Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHLOE
It should be impossible to sleep with all the beeping machines, but I’ve had no trouble at all.
Probably has something to do with the heavy pain meds they’ve been feeding into my IV since the surgery.
My eyelids feel like they’re weighted as I pry them open, staring up at the fluorescent lights.
The foil balloons from my mom and her beau, Beau, sway from the bedside table.
The flowers the barnacles sent sit beside them, along with cards from Lily Jane, Mrs. Nelson, the Beemans, and countless other Mugs customers.
Inner Shores really showed up for me, yet all I feel is hollow as I press my head deeper into the lumpy pillow.
Rick hadn’t skipped town after all. He’d found a liquor store, drank himself into oblivion, and then got behind the wheel of his truck.
Lucky to be alive has been thrown around ever since I woke up after surgery on my broken arm.
Could’ve been so much worse.
My body might ache, as if I was stuffed into a tumble dryer on high, but my heart hurts worse. Not from finding out Rick was arrested, but from knowing the only person who I truly want to see right now is so far away.
If only I’d left the bar and gone straight to his house.
If only I’d told him how I felt.
Then none of this would have happened.
The tubes taped to the back of my hand slap my cheek when I shove my greasy hair off my face. Willow and Lola should be here soon with an update on how things are going at Mugs. With Willow acting as interim manager, and Lola cat-sitting, all my responsibilities outside this hospital are covered.
Rest and recover.
That’s my job now.
Too bad it doesn’t keep me busy enough to stop my mind from running around in circles.
I close my eyes and let out a breath.
A throat clears, and I open them again, glancing toward the doorway.
This concussion must be messing with my brain. Ethan can’t possibly be here. He went back to Philadelphia.
Green eyes meet mine and widen as the hallucination steps into the room, a small box clutched in his large hands. His shirt is wrinkled, his hair stands up at the back, and he has dark circles beneath his eyes. Still, he’s never looked so handsome.
My voice comes out croaky. “What are you doing here?” I try to sit up, but the angle of the bed makes it almost impossible.
He drags one of the pleather chairs over from the wall and settles into it. “I was in the area. Thought I’d swing by.” His lips twitch into an almost-smile.
Was that a joke? Man, I must’ve hit my head harder than I thought. “Since Philadelphia is just around the corner,” I tease back.
Warmth flickers in his eyes, but then his deep frown returns. “Willow called me.”
How is that possible? “How did she get your number?”
“She asked the guy who sold Mom and Dad the house if he could ring them and get my contact details.”
Yet another reason to love this town. If something needs to be done, these folks will find a way.
He reaches for my hand, smoothing his thumb over my pale fingers. “I was so worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
His expression hardens. “Fine? Chloe, you’re in a fucking cast.”
“Am I? I didn’t notice?” Just kidding. My arm beneath the white plaster itches like crazy. How am I supposed to live with this thing for six weeks?
Ethan barely breaks a smile.
Tough crowd.
I nod at the box strangled in his fist. “Is that for me?”
“Yeah. I was in a bit of a rush to get here, but when I saw it in the gift shop, I knew I had to get it for you.”
I flip the box open. Inside it sits a lemon-yellow mug with a big smiley face on it.
My lips curl up. My new favorite.
“It’s perfect,” I say, gulping back a lump in my throat. “I love it so much.”
Not as much as I love you.
“Good. I’m glad.” Dragging his fingers through his rumpled hair, he blows out a breath. “Will you tell me what happened?”
Telling him the truth hurts worse than all my broken bones, bruised ribs, and random scrapes combined. “Rick was driving drunk and ran me off the road. Not on purpose, but still just as bad.” The man who impregnated my mother has done a lot through the years, and I’ve always forgiven him.
This time, I’m done.
As soon as I get out of here, I’m filing a restraining order to keep him away from Mugs and me for good. The sheriff wants me to press charges for the accident as well, but the jury’s still out on that.
I’d rather forget Rick exists.
He could’ve killed me.
He could kill someone else.
Ethan’s nostrils flare, and his jaw pulses as he scrapes a hand down the back of his neck. “Fuck, Chloe… If Willow hadn’t called, I might never have known something happened to you.”
I’m sure it would have come up when he was down visiting his parents at some point. “It’s only a broken arm.” Mostly.
“Doesn’t matter. I hated being so far away when you needed me.”
“I hated it too.”
I draw in a deep breath, steadying myself so that I can get this out. I don’t know how long I have until Ethan disappears back to Philadelphia again.
“I had this crazy idea that… I don’t know… maybe we could try doing something long-distance,” I say. “If you wanted to.” A look of affection fills his face. “But the truth is,” I quickly go on, “I’m not sure that would be enough for me.”
The plastic mattress crackles as I shift my weight, the truth bringing tears to my eyes.
There was a reason I asked the ferry gods for someone who wants to set down roots in Inner Shores.
I’ve never been someone’s priority, not even my mom’s or Rick’s.
You deserve better.
Ethan may have made the off-handed remark about Steve, but it applies to our situation as well.
I don’t want to settle for phone calls and video dates. I want to hold hands on the beach. To wake up next to each other every single day. I want someone who I can rely on to be there when things are tough, and I want to be that person for them as well.
Having a long-distance relationship is possible, but it’s not what I really want.
And it’s not what either of us deserve.
Ethan’s fingers curl around mine, gripping tight. “It’s not enough for me either.”
My heart sinks in my chest. “I understand.”
A wayward strand of hair falls across his brow as his head slowly shakes.
“I don’t think you do.” He slips a finger beneath my chin, raising my gaze to his.
“When I got back, my apartment—hell, Philadelphia—felt so empty. Soon, my mom and dad won’t be there anymore.
They’ll be in their dream home, living their best lives.
My brother Gray is already living his dream, and Wyatt is off chasing his.
It feels like everyone is moving forward, while I’m stuck doing the same old shit, hating every second of it.
My first day on the building site, all I could think about was being on the beach, watching you own the waves. ”
That little flame of hope in my heart grows, burning through my chest.
Is he saying what I think he’s saying?
“I’ve never had any dreams for myself,” he continues, his gaze pinned to mine. “So I didn’t immediately realize it when I found one. Chloe, my dream is to be here… with you.”
This is too good to be true. It has to be. Even so, the butterflies in my stomach take flight, fanning the flames of hope. “But your job—”
“Was sucking my soul dry, so I quit. Right before I came here to see you.”
He quit. He wants to be here with me.
I press my free hand to my head. I can’t believe it. “What about your apartment?”
“That’s easy; I can put it on the market. And as for the job, Leo came up with this really great idea about starting our own construction business. Not buildings, but homes. The best part is, he can handle his side from there, while I do the onsite work here.”
I can feel the shock and happiness shining in my eyes. This is happening. It’s really happening! “You’re really coming back?”
“That’s the plan. If it’s okay with you?” he asks, almost hesitantly.
Okay? He can’t be serious. Does he not see?
“For years, Ethan, I’ve asked the ferry gods to bring me someone to love. Not just for a few weeks, but for forever. And now I know… that person is you.”
He half-rises from the chair, leaning in as he presses his lips to mine, soft and sweet, a tender kiss that promises more. Promises forever.
A forever I can’t wait to start.
“You know, I’ve come to realize that so much in life is impossible to predict,” Ethan says, his tender eyes gazing deeply into mine. “But you and me, beautiful? We’re a sure thing.”