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“Just about to pull it out of the oven now. Grab that bottle of white wine, Laney,” Alex says, and she swats him on the ass as she walks by.
“Whatever you say, Chef Alex,” she quips back, and he reaches for her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her.
I swear these two are so damn cute it’s sickening. Who would have thought they’d turn out to be madly in love with each other and all mushy and sweet? It was me. I knew this would happen. It just took them a bit to figure it out.
We all sit down around the table, eating and chatting, and it turns out Alex’s mac and cheese is really good. Probably the best I’ve ever had and I actually suggest he share the recipe with Ethan to add to the menu at The Matterhorn.
The rest of the night is spent watching TV and it feels good to spend time with Alex and Delaney. I just wish I could have Ethan here with me, to have this normalcy of a regular relationship, but for now this works.
“I have to be up early tomorrow,” I say, letting out a yawn and stretching my arms over my head. “I’m going to hit the sack. You probably won’t see me in the morning tomorrow,” I add, paving the way for another night of sneaking out.
“Lots of early mornings,” Alex says, and Delaney looks over at me, winking. “What the hell was that?” He looks between Delaney and me, and she bites down on her bottom lip.
“Sorry, I can’t tell you. Zoey swore me to secrecy, but you’ll know soon enough,” Delaney says, and I watch as Alex stands up and leans down, scooping her up off the couch.
“I’ll get this secret out of you. I have my ways,” he jokes, Delaney squealing and wiggling in his arms.
“Don’t worry, Zoey!” she calls out. “I’ll never tell him!”
“Night, you two!”
I let out a sigh of relief when I hear their bedroom door close and the shower start up. I head into my room, closing the door behind me.
I grab my overnight bag, the one I said I was using when I stayed at my parents’ house the other night. I pack an outfit for tomorrow and toss an extra toothbrush in there too. I should leave it at Ethan’s so I don’t have to keep doing this.
I stuff my feet into my boots, and before I leave, I mess up my bed, making it look like I slept in it. Fifty percent of the time, I don’t make my bed, and if I’m going to keep living this lie, I might as well make it realistic. Waking up early and making my bed are two things I’m not known for.
I take a coat from my closet, not wanting to risk going out into the entryway to get the coat I normally wear and tipping off Delaney or Alex.
I listen for a few seconds more before I open the sliding door that is off my bedroom and head out into the snowy darkness of the Badger Creek mountains.
I know the route to Ethan’s house like the back of my hand now, and I realize when I reach his long driveway, that I didn’t tell him I was coming. Not that I think he’ll care. He might even enjoy the surprise.
I punch in the gate code, the massive iron door swinging open and I know he’s going to get a notification that his gate is opening.
Heading up the walkway to his house, he’s opening the front door before I can even reach it. Shaking his head as I greet him with a kiss.
“Hello, Mr. Morrison,” I purr, my hands slipping under his sweater, caressing his skin along his ribs. “Surprised to see me?”
“I am, but it’s the best surprise ever.” He kisses me harder, pulling me inside, my heart fluttering in my chest at just how much I’ve missed him and how much I hate to be away from him.
Slamming the door behind us, he moves so I’m flush against the door, his firm, muscled chest pressing into me.
“But I really don’t like the idea of you sneaking out without telling me,” he growls, nipping at my bottom lip. “I want you to tell me when you’re out after dark in the mountains.”
“Ethan, I’ve been out in these mountains, as you say it, since I was five years old. I know them with my eyes closed.”
“That might be true, but I still want to know where you are.”
“Fine. I’ll text you next time or I could just move in and we wouldn’t have to deal with this. I think that was your original suggestion.”
He lets out a low growl, his eyes narrowed as he looks me over. “After the press release, it will be the next announcement we make.”
Chapter25
Ethan
“Are you sure you don’t mind having dinner with Brandon and Tracy?” I ask.
