You would know.
“I’ll get it done,” I say with an undeniable confidence.
He smirks. “That’s the spirit I’ve been looking for."
56
HANNAH
“Are you sure we shouldn’t just go check on him? It’s been two days,” Dane asks me as he looks at the clock again.
It’s past 9:00 p.m. and Dane’s right. It’s been two full days. Both days, he left before the sun came up and didn't come home until we’re in bed.
He was gone again this morning, even though I set my alarm to try and catch him before he left.
Am I worried about Ethan? Yes, I am. More so than ever recently. He’s been acting unusually strange lately and the stress he’s carrying is something I’ve never seen.
But I also know that if you push him too early, he’ll retreat further.
I’ve been through phases of time where it’s exactly what he needs, time. But something about this is different. It’s like his father is slowly draining the soul from his body.
“We already agreed. Give him three days. Don’t say anything, just let him work through it for now.”
“Well, I’m not a patient man. So I’m going to be a really big pain in your ass for the rest of the day. Then tomorrow I’ll be a pain in his ass for putting us through this.”
“Great. I have two pain-in-the-asses to deal with now.”
“Hey, you take that back, woman.” He plops down next to me on the couch and attempts to tickle my feet, but I pull them back, smacking his hands.
We laugh for a second but the laughter dies down quickly, as it’s been lately because we know something is going on and we both know it’s time to intervene with him.
I told Dane that I felt like there was something I was missing with Ethan. Before the accident our lives revolved around each other and baseball. There wasn’t a lot of pressure from his dad. Don’t get me wrong, he’s always been a jerk and he never supported Ethan’s love for the game.
I never understood why. Not only was he physically the best player on his team, he literally knew everything about baseball. He was every dad’s dream.
Yet his father still berated him, telling him that baseball was for kids and not a real job, reminding him he had a family name to live up to. You would think Russo on the back of a jersey playing professional baseball would make him proud, but to Edward Russo it’s always been about him and his company.
The worst part about the accident wasn’t losing my voice. It was losing the man I loved and seeing his passion whither away to nothing.
I hate that he feels like his only option is his father but after this recent set of demands he’s been pulling, I’ve had enough. I’d rather him work minimum wage doing something he loves than work for a man like him. Father or not, nobody should have to deal with what Ethan has been putting up with.
Dane’s phone buzzes in his pocket and he sits up quickly as he slides it out. The corner of his lip ticks up and I know by the look on his gleeful face it’s Ethan.
57
DANE
Ican’t express the happiness I feel when I get a text message from Ethan because this sexy-as-sin master grump doesn’t really text anyone. Except Hannah of course.
He loves two things. Hannah and baseball. That much I know for certain. But lately, I feel a bit of that love, too.
Then I see the text and question all of my previous thoughts.
Ethan: Can I ask you a question?
Text messages like this set me on edge. Because lately, he’s been so unpredictable. I suck in a deep breath and reply as nonchalantlyas possible.
Me: Shoot.
