Chapter 28
MAY.
I’m not sure what changed between the time when we got out of the car and when Anna answered the door, but Ethan’s acting weird as hell.
I’d tell him not to bother since Anna already knows that we didn’t marry for love, but it is kinda nice having his arms around me, and my head pressed snugly to his chest as his fingers thread into my hair, toying with the roots with the expertise of a stylist.
It’s odd, but I feel at home—and it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m in Anna’s house. It is all Ethan and my heart swells with so much joy.
Sean is looking between us wide–eyed and his eyes look like they will pop out of their sockets. He seemed shocked, though, I do not understand why. Perhaps, things that I lied about Ethan. Or it could be that he just never thought I could get married to a good man.
He looks positively dumbfounded, and it’s a good expression on him.
“H–hi!” Anna says, and her smile is so genuine and warm, I temporarily forget the fight we
had. I want to hug her. I have missed her so much.
“Anna Hill,” she says, taking Ethan’s hand in firm handshake. “I have heard so much about you. This is my husband, Sean,” she adds cheerfully, hooking her arm with Sean’s and it seems to bring him out of his shock.
He takes Ethan’s waiting hand, introducing himself awkwardly. Sean is usually vocal and domineering, but in the presence of my husband, he seems small and frail.
Ethan stares him down, and the level of testosterone in the room spikes a significant amount.
Sean looks away first, inviting us in and Ethan’s fingers tighten around my forearm as we step inside, settling on the old leather couch.
Anna excuses herself to make us some tea, and Sean just sits and stares at Ethan with an expression I don’t quite understand. It makes me feel uncomfortable, but Ethan doesn’t seem to mind. He’s whispering something in my ears about how he can imagine a much younger me running around Anna’s house.
Hlaugh at that, though my concentration is elsewhere.
Could Sean have met Ethan before? He seems shaken up, like he’s seen a ghost.
As if Ethan can read my thoughts, his steely gaze takes my brother–in–law in. “May tells me you work at Spears. I have a friend who works there.”
I look at Ethan, surprised. I didn’t know that he had a friend there. May used to work there when it was still growing, and even then, it had been prestigious and one of the biggest
Chapter 28
around.
Even the janitors are paid handsome salaries there, so I heard.
2/3
Sean doesn’t speak. He just stares and Ethan laughs. “He’s a clerk of some sort. Never mind me. What’s it like? I have considered applying for a job there before.”
Sean frowns. “Apply? But you have no use for that. You’re–”
“Ready!” Anna says as she walks into the sitting room, holding the teapot. “I apologize for our aloofness. We weren’t expecting you yet,” she says more to Ethan than me.
She hasn’t met my gaze yet. Even as she drops a filled teacup in front of me, she still doesn’t meet my gaze.
Later. We’ll deal with it later.
“So, if it is fine with you, I’d like to ask a few questions. We haven’t properly spoken since the wedding,” Anna tells him.
“It is alright,” Ethan says lightly.
Anna doesn’t wait a heartbeat before she starts asking questions. So many questions that even I have never thought to ask Ethan because I do not like to pry into his life. Ethan answers, telling her a little about his family and his job, his goals and his outlook on life.
Even as he speaks, I find that I’m listening keenly. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it before, but Ethan speaks like a diplomat. Every answer, however short they are, they are heavy with knowledge.
He sounds so intelligent, my core tightens with…need.
Christ, I need help. His intelligence is now a turn–on?
Once settled by Ethan’s response, Anna lets up a little, sipping her tea. Sean hasn’t touched him cup. He just keeps looking between me and Sean. At some point, he stands and excuses himself, lying about his stomach and how it’s been runny the entire day.
“We would love to have you over for dinner tonight. My family yours,” Ethan cuts in before Sean can flee from the sitting room.
“I’m occupied tonight,” Sean says at the same exact moment that Anna says, “Absolutely. We’ll be there.”
Sean’s gaze finds Anna, and it doesn’t matter how much they try to hide it, Ethan and I can see the tension between them. The air is heavy with frustration and something darker. Whatever that is, it passes between them and Sean turns to face Anna fully when she declares, “I’ll be there.”
“And who will look after Finn? He’s still recovering.”
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3/3
Anna arches a brow. “He’s been recovered for a while, but then, you wouldn’t know that since you’ve refused to say home.”
The silence is as sharp as a knife’s edge. Ethan and I stop being there, and all that exists is suddenly violent, venomous anger. And maybe hate, because there’s no other word that can explain the feelings I see in Sean’s eyes as he regards my sister.
Sean’s eyes cut to us. “Anna will attend. I am afraid I cannot come. I have a night shift to cover.
11
“Spears and night shifts?” The incredulity in Ethan’s voice has me and Anna exchanging quick glances. “Thought they’d scraped that earlier this year.” He shakes his head. “It would be great if you could, but it’d be just as nice to have Anna over. Thank you very much.”
Ethan’s humility as he speaks to Sean is mind–blowing. His fingers dig into my forearm as he speaks and I can tell that he is trying hard not to walk across the room and pummel him.
Ethan doesn’t like Sean. Not after I told him everything about him on the entire drive here. He has said he would try for me and my sister to tolerate Sean.
Sean doesn’t respond. He merely nods and inclines his head toward the kitchen as he speaks to Anna. “Come, Brianna. There’s something I need you to see in the kitchen.”
My muscles tense. Brianna. That can’t be good. The last time he called her that, I had come to find Anna in the kitchen with a cut lip and bruised skin, crying.
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