“They’re both sleeping now,” Jake said as he, his mother and Branna came back into the room Ethan was still sitting in with the others. “And you need to rest too, Tex. Your eyelids are drooping and you look ugly, which is a sure sign you need your beauty sleep.”
“Ha,” was all Ethan could manage in response to that. He was tired, but in all honesty he’d been worse when he was in the Army. It was all the emotional shit that had exhausted him, first his family and now Annabelle and hers.
Jake’s mother said, “I need a wash before I head in to the clinic, so I’ll leave Cooper in your hands, son.”
“Sure,” Jake rose to see his parents out.
Declan agreed. “I should head back too. I told Ellen I’d help her with some marketing today, and I need to get in a shower too.”
“Ellen?” Branna said, teasing her father.
“I’m just helping a friend out, daughter,” he said, smiling. “No harm in that, and if she’s easy on the eye, then I’m a lucky man.” Declan kissed his daughter before gripping Ethan’s shoulder. “You are a good man, Ethan Gelderman.Codladh samh,”he said before leaving the house.
“Sleep well,” Branna translated as Ethan looked at her.
“How was the wedding?” Jake asked when he returned.
Ethan closed his eyes and sighed. The time for secrets was over; he knew that now. These were his friends and they deserved the truth from him, especially as he was now involved with Annabelle. Of course he had to convince her of that, but he would, Ethan vowed.
“I need more coffee and cake to tell you about the last few days,” he said.
“That bad, huh?” Buster got up to refill his cup. When he’d returned, Ethan started to talk.
“You all know I’m rich, so that’s no surprise, but my family is into oil in Texas, and they have a great deal more money than me. Private jets and that kind of thing were what I grew up with,” he said.
“I’m guessing that was the only good part,” Jake said.
“My dad is a control freak asshole, and also a master manipulator,” Ethan said, then went on to tell them about some of his childhood. Not all, but enough.
Jake whistled. “Sounds ugly.”
“It was, but having Annabelle there was good, and she kind of pushed the confrontation, so I ended standing up to my father and speaking my mind.”
“I bet Annabelle took a swipe or two on your behalf too?” Buster said with what constituted a smile on his face.
Ethan snorted. “More than a few. At the rehearsal dinner she told everyone about my time in the Army and pretty soon I was shaking hands and being congratulated, much to my dad’s displeasure.” Ethan smiled, remembering the moment. She’d been amazing.
“Your folks hadn’t told anyone?” Branna looked ready to cry, so he placed a hand over hers.
“It’s alright, Branna, really. I’m used to it now.”
“Well, if that don’t beat all,” Buster said. “Now I have to reevaluate my opinion of you.”
“No, I’m still an arrogant asshole, bud, so we’re good there,” Ethan joked with his friend.
“And you and Annabelle?” Buster said, giving Ethan a steady look.
“I care about her, but for now that’s all I’m saying, because we have to deal with this shit with Cooper first.”
“Fair enough,” Jake said, getting to his feet. “But you’ve got my permission, if that helps.”
“Mine too,” both Branna and Buster said, which just about made Ethan cry, and that showed him just how tired he was.
“And now you need sleep,” Jake said, “so go get some. Which bed you choose is up to you.”
Ethan nodded, and thanked his friends for listening.
“God’s truth, though, Tex, can we cut the emotion for a while? I’ve got a rash forming,” Buster said, taking the hand Ethan held out to him.
