Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
NEVAEH
After spending the next couple days in Vegas, Ethan insists, despite my protests, it’s time to return home.
He uses the excuse that he needs to get back to work, but I think he’s really anxious to meet with my doctor to discuss my prognosis and surgery.
Every time I show a sign of a headache or feel dizzy, he flinches in concern.
I thought he would ask me about it, but he’s held back, not allowing our honeymoon of sorts to be ruined or tainted.
After our five-hour flight back to New Jersey, Ethan grabs our bags and we head out of the airport. Since Rosco dropped us off, I’m not surprised to see him waiting for us.
“Boss.” Rosco nods, taking the luggage from Ethan and throwing it in the back of his black SUV. “Mrs. Romero.” He opens the door for me and I slide in the back seat, with Ethan following after.
“He called me Mrs. Romero,” I whisper to Ethan, giggling softly. I don’t think I’ll ever tire being called Nevaeh Romero.
“That’s because you’re mine,” Ethan growls, pulling me into his side. “Now buckle up. I need to make a couple calls. Are you hungry?”
“I’m starved.” We were offered meals on the flight, but I wasn’t feeling too well, so I skipped it. The way my stomach is aching, I’m regretting it now, especially since we have a two-hour drive home.
“What would you like?”
“Just a drive-thru is fine.”
“You’re not eating that shit,” Ethan says, taking on a serious tone. “Rosco, find us a Thai restaurant on the way,” he says, knowing it’s one of my favorite things to eat, after Chinese.
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ve eaten fast-food plenty of times,” I point out, confused. When Ethan glances at me, not meeting my eyes, but instead above, it clicks. “Eating a cheeseburger and fries isn’t going to affect my tumor.”
“You need to eat healthy so you can be strong,” he argues, and my heart swells over him worrying about me.
Up until telling Ethan about my tumor, I’ve kept it a complete secret from everyone, so it’s weird someone knowing and caring, but it’s not unwelcome.
I love how much he cares about me. He wants to protect me and keep me safe, but this tumor is out of his control, so he’s trying to control what he can, like my eating habits. I decide to let him have it.
“Thai sounds good.”
Ethan’s shoulders slump and he grants me a small smile, obviously happy I didn’t argue with him.
After stopping at a small hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant, which served the best shrimp and chicken Pad Thai I’ve ever eaten, we’re back on the road again. Feeling jetlagged, I lay my head on Ethan’s shoulder and let the swaying of the vehicle lull me to sleep.
“Wake up, Angel,” I hear. Wrenching my eyes open, I take in my surroundings. We’re in a neighborhood, but not the right one.
“Where are we?” I ask, stretching my limbs.
“We’re home,” Ethan says, opening the door and getting out.
“Home?” I slide out of the SUV and get out.
“My place,” he clarifies. “While we were away, Rosco had all our stuff moved here. Now that Logan and Felix are in jail, and the sex trafficking ring has been brought down by the FBI, you’re safe, so we can live in my home, without my parents.”
“I liked living with your parents.” I shrug. His mom is so sweet. We would cook together several nights a week, and she loves romance books like I do. His dad was quiet but still very nice.
“Well, I’m going to like getting to fuck you all over every inch of our house,” Ethan murmurs into my ear. “And since my parents won’t be there, I’m also going to like making you scream and moan without having to cover your mouth.” He grins salaciously.
Ethan and I learned I’m sometimes loud in bed, and even though our hotel room was rather big, it was still next to another room.
Every time I would get loud, Ethan would cover my mouth, worried the neighbors would hear.
He said he didn’t care if they complained, but that he didn’t want anyone else to hear me turned on—it’s only meant for his ears.
“I can smell the ocean,” I say, taking his hand and walking with him up the stairs to his three-story house.
“It’s behind the house,” he explains. “It’s a townhouse, so we have neighbors who are attached, but everyone has their own driveway, garage, and backyard.”
After he thanks Rosco and tells him he’ll see him tomorrow night at the club, we go inside. His home is beyond gorgeous and definitely more Ethan. Whereas the beach house was light with creams and blues, Ethan’s home is darker—red wine, dark wood, and black.
He gives me the grand tour, and even though he calls it a townhouse, the place is massive. Growing up, we lived in a townhouse and it wasn’t a fourth the size of this place. On the first floor is the living room, dining room, kitchen, and office as well as the laundry room and a bathroom.
On the second floor is the master bedroom and bathroom and a huge sitting area.
Everything of mine has been put away neatly, and I push away the fact that Rosco might’ve seen and touched my undergarments.
Not that he’s done anything inappropriate, it’s just weird to know someone else touched my stuff.
The third floor has two more rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Everything looks to be professionally decorated but still fits Ethan’s personality. When he shows me that every room has its own balcony overlooking the water, I feel like I’ve died and gone to beach-heaven.
“Why don’t we shower and then get ready for bed,” Ethan says, taking me in his arms and kissing me. “You have an appointment with Dr. Bromfield tomorrow morning at nine a.m.”
“Who?”
“Dr. Bromfield. He’s one of the top neurologists in the country and he has an office at Atlantic City Regional.”
“I already have a doctor.”
“And he’s good, but Dr. Bromfield is better and you’re going to be seen by the best. Nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, and if you have to have surgery, it should be done by the best doctor available.” Ethan pecks my lips.
