37. CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 37
ARI
“ N o! I said stop!” Ethan’s voice startles me awake.
“Ethan!” I jostle him, sitting up with his sleeping form in my lap.
“Don’t … Stop!” His hands fist the sheets and his face thrashes back and forth over my stomach while his legs kick at nothing.
“Wake up!” I shake him.
The door flies open and Fonz comes running in. “Ethan! Wake up, man. You’re dreaming.”
He grabs Ethan by the shoulders, rolls him onto his back, and shakes him hard until he gasps and shoots upright.
“It’s OK,” Fonz says, holding Ethan’s face in his hands. “It’s OK. We’re here. You were dreaming.”
“Ari?” He whips around and pats the bed sheets as he searches for me.
“Here.” I crawl to him. “I’m right here.”
He grabs me and curls his body around mine again as he mumbles something about bikes or cars. “Shhhh,” I soothe, running a hand over his face repeatedly. I look up to Fonz, then back down to Ethan, only to find him sleeping again.
“I’m gonna get him a bottle of water,” Fonz says. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll come with you.” I dart up, but my legs give out from under me, and I stumble.
Fonz makes it to me just before I fully hit the ground. “Shit, girl. You OK?”
Ethan stirs but doesn’t wake.
“Yeah.” I nod. “I’m fine. Just wobbly sometimes after I’ve been sitting for a while. I shouldn’t have jumped up like that. I’ll be good. I just have to take it slow.”
Fonz leads me down the hallway and into the kitchen where I lean against the island as he fishes two bottles of water out of the fridge. He hands me one and I nod in thanks. “How often does this happen?”
Fonz takes a drink. “They’ve been more frequent lately.”
“How often are we talking? Every night?”
He shakes his head. “No. I’d say about three nights a week.”
“How long has he had them?”
Fonz blows out a breath that rustles the hair on his forehead. “Well, I remember Jules saying something about them once—”
“Jules?!” I whisper-shout. “That was several years ago! Ethan’s been having nightmares for that long?” He gives me a tight smile. “Are they about his father? Is it from his time in the service? Does he ever talk about it?”
Fonz stares right into my eyes as he forms a hard line with his lips and slowly shakes his head before looking away. “No. I don’t know what they’re about.”
“Shit. Fonz, why didn’t you tell me about this?”
He barks out a laugh. “You know, you guys seem to forget that neither one of you wanted to know anything about the other for a very long time. And now you’re pissed that you can’t fill in all the missing pieces. Unbelievable.”
He spins around and returns his half-empty bottle of water to the fridge.
“Damn, Fonz. I’m sorry,” I apologize. “You’re right. I’m just shocked. And sad.”
“I know.” He comes around the island for me. “It’s OK. Let’s just go back to bed. If he wakes up and you’re not there, all hell will break loose.”
As we walk slowly back toward Ethan’s bedroom, we pass the door to Fonz’s room, and a male voice calls out. “Fonz? You alright, babe?”
My eyebrows shoot up and Fonz slumps his shoulders, knowing he’s been caught. “Not one word,” he says as he ushers me into Ethan’s room and reaches for the door to close it in my face.
“Just one teeny, tiny word!” I stick my hand in the doorway to block it from closing.
Fonz curses under his breath and tips his head back. “Fine, just get this the fuck over with.”
I wait for him to look at me before I whisper, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”
“ Casablanca ,” he answers without hesitation. “Now go back to bed.”
He pulls the door shut as I smother a giggle, turn around, and look at my big, sleeping man, and wonder if I’m not the only one keeping secrets.
ETHAN
The smell of citrus and sweetness pulls me from sleep, and I reach out to find the source so I can smother myself in it. But as I pat the bed next to me, all I get are fistfuls of bed sheets.
“Ari?” I sit up in a rush.
Looking around my empty bedroom, I see her clothes on the floor, and when her laughter seeps into my senses from somewhere else in the house, I instantly calm. Tugging on a pair of boxers and sweats, I go in search of her, and find Ari, along with Fonz and Matt, in the kitchen.
“Morning, roomie,” Fonz chirps as I stroll in.
“Morning.” I nod in return.
Fonz places a hand on Matt’s back. “Ethan, I know you know Matt,” he says by way of formal introduction.
“’Course! Welcome, man. I hope you helped yourself to coffee and breakfast?”
I step over to Ari, who is sitting on the other side of the counter, and kiss the top of her head. “Morning, Red.”
As the guys push away from the island and stand up, I notice they are fully showered and dressed. “Thanks,” Matt says to me. “Your woman here insisted on cooking us breakfast.” He bows his head in her direction. “It was delicious, and your hospitality is very welcoming, thank you.”
“Our breakfast is under the lids,” she says to me, pointing at two plates with lids on top of them next to the stove. Ari starts to get up, but I put my hands on her upper arms to stop her.
“You sit. I’ll get it.”
