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I hate that this is going to reflect badly on Ethan’s family, but I want the hell out of here. Now.
“I’m probably contagious,” I add. “It would be a shame to make you all sick. I mean, I’m young and able to bounce back, but not everyone here is.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sam try not to smile. She turns away, looking out the window at the early morning Chicago landscape. Ethan puts his arm around me, bringing me with him to the buffet.
“Holy shit,” I say quietly so only Ethan can hear. “Are you going to get in trouble?”
“You know I don’t care. You’re sick, babe. I can hear it in your voice and see it in your eyes. What you have came on fast.”
“It’s probably the flu.”
“It very well might be. That’s why I’m taking you home. And unlike last time, you are getting your ass into bed and letting me take care of you.”
My heart flutters in my chest. “I won’t object.”
“You must really feel sick.”
“I do,” I admit and trade my coffee for orange juice, even though I’m not the biggest fan. Ethan fills a plate with pancakes, eggs, and bacon, and we join Sam by the window while he eats.
“You’re really leaving?” She looks around nervously as she talks. “They didn’t tell you to send her to the nurse on staff?”
“She’s not here since there are no recruits being trained at the moment. But if they had, it wouldn’t keep us from leaving,” Ethan says and takes another bite of food. “Keep me updated.”
“I’ll do what I can.” Sam slowly inhales and heavily sighs. “Things were so much simpler last year.”
“You’re telling me,” I mumble, sipping my orange juice. “A year ago all I was worried about was paying rent and my board for a horse. Which was really freaking stressful, actually. I shouldn’t downplay it.” I shake my head. “Though at least I knew I’d survive the end of day.”
“Right, and I suppose if we’re comparing whose life has changed the most, you take the cake.”
“At least I get to eat it too, right?” Ethan grins behind his coffee mug.
“Right.” Sam looks at the door. “If you guys want to get out of here, you better go before the meeting starts. It’ll make for a smoother exit.”
“Almost done,” Ethan says, more concerned about eating breakfast than leaving without ruffling feathers. I drink the rest of my orange juice while Ethan wolfs down the rest of his food. David gives us a small nod as we get up to leave, but no one says anything as we exit the room. Just when I think we’re going to slip out mostly unnoticed, someone comes out of an office right as we walk past on our way to the lobby.
“Ethan Bailey.”
Ethan’s grip on my hand tightens and we turn, seeing Carl standing in the middle of the hall. He’s wearing another expensive-looking suit and is holding a notebook in his hand. He flashes the same fake smile as before. “We will be in touch, Bailey. And Miss Benson. Do feel better.”
“Thanks,” I say and whirl back around, not letting go of Ethan’s hand until we’re in the elevator. I let out a breath as soon as the doors close, but my heart doesn’t slow down until we’re several floors down from the Order.
“So you wanna join?” Ethan asks, looking down at me with a smirk on his face.
“Too soon.” I shake my head, eyes wide. “That place is creepy. I feel bad leaving your family there.”
Ethan lets out a snort of laughter. “They’ll survive. After my dad lives down the shame of having a failure of a son.” He rolls his eyes. “You know, since it’s such a bad thing to take care of someone when they’re sick.”
“When did you start realizing that the Order was fucking nuts?”
“I was in fourth grade and had been going to the same school, here in Chicago, for over a year. That didn’t happen too often since we moved around a lot. I had friends and went to their houses and just being around normal people made me realize how not normal my life was.”
“That’s kinda sad.”
“It is what it is, or was.” The elevator doors open and we get out on the ground floor. It’s early on a Wednesday morning and people are hurrying about to get to their offices in time. We walk through the crowd and emerge onto the sidewalk. It’s cold again, but there aren’t many clouds in the sky today. Maybe it’ll warm up again.
“It’s not a life I’d put my own kids in,” Ethan says, keeping his eyes on the buildings ahead of us. “If I ever had any,” he quickly adds.
“At least we’re on the same page with that.” There’s a bunch to unpack there especially after Harold brought up us getting married yesterday. If Ethan and I did have kids, they’d know about magic and demons by default, and I’d have no idea if my children would have powers like I do since magic seems to skip generations in the Fowler line.
