I’d gotten along better with Ethan’s family over the months since we’d moved to San Francisco. It had taken me a long time to adjust to the sheer volume of people I was around on a regular basis, but they’d all been understanding once I’d explained my pastto them. None of them ever pushed me to interact with them more than I was comfortable with and they never looked down on me like I should have just been able to get over my weird fear and move on. I’d gotten to a point that I could comfortably sit around a table with them for a meal or join Ethan’s brothers in the living room as they fanatically cheered on whatever favorite local sports team was playing. Ethan and I had even gone to a baseball game with the family a month ago. I’d been tense, but Ethan had worked it out so his family was sitting on both sides and directly behind us. I’d still spent an inordinate amount of time watching for threats, but I’d been able to relax enough by the end of the game to enjoy it. Ethan had been worried that a baseball game would trigger memories of the day of my attack for me, but it hadn’t. Maybe it was just easy for me to compartmentalize, but I’d put that day behind me…it had died along with my parents. Yes, the aftereffects still lingered, but I knew that with Ethan’s and his family’s support, they too would be a thing of the past soon enough.
“You’re going to do great, tomorrow,” I said to Ethan once his sister had taken the baby upstairs. “That hospital is lucky to have you.”
“They’re not going to be happy about the press that comes along with me,” Ethan sighed as he leaned against me. I draped my arm over his shoulders and kissed his temple.
“They’ll lose interest soon,” I said softly. The reporters had been relentless in the six months since the truth about Eric had come out. The hope had been that the chaos would die down as soon as Eric was sentenced, but word had gotten out that Eric would likely be facing charges for the death of his partner and the man’s wife. It would be yet another trial Ethan would have to testify in. The good news was that the crime had occurred in Virginia where the man and his wife had lived. Which meant the prosecutor there could seek the death penalty against Eric. Chances were high the case would never get that far since Eric would likely agree to any plea that would save his neck. But the flip side was that the plea would likely be life in prison with no chance of parole instead of the deathpenalty. Either way, the likelihood that Eric would ever see the light of day was growing slimmer and slimmer.
“Hope so,” he said with a sigh. “Ready for things to get back to normal,” he said. He chuckled and said, “Well, as normal as things can get for us anyway.”
I smiled at that.
“Did you talk to Ronan yet?”
I shook my head.
“Cain,” Ethan said with a sigh.
“I know, I know, I will,” I said. “I just need a little more time.”
Ethan sat up and then turned to face me. “I’m safe, Cain. Eric wouldn’t dream of touching me at this point. He can’t,” he added. “He’s got no friends left to convince that he’s getting a raw deal, not after the cops started looking into him for his partner’s death. And he hasn’t got even a penny to his name to hire someone to come after me. I’m more in danger of getting a papercut at work than I am from him.”
“I know,” I said with a nod. This wasn’t the first time we’d had the conversation, but that was because my fear continued to rule my actions. I’d been telling Ethan for weeks now that I would let Ronan and Memphis know to put me back in the rotation, but I hadn’t actually made the call because the thought of being away from Ethan even for just a night scared the hell out of me. I’d expected Ethan to have an issue with me continuing to work for Ronan, but he’d quickly disabused me of that notion one night when he’d told me to get my ass into gear and go save people who needed saving. I supposed even if the experience with Eric hadn’t made him realize what kind of evil existed in the world, knowing what had happened to me and my brothers and sisters would have.
“I’ll call him tonight when we get home. Promise.” Ethan gave me one of his happy smiles and then leaned in to kiss me.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For what?” I asked.
“For being you. For letting me be me.”
I sighed against his mouth and then kissed him long and deep.
“Yeah, they’re at it again,” I heard Lucy say as she walkedthrough the front door. Ethan smiled against my mouth, but he went on kissing me. When we separated, we saw Lucy sitting in the oversized plush chair next to the couch, her eyes on her phone. Ethan’s mom was standing behind the chair, her expression one of pure happiness.
“You two are just so cute together,” she said with a sigh and then she was coming around to give Ethan a kiss on the cheek.
“Hi, Mom,” he said with a laugh. “Where’s Dad?”
She harrumphed and said, “Out talking boobers with Mr. Delvaney from across the street.”
“Boobers?” Ethan asked.
“She means bobbers,” Lucy clarified without looking up from her phone.
“Boobers, bobbers, whatever,” the older woman said with an impatient wave. She grabbed Ethan’s chin and just looked at him for a while before leaning down to kiss him again. “I’m making your favorite tonight,” she said. “Chicken Parmesan.” She looked at me and said, “Yours is next weekend.”
I smiled because no matter how many times Ethan and I insisted that she didn’t have to keep making our favorite dishes every time we came over, especially since the rest of the family rarely got a say in the matter, she kept doing it anyway.
“Thanks, June,” I said softly. I wasn’t surprised when she reached out to briefly cup my face. Of all the family members, Ethan’s mom struggled with my aversion the most since she was such a tactile person. But I’d started to accept, even welcome, her little touches before she remembered herself. I had no doubt I’d soon be the recipient of her giant, no-holds-barred hugs.
And I was okay with that.
“You are so going to have to dance with her at our wedding,” Ethan said once his mom had wandered off to the kitchen.
I laughed and said, “Is that you asking me to marry you?”
“No,” Ethan said. His fingers brushed at the hair above my ear. “When I ask you, it’s going to be much more memorable than that.”