I should probably be upset he’s taking over my care, but I’m not.
For so long I’ve been worrying all by myself.
I know it’s my fault for not sharing it with my family and Blaire, but it doesn’t change how I’ve felt—alone.
It feels good to have someone in my corner, fighting alongside me.
The fact he managed to research, find a doctor, and get me an appointment on such short notice shows me how much he cares.
“I love you,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
His eyes lock with mine for a long beat before he nods once. “We’re going to get you through this, Angel. Whatever it takes. I promise.”
Moving out of his arms, I step up to the window that overlooks the water. The sun is setting and it’s starting to get darker, making the water look more black than blue. “Do you think the water is warm enough to swim in?”
Ethan comes up behind me and holds me tight, his chin resting on my shoulder.
“Maybe. Why? You want to go to the beach tomorrow after your appointment?” He pushes my hair to the side and kisses the spot just below my ear, eliciting a chill up my spine.
“Actually… I was thinking we could go swimming tonight.” Ethan stiffens behind me, but before he can argue, I add, “My head feels fine.”
“Nevaeh…”
“Please.” I turn slightly and bat my lashes playfully. When Ethan sighs, I know I’ve won. “Yay!”
Without waiting for him, I unlock and open the door and run off the back porch, through his small backyard and down the wooden path that leads straight to the beach. When I get close to the water, I look around, making sure no one is around, and when I’m sure we’re alone, I strip out of my clothes.
“Nevaeh!” Ethan barks, stalking after me. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Going skinny-dipping!” I unclasp my bra, which was the last piece of item on me, and shuck it to the side. “You coming?”
I’m about to sprint toward the water when Ethan grabs me by my waist and swings me around in a circle before putting me down. “Wait for me,” he growls into my ear.
After stripping out of his clothes, Ethan bends at the waist and nods his chin behind him. “Get on.”
Doing as he says, I hop onto his back and snake my arms around his neck to hold on. His arms link behind my knees and he carries me toward the ocean. When his feet hit the water, a boisterous laugh erupts from his chest. “You sure about this, baby? It’s more cold than warm.”
“We’re already here!” I giggle. “Let’s go!” I reach around behind me and slap his butt. “Giddy up!”
With a chuckle, he enters the water. My toes are first to feel the water and holy moly is it cold. A shiver racks my body, but I don’t tell him to stop. The cold is actually welcoming, waking me up and reminding me I’m still alive.
Ethan continues to walk, and the farther we go, the more our bodies get drenched.
“Holy shit,” he curses through a laugh. “Fuck, woman, it’s cold.”
“It feels good.” I laugh, holding on to him tighter.
When we’re out far enough that half our bodies are immersed in the water, Ethan moves my body from behind him to in front of him. My legs latch on to his waist and my fingers run through the strands of his hair.
“Hey,” he murmurs. In the dark, it’s hard to see him, but once my eyes adjust, I can make out his gorgeous features. He’s grinning from ear to ear and his light brown eyes are filled with love. “I hope you didn’t have some fantasy of fucking in this water because my dick is hiding behind my balls.”
I bark out a laugh, shaking my head. “No, but when the water is warmer, it wouldn’t be a bad idea.
” Then it hits me… there’s a chance I might not be here when the water is warmer.
If I have to do this surgery—which I know I will—there’s a chance I won’t wake up, or if I do, if they can’t get it all, I could still die.
“Don’t go there,” Ethan says, reading my mind. “We’re adding it to your damn list: fuck in the ocean.”
“I already have: have sex in a crazy place.”
“And we’ll do that too. But we’re still adding it, and when the water is warm, we’re coming back out here and I’m going to fuck you in this ocean.” I hear the words he’s not saying: you’ll be alive for me to fuck you in this ocean.
I take a moment to assess his features. He’s changed so much since the night I attacked him at the club.
He’s not as hard, as scary. He’s softened.
I never imagined he would make a good husband, but he’s the best husband.
He’s caring and devoted. He always puts me first and he loves me unconditionally.
Instead of running away when he found out about my tumor, he pulled me in closer.
If I were to guess, when he was younger, when he was with Kelsi, this is who he was, but after what happened, after he lost them both, he became a ghost of himself.
“What’s going through that beautiful head of yours?” he asks, tucking a stray hair behind my ear.
“Ethan, if something happens to me—”
“Nope, not going there, Angel,” he says, cutting me off.
“But if something does…” I cover his mouth with my hand. “Promise me you’ll find love again.”
He shakes his head.
“Yes,” I argue. “I’ve seen both sides of you… the man who was heartbroken and lost, and the man who allowed love back in. Promise me, if something happens to me, you won’t revert back to that scary, growly, mean guy.”
Ethan closes his eyes and I remove my hand. He dips his head until our foreheads are touching. “You’re not going anywhere, Nevaeh,” he whispers. “I need you.”
I close my eyes and breathe in the scent of the ocean mixed with Ethan. “I need you too,” I say, shivering from the cold. “But I need you to promise me that if something happens to me, you’ll move on.”
Ignoring my plea, he moves me to his back and says, “Let’s get you inside and warm.”
And for the second time since my brother died, I send a prayer up to God, pleading with him, that if something does happen to me, he helps Ethan find the strength to move forward.