“I want to believe you,” I whisper.
“Then let me show you,” he says simply.
The words land heavy, real.For the rest of dinner, I let myself breathe.Let myself remember what it feels like to laugh with him, to share stories, to sit in his orbit without being burned.Time passes in a blur of conversation, old memories and new stories mixing together in some strange comfortable new normal.
On the drive home, the silence isn’t heavy anymore.It’s warm.Full.When he walks me to the door, Ivy’s night-light glowing faintly through the window, I hesitate.
He doesn’t push.Doesn’t lean in for something I’m not sure I can give just yet.He just says, “Thank you for giving me a chance.”
I nod, my throat tight.“Thank you for showing up.”
Our eyes hold, steady and searching, before I slip inside.And for the first time in years, I didn’t feel like the girl who ran from the fire.I feel like a woman daring to believe the flames might keep her warm instead of burning me.
Chapter Nineteen
Staying Steady
Maverick
The county fair smells like fried dough and popcorn, like spun sugar and grease.Ivy has chocolate on her cheeks, Bun-Bun clutched in one hand while she tugs Zora toward the carousel with the other.
And me?I’m trying like hell to keep it together.Because for three weeks, I’ve been steady.Consistent.Picking up Ivy from school, taking her for ice cream, giving Zora space.One date.No pushing.No flames.Just proving I can stay.
Ethan comes striding across the fairgrounds like he belongs in her orbit, like nothing has changed.His smile is too smooth, too knowing.
“Zora,” he says, sliding up beside us.“Didn’t expect to see you here.”His eyes flick to me, dismissive, then to Ivy.“Hey, kiddo.”
Ivy just frowns, clinging closer to Zora’s side.
Zora stiffens, her jaw tightening.“Ethan.”
He gives her that smile again, the one that makes my fists itch.“We should talk.You and me.”
I feel the words building in my chest, a growl ready to rip free, but I force it back.This isn’t my fight.Not in front of Ivy.Especially not when Zora hasn’t asked me to step in.
So, I stay quiet even though my insides are burning.And I watch.I watch the way Ethan leans in too close, ignoring the fact that Zora has already pulled back.I watch the way Ivy’s little fingers dug into her mother’s shirt.
