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“Ethan, it’s not about worthiness—”
“We’re great together, Harlow.”
“Yes, we fuck really good, but that’s it.”
“I can have any woman I want, and you’re telling me the only woman I actually do want doesn’t want me?”
“A bit arrogant…”
“I can prove to your father that I’m worthy of his daughter.”
“If I love you, you’re already worthy—but I don’t.”
He stared at me like he hadn’t heard any of that.
“I don’t want to hurt you, but you’re making me say these things. I just don’t picture you as my husband. I’m sorry.”
“You would if you gave it more time—”
“I don’t need more time, Ethan. You just said you could have any woman you wanted. And you shouldn’t waste your time on a woman who doesn’t return your affections. After everything I’ve said to you, I don’t deserve you. Be with a woman who does.”
He continued to stare.
“Move the statue.Now.” I stormed out of the shop and onto the street—and ran into a solid wall. My momentum shifted backward, and I almost fell right on my face in the street, but a strong arm gripped me and pulled me back.
“You alright?” A deep voice accompanied the strong grip.
My eyes lifted to the face in front of me, and I was so startled by his appearance I didn’t speak. A second passed. I absorbed his stare, his fair skin, and his coffee-colored eyes. He had a sharp jawline covered in a shadow of hair, the same way my father wore his, always trimming it before it turned into a beard. Another second passed. I noticed his dark hair, short and slightly tousled. He was tall, much taller than me, tall like my father and brother. And his stare was so confident it was intimidating. “Yeah…I’m fine.” I pulled my arm out of his grasp and stepped back like he was an enemy.
“You sure?” His eyes continued to study me, bright with intelligence.
“I said I’m fine,” I snapped, angry for no reason at all.
“Heard a window break. Wanted to check on things.”
“Oh…that was me.”
“Why are you breaking windows?”
“It was an accident.”
“How do you accidentally break a window?”
I stepped farther back, annoyed by the third degree. “Everything’s fine. You can return to…wherever you came from.” He wore dark clothes, all black, clothing that I didn’t see others wear. It almost seemed regal, except there was no crest. I held his stare for another moment before I moved around him, keeping more space than necessary as if he might grab me again.
“You’re angry, so it doesn’t seem fine.”
I could have just walked away and ignored him, but I halted. “I’m not angry.”
“You should look in a mirror before you say that.”
“Why do you care?” I snapped.
“Who said I did?”
My stare was locked on his face, seeing a man whose features made me pause. The high cheekbones, the powerful stare, the way his pupils were different from any other I’d seen. His presence felt both magnetic and terrifying.
I turned on my heel and walked away, determined to forget about the interaction that was now forever seared in my mind.
