Chapter 19
Nelly
“Happy birthday!” Everyone chorused that lovely Sunday night as we celebrated Robert Everhart’s seventy-sixth birthday.
Ethan is by my side, showering me with a big smile as we toast to his grandfather.
We signed the merger contract this past Friday, providing one more reason to celebrate tonight. Tom’s still in town because he had to be present at the merger as Sunny Aerospace’s second-largest shareholder, and he also just took a month of absence from his work.
The plan is to spend more time with my lovely wife, Tom said to me on Friday afternoon after we signed the merger. Tom and Robyn’s romance always reminds me of my desire to one day find love.
Sighing, I pull my thoughts back to reality and put on a smile. This is a new phase for Hart Holdings and Sunny Aerospace, and I’m excited because, with Ethan’s help, Sunny Aerospace will re-innovate and expand.
We’re celebrating at a garden-themed restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. The place is well-decorated, and well-placed lights give me a perfect view of every face present for the evening.
I clink glasses with Tom, and he does the same with Ethan before I turn to Robert. “Happy birthday, Robert,” I say cheerfully, leaning in for a hug.
“Thank you,” he replies in his usual gruff tone. His smile reaches the corners of his eyes as he looks at me. I kiss both his cheeks before moving away to give Ethan the chance to hug him too.
A whiff of his scent hits me when he breezes past, and once again, the hurtful pang I fought to get rid of every day since his rejection hits hard.
How long can I keep doing this?
I’m falling for him all over again, and he makes it hard not to. With his selflessness.
This time, Ethan has to want me too. That’s the only way this will work.
“You okay?” Tom asks. “You look pale. You look great in red, but it still doesn’t hide your pallor.”
“I’m fine,” I murmur before lifting my champagne glass to my lips, but Tom knows that’s an obvious lie.
Thankfully, Tom’s wife joins our conversation. I know he will press me until I tell him, and the last thing I want to talk about tonight is Ethan.
Robyn is a sassy blonde with a full smile that reminds me of a child. So carefree and full of life. She hugs me, kisses both my cheeks, then lowers herself to the empty seat beside me.
Ethan and his grandfather are still talking, and I catch him shaking hands with George Brene, who’s also present for the birthday dinner.
“I heard about the project with Everhart,” Robyn is saying, and I pull my attention back to her again.
“You did amazing, Nelly. Tom talks about you all the time and wouldn’t stop boasting to all our friends back in New York.”
Robyn and I laugh as we continue our conversation, and I can’t help but steal glances at Ethan the entire time. I’ve only seen him once in the past week, and that was during the meeting at the office to discuss the new project we landed.
When I find his eyes on me, my breath hitches in my throat and a tremor enters my heart.
His eyes show his longing. So why can’t he let himself feel?
“Everything alright between you two?” Robyn asks me after some time, and I turn to her again, clearing my throat. “You and Ethan … He keeps looking at you.”
“We’re fine.” Lying hasn’t always been my strongest suit, so when Robyn gives me a suspicious look, I sigh, and my shoulders slump a little. “Does it look like something is wrong?”
“No,” she answers with another cheery smile. “The way he looks at you, Nelly. That’s the look of a man deeply in love. I don’t think you two will ever have a problem.”
Her words make me glance toward Tom again. “You think he’s in love?” A flicker of hope sparks in me.
“Tom told me about the fake marriage.” Robyn leans closer to me and whispers. When she moves away again, she touches my shoulder. “But I can tell, he loves you, Nelly. He’s gone out of his way. You don’t do that if you’re not in love.”
“I don’t know, Robyn … Ethan has a history of being this way with a lot of women.” While we’re talking, I spot him chatting with some ladies too. They laugh hysterically at what he’s saying, and he pecks one on the cheek before walking away.
Robyn touches my shoulder. "Men are slower than we are with these things, but he'll realize it for sure. I remember dropping so many hints about how much I liked being with him while working on cases together, yet it still took him forever to confess."
She chuckles softly, her eyes filled with warmth as she reminisces. "As a prosecutor and a cop, Tom and I have always made a great team. It just took him a little longer to see what was right in front of him."
