Beauplaced a hand on Ethan’s arm and wrapped his fingers tightly around his strongbicep, not letting lose when Ethan tried to pull away.
“Youdon’t know what he is going to say. Give him a chance.”
Ethanglared at him and Beau knew he was overstepping, but he didn’t know what elseto do. It wasn’t like they could just walk out. Curtis would just demand theycome back and then they’d feel more like children than they did already.
“Sit,boy,” Curtis said to Ethan, motioning to the couch in the living room as hemoved around to his recliner.
Beauwas uncomfortable, desperately wanting out of this but the look Curtis shot hisway said he needed to be there, so Beau followed Ethan around the couch anddropped to one end while Ethan occupied the opposite.
Curtisaddressed Ethan directly, and Beau wished like hell the couch would justswallow him whole. He knew Ethan would hold it against him if he witnessed anysort of reprimand from his father – especially if the past was involved.
Thenagain, if Curtis was about to lay into Ethan, then he wasn’t sure he could sitby and not say something.
“I’mnot gonna get in your business,” Curtis began. “I’m not here to ask questionsor even suggest that you talk to me, but I am going to inform you that shouldyou need me, I’m here.”
Beaunoticed when Ethan’s body tensed, his hands fisting in his lap. Did he want totalk to his father? It wasn’t a bad idea. He wasn’t sure whether Ethan felt anyrelief whatsoever after sharing his story about what happened because theyhadn’t spoken another word about it. The last couple of days had been strangelycomfortable, almost soothing. They’d spent alone time together, much of itbeing naked and Beau was under the impression Ethan had wanted to bury hispain, and Beau would offer himself to Ethan for that purpose as long as Ethanwasn’t hiding from him.
Wouldthis change everything? Would all of their progress be reduced to a couple ofdays of mere memories? Beau couldn’t handle that any more than he could handlehiding what he felt for Ethan.
“Why’dyou do it?” Ethan asked, shocking Beau with his question.
God,he didn’t need to be here for this.
“Dowhat?” Curtis asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing one ankle over theopposite knee.
“Jimmy.Why’d you let him antagonize you?”
“Ididn’t let that bastard do anything, Ethan,” Curtis answered roughly. “Let melet you in on a little secret. I’m just as human as you are. Things get to me. Ilet Jimmy get to me long before he did what he did last night.”
Beauwatched the exchange between father and son, reading between the lines. Even ifCurtis didn’t admit it, he knew what happened to Ethan – what Jimmy had done.How could he not? He was Ethan’s father. Coyote Ridge was a small town andsurely Curtis and Lorrie would’ve been worried about one of their kids if theydisappeared off the grid for longer than a day. Ethan had to know that, right?
“Thanks.”
Beau’shead snapped in Ethan’s direction. Had he just thanked his father for beatingon Jimmy Reardon? Of course, thanks were probably in order because the manwasn’t going to stop until he realized exactly what his actions had caused. Notthat this would slow him down any.
Curtisnodded his head, effectively ending the conversation in that subtle way he didthat left anyone who knew him wanting to open up and tell him their deepest,darkest secrets. Curtis never pushed, never questioned, never made you feelweak. But he damn sure made sure you knew he was there if you needed him.
Beauenvied Ethan in that regard. Curtis was exactly the opposite of his own father.He just hoped Ethan didn’t take that for granted because from what he’d learnedin his life, that relationship between father and son was rare.
Chapter Thirty Three
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Ethancould only assume Beau understood his need to be alone because he didn’t evenhave to request it when he found himself being dropped off at his house a shortwhile ago. Beau had kissed him briefly in the truck, waited until he made it inthe house and then disappeared down the driveway.
AndEthan had waited all of three minutes before he snatched up his truck keys andheaded to Sawyer’s. Noticing the car in the driveway, Ethan had parkedhaphazardly behind it and now was standing on his brother’s front porch,waiting for him to answer the door.
Itdidn’t take long.
Assoon as the door opened wide, Ethan stormed in, shoving Sawyer hard enough tosend him back a couple of steps.
“Whatthe fuck!” Sawyer growled, the fury on his face mirroring what had been boilingin Ethan’s stomach for the last half hour. Ever since he realized that Sawyerhad ratted him out to his parents all those years ago.
“Howfucking could you?” Ethan yelled, the hurt and anger morphing into anoverwhelming concoction that wasn’t looking good for his brother.
“Howcould I what?” Sawyer hollered, slamming the front door when Ethan cleared it.
“Youtold them!”
