3. Ethan
Chapter 3
Ethan
T he morning sun cuts through the blinds of my bedroom, dragging me from a restful sleep. I lie there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, letting the events of the previous night replay in my mind. My conversation with Jenny had been a bright spot, a rare moment of lightness I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I push myself out of bed, the cold hardwood floor sending a shock through my body. Today’s a big day—checking out the potential location for Hooplas with the guys.
After a quick shower, I pull on a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt, running a hand through my still-damp hair. I grab my phone from the nightstand, scrolling through the messages from the guys, confirming the time and place to meet. But it’s Jenny’s name that catches my eye, the memory of our easy banter and our amazing kiss making me smile.
Ethan: Morning, Jenny. Hope you slept well. I’m off to check out that location today—wish me luck. Hope you have a great day at school.
I hesitate for a moment before hitting send. I don’t want to come on too strong, but after last night, I can’t stop thinking about her. I want to see where this goes, even if the idea of letting someone in again is terrifying.
As I’m pulling on my boots, my phone buzzes with her reply.
Jenny: Morning, Ethan! Good luck! I have a good feeling about it. Maybe we can celebrate later? ??
The smile that spreads across my face is almost involuntary. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of excitement—like something good might actually happen.
Ethan: I’d like that. I’ll let you know how it goes.
With a renewed sense of energy, I head out the door, grabbing my keys on the way. The drive to the potential location for Hooplas is quick, the familiar streets of Hibiscus Harbor with its manicured trees and bushes along the roadway brightening up my mood even more. I pull up to the spot where I’m meeting the guys, the early morning light casting a golden glow in the sky.
Declan, Hudson, Jax, Kane, and Reid are already there, leaning against the hood of Declan’s truck. They’re deep in conversation, but they all look up when I arrive.
“About time you showed up,” Declan calls out, a grin on his face. He and his partner at the police station, Jax, are in their uniforms, gun belts and all. They must be getting ready to go on shift after our meeting.
“Fuck off,” I reply, shutting my truck door behind me and walking over to join them.
“Guess you had a good night, huh?” Hudson teases, waggling his eyebrows. “You seemed pretty cozy with that girl at the restaurant the other night. Did you see her last night, too?” He and Kane are firefighters and must be off today since they’re dressed like me, jeans and a tee shirt. I can never keep their schedules straight. Reid’s even worse, working as an emergency room doctor. It’s rare when he’s off of work.
“Jenny,” I correct him, a little sharper than intended. “And yeah, I saw her last night and it was good.”
They exchange knowing looks, and I can feel the heat rising in my neck. It’s one thing to have a light-hearted conversation with Jenny, but it’s another thing entirely to be the subject of their relentless teasing.
“Alright, alright,” Kane cuts in, clapping me on the shoulder. “Leave lover boy alone. Let’s focus on the task at hand. We’ve got a bar to open.”
“Thank you,” I mutter, grateful for the reprieve.
We walk down to the site, and realize the location is perfect—right next to an open lot, with plenty of space for parking, events, and anything else we can come up with. I can already picture what Hooplas will look like, the bar lined with people, the laughter and music spilling out onto the outdoor patio. This is going to be fantastic.
“What do you think?” Reid asks, his usual stoic expression giving nothing away.
“I think this is it,” I say, nodding as I take it all in. “This is where we’re supposed to be.”
“Damn right it is,” Jax agrees, a wide grin splitting his face. “This place is going to be epic.”
We spend the next hour walking the perimeter, discussing the layout, and throwing around ideas for the design. It feels good to be doing something productive, something that feels like it’s moving us forward… me forward. For the first time in weeks, I feel a sense of purpose, like this is the fresh start I’ve been looking for.
When we’re done, most of us head to Jack’s Place for lunch as Declan and Jax go to work. The conversation flows easily, filled with laughter and the kind of camaraderie that comes from years of friendship.
After lunch, we all go our separate ways, promising to meet up later in the week to finalize the details. As I head back to my truck, I pull out my phone, shooting a quick text to Jenny.
Ethan: The location is perfect. We’re moving forward with it. How about that celebration tonight?
I slide into the driver’s seat, my heart pounding a little faster than usual. It’s strange—this feeling of anticipation. Since the shit with Amber happened, I’ve avoided romantic entanglements at all costs. But it feels different with Jenny. It feels like maybe there’s something there; something special.
Her reply comes a few minutes later, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.
Jenny: I’m in! How does dinner sound? My treat this time.
Ethan: Sounds perfect but I’m buying. I’ll pick you up at 7? Send me your address.
Jenny: See you then. Can’t wait.
She sends me her address along with a bunch of happy face emojis and one party hat emoji.