“Oh. OK.”
“She insisted on waiting for you,” Fonz says as he and Matt put their jackets on. “I told her that’s too chivalrous, but she wouldn’t listen. Anyway, sorry to eat and run, but Matt has an appointment he has to get back to. See you guys later?”
“Yep.” I uncover mine and Ari’s dishes. “It was good seeing you, Matt.”
“You too.” He gives an awkward wave before heading out into the garage, and I hike my eyebrows up and down at Fonz.
“Stop it. Stop it right now,” he murmurs under his breath as he follows Matt out and closes the door.
I turn and gape at Ari with wide eyes, and she laughs. “I know, right?!” she whisper-shouts.
Chuckling, I bring our plates over to the island and sit next to Ari. “Seriously, you didn’t have to wait for me,” I say as she scoops up a forkful of scrambled eggs. “Next time just eat without me. Or wake me up and we can cook together.”
As if she didn’t even hear me, Ari hops up and grabs my plate, saying, “The eggs are cold.” She steps over to the microwave and pops my plate in.
I sit there with my fork in the air. “Wha— Red, you don’t have to do that. I can eat it lukewarm. I’m quite easy to please.”
The microwave beeps and Ari pulls my plate out and places it back in front of me. “Nonsense. No one likes cold eggs.”
“You know, I hope you don’t feel like you have to cook.” I pick up a piece of crispy bacon and bite it in half, then throw the rest in my mouth.
“I know I don’t. But I like to. With the apartment the Millers put in I just have a kitchenette, so I can’t cook a real meal. I miss it. I used to do it all the time for Lena and … Well, you know I had to do a lot of the cooking when I was younger.”
“Yeah, but Axel made you cook for him because he was a giant fuckwad.” I jam a piece of toast into my mouth.
“Shit,” Ari grumbles, bouncing up again and rushing over to the fridge. “Sorry, totally forgot the juice!” She pulls the jug of orange juice from the door and puts it on the counter, then turns to open the cabinet housing the glasses and runs into me, because I’ve beat her to it.
I place the glasses on the countertop and reach for her. “Seriously, you don’t have to wait on me.”
“I know.” She avoids my reach. “I’m not waiting on you, I’m just making sure you have some juice with your breakfast.”
“OK, well”—I take the first glass she pours and place it by her plate—“I can get my own juice. I mean, you’ve only just got your legs back, so to speak—”
“I’m not defective.” Ari pushes the other glass of juice toward my plate.
Stunned, I watch her cap the jug and put it back in the fridge. She tries to move around me, but I side-step, and she crashes into my chest. “Whoa, Red, can we just back up a second? I don’t think you’re defective, and if you or anyone else ever says so, we’re going to have a serious problem.”
“Then stop treating me like I can’t do anything for you, OK?”
I try to take her face in my hands, to make her look at me, but she pulls away.
“Ari.” I rest my hands on my hips, trying to rein in my emotions. “That’s the second time in about ninety seconds that you’ve pulled away from me, and it kind of breaks my heart.”
Ari’s shoulders sag and I hear her let out a breath. “Shit. I’m sorry, Ethan.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I just feel like you’re picking a fight with me. The truth is, I would love for you to let me take care of you once in a while, and you won’t let that happen.” She opens her mouth like she’s going to interrupt me, but I hold a finger up. “And that’s because you’re a strong motherfucker, and I love that about you. But, truth be told, if I had my way, you would never lift a finger, Ari. I would wait on you hand and foot if you let me—not because I think you’re incapable, but because I live and breathe to make you happy.”
She puts her hands on her hips and huffs, looking off to the side.
I groan and run a hand down my face. “What, now?”
She huffs again.
“Oh, for the love of God, Ari—spit it out.”
“Well …” She waves a hand at me. “Now you’re being all, you know … great, and stuff. And I kinda feel like an ass.”
Taking in her words, I pull my lips between my teeth to try and hide my grin. Ari finally looks at me, crossing her arms over her chest. I slide my hands into my pockets and rock back on my heels, and we enter a standoff. She’s trying to suppress a chuckle, and that makes me have to fight that much harder to hold off my smile.
Finally, she breaks and throws her hands up in the air. “I’m sorry, OK? You win.” I look down at the floor and bite my lip to swallow my laugh. When I glance back up at her, she looks resigned. “Can we start over?” she asks.
I shrug.
Ari takes the few steps to close the distance between us, arms outstretched, but I tip my chin up and turn my body away from her.
Her arms fall. “Wh— What are you doing?”
I look up at the ceiling. “Maybe I don’t want a hug anymore.”
Ari scowls when she sees my smile break through. “Ethan James!” She jabs a finger in my ribs.
“Owwww!”
“You will hug me right now!” The feisty redhead jumps and grabs my neck in a near chokehold. “Hug me. Hug me back, right now!”
