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Relief flooded Mom's face, and she smiled widely. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that. If only your father would have understood that this cockamamie rivalry is helping no one.”
This time, I felt flooded with reprieve. I knew Mom was the one I could count on to have some common sense. “Thanks, Mom. I think so, too.”
She hugged me. “Do whatever you have to do, sweetheart.”
I knew she didn’t mean to sleep with him—but that horse had bolted from the gate, and I would die of mortification if that confession ever slipped from my lips. “Thanks, Mom.”
When she went off, I slipped into my car, spotted the overnight bag I’d packed for later on, and drove to Ethan’s. As much as I loved borrowing his clothes—I needed to be an adult about it, not linger in that silly girlfriend phase—even though I didn’t even know if that was how it was.
When I got to Ethan’s, he was home, just showered; it looked as if he was towel-drying his hair. He was in those goddamn gray sweatpants and a ribbed tank and barefoot. That was oddly…sexy.
I lifted the bag, studiously ignoring the knowing smirk on his face. “I brought dinner.”
“Black bean burger and fries?” he asked, eyeing the bag.
“No,” I deadpanned. “Mushroom and mush peas.”
Ethan rolled his eyes and snagged the bag—or tried to, at least—but I pulled it out of his reach.
“No, not yet,” I grinned. “Be a good boy, and let me shower first before we eat. And we’re eating on the floor.”
“Are we?”
“Yes.” I gestured to the living room and his pristine carpet and entertainment set. “Right there, so get some blankets and pillows and make it comfortable. If one single fry is gone from the pack, I will know. I counted all of them.”
His brows inched up. “Bossy.”
“And I’m glad you know it,” I replied, grabbing my go bag and heading up to Ethan’s private bathroom.
I showered quickly, dressed in my PJs set, shorts and a camisole, then padded down to meet Ethan, hoping he had done as I’d asked him to do. To my delight, the space between the couch and the entertainment center was an oasis of blankets, pillows, and throw quilts. He had pushed the coffee table away for space, and I grinned.
“Good boy.”
“Can you not talk to me like I’m a Golden Retriever.” Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re more of a Great Dane,” I teased him while dishing out the food.
“Mia,” Ethan’s voice had gone growly again, and I knew I was on thin ice.
I turned with the trays loaded with our food and nearly collided with Ethan. “Hey! Watch it!”
He took the trays from me and walked to the makeshift bed, sat them on the floor, and as he lowered himself to rest at the foot of the couch, I remembered why I wanted to talk to him. I plucked out Sarah’s journal from my handbag and twiddled in the air.
“This is Sara’s journal, and I think, well, no, I suspect the lover she is talking about in here is your uncle Victor. Tell me if anything I say here resembles what you know about him.”
Ethan looked up from unwrapping his burger. “Ok. Have at it then.”
Sitting, I ignored my food for a while, then opened the book to the last page, which I’d gotten to a few nights ago. “It’s my time to go back to the market again, and I am happy because, for the last weeks of rain, I have not seen my love.
“It is the only place we can meet in safety. We can share lingering looks over the stalls, looks that carry more than the words I miss you, or I am happy to see your smile.
“A single glance from him tells me much more. Entire worlds are held in his eyes, symphonies of sonnets, a cascade of words, all of them saying how precious I am to him, how much he would forsake the rest to be with me, how much my mere presence comforts him….”
“Waxing poetic, I see,” Ethan murmured. “I can think of another Sullivan who had a way with words. Except this one demolished their opponent over the debate table with facts and figures.”
I grinned. “Thank you kindly. Ahem.His warm green eyes are so loving; I can feel him wanting to embrace me even if we cannot do so in public. When we meet at nights, he sometimes brings his dog with him, a precious blind—”
“Blind Scottish Bloodhound,” Ethan blurted, his eyes wide. “Is that what it says?”