The rest of the day passes in a blur. I head home, clean up a bit, and try to focus on the logistics of Hooplas. By the time seven rolls around, I’m more than ready to see her again. I pull up to her apartment, my heart pounding in my chest as I step out of the truck. Before I can even knock, the door swings open, and there she is, looking more beautiful than I remembered.
“Hey,” she says, her smile lighting up her whole face. “Ready for our celebration?”
“Absolutely,” I reply, kissing her cheek and then offering her my arm. “Shall we?”
We head to a small, intimate restaurant called The Silver Willow on the edge of town. It’s a cozy hidden gem that only the locals know about, surrounded by centuries-old oak trees with air plants hanging from the branches and windows overlooking the flowing river in the back. As we settle into our seats, the conversation flows as easily as it did the night before.
“So, what’s the plan for Hooplas?” Jenny asks, her eyes sparkling with interest.
I lean back in my chair, a grin on my face. “We’re going to create something really cool—a place where people can come together, relax, have a good time. We want it to be more than just a bar. We want it to feel like home. A place the community can come together.”
Jenny nods, her expression thoughtful. “That sounds amazing. I have no doubt it’s going to be a huge success.”
“Thanks,” I say, feeling a warmth spread through me at her words. “I’m glad you think so.”
As the night goes on, the conversation turns more personal, and I find myself opening up to her in a way I haven’t with anyone in a long time.
“So, tell me about your time as a SEAL. What was it like?” she asks as she twirls her pasta around her fork.
“Hard. Really hard, but worth every second and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
She nods, “If you loved it so much, why aren’t you still doing it?”
My mind’s eye flashes to that fateful night over a year ago. “Well, we were on a mission,” I lean in and lower my voice, “I can’t talk about that part or where we were, but when we were exchanging gunfire, I got hit in the arm.” I raise the left sleeve of my shirt and show her the scar.
“Oh my god.” She touches the deep scar that has warped my skin and created a gruesome look. I wish I could feel her touch there.
I look down at it, “Yeah. Well, the nerves didn’t heal right, and I have no feeling there. During physical therapy, it was determined I’ll never have the same strength in that arm as I did before the shooting. The Navy, in their infinite wisdom, said that even though it’s not my dominant arm or the arm I use to shoot with, and gave me only two choices… to leave the team or leave the Navy. I chose to leave the Navy. So, they gave me a medical discharge.”
The look on her face is understanding and not pity, and I appreciate that more than I could express. “Wow. I’m glad you at least survived.”
I smile at her, “Me, too.”
She has a confused look on her face, “So, I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for a retired Navy SEAL. What are you doing in Hibiscus Harbor?”
Then Amber’s face pops up and my stomach rolls. “I was dating someone, and it was pretty serious – or so I thought. She wanted to be an actress. Little did I know, she was acting all right, but in porn movies.”
“What? Did you know?”
I shake my head, “No, of course not. When I found out about the shit she was doing, I ended our three-year relationship and moved back home.” I push the rest of my food away from me as now the smell isn’t helping my rolling stomach.
“So, let me get this straight. You go on a mission, get shot, and while you are trying to get your strength and your career back, your girlfriend is cheating on you in porn movies?” She’s shocked and it shows in the disgust in her voice.
I only nod.
“What the fuck was she thinking? How could anyone do that to you? To anyone? What a bitch.” She takes my hand and I’m grateful I can feel her touch there. It’s electric and I’m loving it. “If we knew each other back then, I would have been by your side the entire time.”
My heart grows deeper for her in that moment. I’m falling for her fast and hard. I smile at her, “I have no doubt you would have.”
“Well, didn’t you have any job offers when you left? I would think that being a former Navy SEAL would have opened up a lot of opportunities for you in the private sector.”
“You’re right. I did get a few offers. One of them, from Cerberus in Chicago, I seriously considered. A former SAS Commando runs the place. Robert Fitzwallace. But in the end, I decided to come home to Hibiscus Harbor. Mainly because my friends and my sister, Lexi, live here. I missed home.”
She nods as she wipes her lips with her napkin and places it on her empty plate. I can appreciate a girl that will eat. “I get that. I’ve never lived anywhere else, but I also have never had the desire to, either. I love this town.”
“Me, too.”
We order dessert as Jenny tells me about her life—her passion for teaching, her love for the kids she works with, and her friends and family. There’s a strength in her that I admire, a resilience that makes me want to know more about her, to be a part of her world.
“So… can I ask about your ex-husband?” I’m hesitant to ask, but since we’re sharing life stories, I really want to know what I’m up against. I’m doing what I do best, recon.
She sighs heavily and nods, “We got married too young and he turned out to be someone I didn’t know. The first time he hurt me…”
“The first time?” I interrupt as my blood begins to boil and my fists clench under the table.
