Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Three
ETHAN
I headed back to the house when Jessa climbed into that car and drove away. My heart ached, and my stomach churned like I might lose my brunch. And the worst part was I hadn’t done anything wrong. I hadn’t gone through with Luke’s stupid dare. I’d said no. But she hadn’t even given me the chance to explain.
I shuffled back into the house with my head hung low.
“Did you catch up to her?” Ellie asked.
“She wouldn’t hear me out.”
Ellie frowned. “Well, she thought it was all a dare.”
“It wasn’t. We were just talking, and I said no.” I looked at Luke. “Tell her.”
“I already told her.”
Ellie gave me a look that resembled Mom’s when she tried to teach me something. “The thing about Jessa is she’s quick to react—”
“Overreact, you mean.”
She gave me a scolding look, which also resembled Mom. “In her mind, she’s not overreacting. If she thinks she’s been wronged, she will immediately put up a wall to protect herself.”
I groaned. “It took me forever to break down that wall. What if I can’t get through it again?”
“You will. Just be patient and gentle with her. She needs to know you didn’t betray her and be reassured that you’re someone who never will.”
“How do I prove that to her? She wouldn’t even give me a chance to explain.”
“Give her a little space until she cools down.”
The thought that she was upset with me was driving me crazy. “Can you please go check on her?” I looked from Ellie to Penny to Tally and back. “I know I’m interrupting your special brunch, but I want to make sure she’s okay. I can’t stand the not knowing.” I clasped my hands together pleadingly.
They exchanged looks and nods. “Yeah, we can go,” Ellie replied.
“And maybe you can go too, Luke. She wouldn’t hear me out, but she might listen to you. I think you owe me that much.”
“Yeah, man, I’ll go.” He clapped his hand down on my shoulder. “We’ll straighten it all out.”
“Thank you.” I felt a tad calmer, but it didn’t rid me of the worry.
Ellie explained the situation to Cooper and Gram, and she took off with the girls and Luke to find Jessa.
“You’re going to wear through the linoleum,” Gram said as she entered the kitchen. “Help me with the dishes, will you?”
I hadn’t realized I’d been pacing, but I couldn’t help it. There was nothing that would calm me until I heard how Jessa was and if she was going to talk to me again.
“Don’t fret.” Gram scraped some of the leftovers into a plastic storage bowl. “She’ll come around.”
“What if she doesn’t?” I rinsed a plate and loaded it into the dishwasher. “It took a lot for her to open up to me as much as she has. And now she thinks I betrayed her. What if she doesn’t let me in again?”
“I think she knows deep down that you aren’t the kind of guy who would hurt her like that. And once she hears the truth, she’ll realize it.”
“I hope you’re right, Gram.” My throat tightened as my emotions overwhelmed me, and an unexpected sob escaped.
“Oh, Ethan.” Gram tugged me in for a hug, and I let the tears flow.
“I love her, Gram. I always have.”
“I know you have.”
“I don’t want to lose her when I just got her.” I didn’t want to think about going backward. After last night, I wanted to move forward. Together.
“It’s going to be okay. Trust me.”
I really wanted to trust her. She’d never steered me wrong before. But Jessa was as unpredictable as the path of a tornado right now. What if this ended in disaster?