She smiles at me one last time before moving to go speak with Tom and his friends. My pulse still thuds faster than ever, and I try not to overthink Robyn's words.
When the music comes on for a dance, Robyn and Tom immediately pair up, while the other guests select their dance partners. I dance with Tom after Robyn is done, and Ethan dances with his grandfather.
Our eyes meet far too many times in the three minutes spent on the dance floor, and every collision draws my heart closer to an explosion.
Ethan walks over to me when the second song ends and another takes over. “May I?” he asks Tom, and Tom steps back before handing my hand over to him.
Once in his arms, it’s like the rest of the world no longer exists. The tides of my emotions sweep me off, taking control as I’m lost in his eyes.
Ethan doesn’t look away from me either. His eyes search mine while he leads the pace, holding my hand in his while my body presses against his.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he whispers after twirling me around. The sudden gasp that leaves my lips gives away my nervousness.
“Thank you,” I murmur, not knowing what else to say.
I twirl around once more before returning to his embrace. We stop dancing, and I’m frozen in place, lost in the moment as his gaze trails over my face.
He licks his lips, then his head sways gently. “I—”
“Everyone,” Robert announces, interrupting whatever Ethan was about to say to me. Tom and Robyn join us, and Ethan only smiles before he focuses on his grandfather’s speech about love and family.
When I glance over at him again, he’s staring at me, a torn look etched into his features, making it seem like he’s in pain. I long to offer him comfort and tell him it’s okay.
It’s okay to love.
It’s okay to need someone.
***
Tom and I finally got the chance to talk towards the end of the evening. “Robyn seems to be having a good time,” I say to him as we watch his wife talk with Ethan and the Brene’s.
Tom nods with a radiant smile on his face, and I can tell from how he looks at Robyn that he adores her. It’s been three years since they got married and not once did that look change.
I notice Julia flirting with Ethan, her hand on his arm even as he tries to put distance between them. Seeing her always gets me on edge.
“He told you about Julia, didn’t he?” Tom questions when he catches me glaring at her. His words pull me back to reality. “You have the look of a ferocious cat.”
“I know.” A waiter walks past us, and Tom helps himself to a glass of champagne.
“Julia is his past, Nelly. But you … I think you’re Ethan’s future.”
His last statement makes me laugh. It’s a dry sound that shows my disbelief even before I tilt my head in a silent gesture of disagreement.
“Why does everyone think Ethan has somehow magically fallen in love with me?”
“I see the way he looks at you. I’ve always known him, Nelly. I’ve never interfered because he needs to come to a decision on his own. All I’ve done is warn him never to hurt you, but I’ve always known that he loves you. You two are the only ones who do not know that Ethan really does love you.” Tom places a hand on my shoulder and adds in a soft tone.
Like we’re bound by fate, Ethan glances in my direction at that moment and his lips curve with a smile just before his grandfather calls for his attention.
I look down at my silver watch and see it is almost 10:00 pm. Everyone’s having a great time, and I don’t think I can handle any more stolen glances from Ethan for the night.
“I’ll be heading home for the evening,” Tom says to me with a smile.
"Goodnight.” I kiss my brother’s cheeks, then hand him my half-empty glass of fruit wine. “Send Robyn my love.”
“Goodnight,” he replies, and we hug before I head towards the garden’s exit. The night’s cool breeze grazes my face and tickles my nostrils as I walk to my car.
Exhaling deeply, I stare up at the stars for a moment, mesmerized by their beauty. I long for a night with Ethan, one where I can watch the stars and enjoy being in his arms while we soak in the view.
He would love that too. He loves nature and watching the stars. I caution myself once a relaxed smile starts drawing out of my lips. In moments like this, I tend to forget and let thoughts of him slip into my mind.
Once I reach my car, I reach into my purse for my keys, suddenly feeling a person behind me.
“Who’s th—” My words trail off as a handkerchief is pressed onto my mouth and nose. My vision blurs. Chloroform.
Nothing else makes sense after that. There are voices in the background—one sounds familiar, and the other is panicky. I can’t figure out who it is as I pass out.