She nods, “Yeah, the first time, I dismissed it because he was drunk that night and under a lot of stress at work. He’s a banker for Hibiscus Federal and they were having trouble with an audit. Anyway,” she waves her hand in the air dismissively, “he apologized a million times for everything and so I blew it off.”
I don’t say anything because I can feel that there’s more to the story and I was right.
“The second, and last time,” she holds up her hand to stop me from blowing up, “I left him, got a temporary restraining order, and filed for divorce. Now, he’s having trouble moving on.”
I count to ten, then twenty before I can calm my nerves. I should have killed him on the spot the other night at the restaurant and been done with him. “I’m glad you got out when you did, Jenny. A lot of women don’t have the nerve.”
She looks out the window, “Yeah, I know. I may be a first-grade teacher, but I’m not a wallflower. I wasn’t going to live my life in constant fear of the man I was married to. That’s just not me.”
I take her hand in mine. “Without trying to sound condescending, I want to tell you that I’m proud of you. You’re brave.”
“I’m not sure ‘brave’ is the right word, but I’m proud of myself, too.”
“Do you know why he’s having trouble moving on? Is it a possessive thing?” I ask.
Her face scrunches up, “I’m not sure, but I suspect that may be part of it and another part of it is my family’s name. See, my great, great grandparents helped found Hibiscus Harbor over a hundred years ago. Don’t be impressed though,” she quickly adds, “it’s not like we have any money or anything, but the name Dalton is a pretty strong name here. It’s one of the reasons I went back to Dalton after the divorce. I’m proud of my family and all it represents.”
“Wow. I remember learning about the Daltons in middle school. That’s cool, but why would your ex be concerned with your name?”
“He works at the bank and in that world, prestige is everything. With a public record of the temporary restraining order and the divorce, I guess he’s struggling.” She shrugs her shoulders, “At least that’s what I’ve come up with. Honestly, I don’t really know, but it’s been almost two years since the divorce and as you could see the other night, he’s still trying to hold on.”
I nod, replaying the events of the other night, “Is the restraining order still in place? Why were you meeting him the other day?”
She takes a deep breath, “No, the restraining order was only temporary and expired ninety days after it was issued. Richard has a lot of pull being a vice president at the bank. It was a struggle just to get the temporary one; getting it reissued would have been next to impossible.” She sits up in her chair, “As for meeting him, I keep thinking if I just keep telling him it’s all over between us, he’ll finally move on,” she looks preoccupied, “but clearly that just hasn’t happened yet.”
By the time we finish dinner, the connection between us feels even stronger. It’s like we’ve known each other for years, like this was always meant to be.
“Thank you for tonight,” Jenny says as we walk back to my truck, her hand slipping into mine.
“Thank you,” I reply, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I haven’t felt this… at ease in a long time.”
“Me neither,” she admits, her voice soft.
We arrive at her apartment parking lot and I run around the front of the truck to open her door but when she climbs out, I stop her by the passenger door, the night air warm and humid against our skin. I turn to face her, my heart racing as I look into her eyes. There’s something there—something real, something I haven’t felt before.
“I don’t want this to end,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Then don’t let it,” she replies, her gaze holding mine.
Before I can think, before I can second-guess myself, I lean in, capturing her lips in a kiss that feels like coming home. It’s soft, tender, and filled with all the unspoken emotions that have been building between us.
When we finally pull back, our breaths are mingling in the warm night air.
“Damn,” I whisper, my voice full of awe.
“Yeah,” she agrees, her smile lighting up the darkness around us. “Damn.”
We stand there for a moment, just holding each other, before I reluctantly pull away, knowing that the night has to end eventually.
“Can I see you again?” I ask, my hand still holding hers as we walk up to her apartment.
“I’d like that,” she replies, her smile warm and genuine.
I lean in to kiss her one last time, savoring the feel of her honey-soaked lips against mine, before finally letting her go. As I watch her walk into to her apartment, a sense of peace settles over me—like maybe I’ve finally found something worth fighting for.
As I pull into my driveway, my phone buzzes with a message that sends a chill down my spine.
Unknown Number: Stay away from her, West. This is your only warning. Don’t make me hurt her.
I stare at the screen, my heart pounding in my chest. I don’t recognize the number, but the threat is clear. Someone doesn’t want me getting close to Jenny, and they’re willing to go to extreme lengths to make sure I don’t. This has got to be her ex-husband, right?
I grip the phone tightly, my mind racing. I don’t know for sure who sent the message, but I’m not about to back down. Not when I’m finally starting to feel like I have something to look forward to.
Ethan: I don’t know who you are but stay out of my way and stay the FUCK away from Jenny. I’m going nowhere.
I hit send, the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I don’t know what’s coming, but one thing is for sure—I’m not going to let anyone stand in the way of what I want.
And right now, what I want is Jenny.