We both break out in laughter as I relent and wrap my arms around her, then fall back onto the stool and situate her on my lap. “For someone who couldn’t walk not long ago you sure are pretty spry.”
“Sorry,” she says, and I wave it off. “No, I mean I’m sorry for snapping at you.”
“It’s OK.” I reach around her to pick up my glass of orange juice and take a sip. “As long as we’re better now.” I hold up a piece of toast for Ari to bite, which she does.
“Speaking of better, how’s your hand?” Gingerly taking her wrist to look at the burn, I see the bandage is off so I can get a better look at it. “How did you say this happened?”
“I was in Meg’s kitchen.” She picks up her plate and scrapes her leftover eggs onto mine.
“Right.”
It’s quiet a moment before Ari speaks again. “What have you got going on today since you don’t have to work?”
“Not a thing. I’m all yours,” I say around a mouthful of food.
“Goody!” Ari claps her hands in front of her. “Because I was thinking there’s something I want to do today, but I need you to help me with it.”
I bite into another piece of toast. “Anything.”
“I want to see if I can drive your Jeep.”
“Anything but that.” I pop the remainder of the bread in my mouth.
“You just said you would help me with anything.”
“That was before I knew you wanted to drive my Jeep.” I wipe my hands on a napkin.
“What’s the big deal?”
“I love my Jeep.”
“You love me.” She bats her eyes at me.
I kiss her cheek. “I love my Jeep more.”
“I’m not going to crash it, Ethan. I’m a great driver, I just haven’t been able to do it since the accident, and now that I’m walking, DeShawn said there really is no reason why I can’t do it.”
“Mmmm, unfortunately the Jeep’s got a manual transmission.” I feign sympathy.
She blinks. “I can drive a stick shift.”
“You can?”
Ari rolls her eyes. “You know, it is so offensive that you think just because I’m a girl I can’t drive a stick shift.”
“It’s not that,” I backpedal, shaking my head. “It’s just … who taught you how to drive manual?”
Ari frowns. “Axel did.”
My eyebrows shoot up and I run my hand down my face. “Of course he did.”
She looks almost offended, but then offers up more. “He liked when I started working at the bar with Lena because I brought home money. You know, for the ‘household.’” She makes air quotes. “So, once I got my driver’s license he got the Accord up and running for me to take to work—”
“You drove the Accord? The one we used to hang out in?”
Ari smiles. “Yeah, I did.”
I shake my head, and she continues. “Anyway, sometimes he would need to work on it, so on the weekends I would take his car, which was a manual. So, he taught me how to drive it.”
We are quiet for a moment, but then she goes on talking. “I remember when we headed out to the car the day he gave me the lesson, Axel swooped up the newspaper the paperboy had thrown in the driveway, so he had it in his hands in the passenger seat. He was actually pretty patient …” Ari looks off at nothing as she is lost in memory. “That may have been the most patient day he ever had.”
She shakes her head. “So, he gave me a few minutes to get used to the clutch and shifting gears and to get the feel of the car, and then he told me that was it—no more learning curve. He rolled up the newspaper and …” Ari pauses and puts a hand over her mouth and giggles.
She giggles over a memory with that piece of shit.
“He told me that every time I made the transmission grind he was going to swat me. And he did! He slapped me right on the thigh with that newspaper, and I squealed every time.”
She’s smiling so big now, and I feel like I’m in an alternate universe. “He laughed, too. And so, I was driving down all those back roads with big ol’ Axel swatting me with a rolled up newspaper, like a dog. Then …” Ari spreads her wide hands in front of her as she gets excited, “he told me that for every time I stalled the car, he would belt me when we got home.”
I stiffen with her still on my lap.
She continues smiling, and laughing. “I remember being scared for just a moment, but then I got my ass in gear—pun intended—and I freaking learned how to drive an automatic car.” She sighs as she settles back into me, as if she didn’t just tell me the most screwed-up story I’ve ever heard. “It may have been an unconventional way to teach me, but it worked. Now I’m a pro!”
Ari turns and drops a kiss on my cheek. “I’m gonna take a quick shower and then we can get going, OK?”
I nod, unable to speak.
She hops up and stumbles slightly, and I shoot up off my stool to steady her. “Crap.” She takes my hand, then quickly releases me. “I’m good.”
“I’ll help you into the shower.”
“Ethaaaan,” she draws out my name, as if annoyed.
“Fine.” I put my hands up. “Go.”
She strolls away, saying something about only being a minute, but as her voice gets farther away, I swivel around. “Ari?”
She stops, resting one hand on the threshold of the dining room, and turns to look at me. “Yeah?”
I swallow. “How many times did you stall out?”
Her mask slips slightly before she softly answers, “Six.”
She walks away, and I swivel back around and grip the edge of the countertop, grind my teeth until I’m sure my molars are dust, and swear to God one day I will kill that son of a bitch.