“She did,” I said. “And then she married one anyway. And had a baby.”
He blinked. “A baby?”
“Four,” I corrected. “A boy. Owen. He’s ridiculously cute.”
Ethan shook his head slowly. “I don’t get it.”
“Neither do I,” I said. “I was with Brandon, and I loved him. But Sophie doesn’t evenlikeher husband. I don’t understand how she puts up with him.”
Ethan frowned. “Now that you mention it… I heard something. A rumor. One of the parents in Lily’s class said something a while back, but I figured they were talking about a different Sophie.”
I looked at him. “Don’t think anything of it,” I said easily. “Owen is her husband’s kid. No matter what anyone says.”
He nodded, accepting it without pushing.
A few seconds passed.
“Did you ever hear anything about Ashley?” I asked.
Ethan went very still.
“No,” he said. Then, quieter, “I didn’t.”
I studied his face. “Why didn’t you ask? Anyone?”
He swallowed. “I didn’t want to carry someone else’s misery too. I had enough of my own.”
“That’s fair,” I said gently. “But you don’t have to worry.”
He looked at me, hopeful and afraid all at once.
“She’s fine,” I said. “Married. Two kids, if her mother is to be believed. She left not long after you did.”
Ethan closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, like he’d been holding that breath for years.
“Thank God,” he said. “I’ve wondered about her more times than I’d like to admit.”
He looked at me, earnest. “Thank you for telling me.”
I watched the tension ease out of his shoulders, saw how much lighter he looked.
Only then did I realize how long he’d been carrying it.
Our eyes locked.
“Do you ever think about before?” I asked.
“Every day.”
“I miss you,” I said softly. “Not the past. Just you.”
“Claire,” he said, like a warning.
“I know. I’m not asking.”
“If you did,” he said, voice low, “I’m afraid, I’d give you everything.”
That was the problem.
