Page 88 of Hearts on the Line

He flips the scallops one last time. There’s a beautiful golden sear to them. The kitchen smells like heaven.

“Yeah, I watch videos, try things out. Helps kill the time before bed each night.” He shrugs. “It’s just food, Sun.”

But it’s not. It’s him. It’s the way he pays attention. The way he cares. He owns a kitchen the same way he used to own the ice.

Ethan removes the scallops off the heat, sets them aside onto a plate, and grabs the herbs I chopped. He tosses them in with the zucchini ribbons and charred cherry tomatoes, then adds a little bit of chili oil.

“You’re really good at it.”

He doesn’t look at me. “I keep Merritt’s Catch running.”

That’s not what I meant.

“If I had more time, I’d…” He trails off, shaking his head. “Doesn’t matter.” He reaches around me, picks up his glass of wine, then kisses my forehead. A soft exhale leaves my lips with that small, stolen touch.

I glance up.

“Thank you for the help,” he whispers before reaching for a serving spoon.

“Yeah, sure.”

I clear my throat and head out to the dining room, where Jack, Bridget, June, and Gloria are gathered around the table, halfway through a game of UNO.

“It’s time for supper,” I announce.

Everyone cheers, then settles at the table as Ethan emerges from the kitchen and sets plates down. We eat together, laughing the whole time.

Under the table, Ethan’s hand finds my knee and gives a gentle squeeze. He sweeps his thumb across my skin, a subtle reminder that he’s here, and I came back to him.

I let myself pretend this is ours. That this family, this town, this man I’ve loved is something I get to keep.

Just for a little longer.

Chapter 28

Ethan

I’ve never wanted to freeze time so badly in my life.

My grandmother has convinced Sloane to wear flamingo sunglasses, and June has given her the cowgirl hat. She’s standing on the coffee table in the living room singing George Michael with Jack.

The late August sun set an hour ago, and the lights are on low. The room is mostly illuminated by my parents’ giant flatscreen and the annoying karaoke channel Jack put on.

“It’s good to see you smile,” June whispers from beside me.

I peek over at her, then glance at Sloane. She raises her arms into the air and tosses her head back to let out the most unnatural-sounding note I’ve ever heard in my life. The laugh that escapes me is loud enough that everyone turns to me. But when I look at Sloane again, I catch the way her smile drops for a minute, like she’s working so hard to memorize this moment too.

It’s not going to last.

“Focus!” Jack drops to his knees to keep singing. Gloria throws a dollar bill at him, and somehow, this is my life.

I’m still laughing when Sloane jumps off the table and stalks toward me. I recline in my chair, a grin on my face because I know she can’t do anything. She won’t allow herself to, even though it looks like she wants to crawl into my lap and kiss me.

For the record, I’m very much in favor of that.

“You think it’s so funny, come up and sing then, Mr. Murphy.”

“That’s my dad’s name. And I don’t do karaoke.”