get that far. She shuts me down before I can breathe. If I even looked like I was about to make a choice she didn’t approve of, she’d step in and take over. Like I wasn’t capable of thinking for myself.” His voice cracked a little. “With her, I never got to live. Not even a little.”

“My parents gave me choices. It was their way or the highway. I knew when it was time to leave.”

“You’re more together than I am. I can’t support myself.”

“Not yet you can’t. But it took me longer to figure it all out. I finished college and joined the Marines. So, you won’t have to join the military to be independent. You’ll finish school and then you call the shots.”

“Never joining the military. I can’t follow orders.”

“I noticed.”

“Did you see how she looked at me like I was… wrong? Like being here with you is wrong.”

Carter’s jaw tightened. “You’re not wrong. And nothing about this is wrong.”

Ethan’s eyes lifted, searching his face. “You really think that?”

“I know it,” Carter said. “And I’m telling you right now—nothing is going to separate us. Not your mother. Not her opinions. Not her showing up here with a Bible and a bad attitude.”

A small, startled laugh escaped Ethan. “She came in swinging.”

“Yeah,” Carter said, smirking. “But she’s not taking you anywhere.”

Ethan felt something loosen inside him—something he’d been holding tight for years. He reached across the table, fingers brushing Carter’s hand. Carter turned his palm up and laced their fingers together without hesitation.

“You’re safe here,” Carter said. “With me. And we’re going to have a good day. I promise.”

Ethan nodded, a real smile tugging at his mouth this time. “Okay.” And for the first time since the pounding on the door, he believed it.

Ethan tossed a change of clothes into his backpack—jeans, a clean shirt, the cologne Carter liked on him even though he pretended not to notice—and hurried out to the truck. His chest still felt tight from earlier, but Carter’s steady presence had already smoothed out most of the panic.

Carter started the engine; the familiar rumble settled Ethan’s nerves even more. The man drove like he did everything else—calm, controlled, sure of himself. Ethan buckled in and glanced over, unable to stop staring.

Carter’s hat sat low over his brow, shadowing those sharp eyes. His jaw was rough with stubble, his shoulders broad under that worn denim shirt. Ethan didn’t know how someone could look so effortlessly strong and still make him feel safe at the same time.