Chapter 27

Jenna

ETHAN WAS SO PROUD OF HIMSELF when he took me into the kitchen to show me everything he’d gotten for Thanksgiving dinner, I almost didn’t have the heart to tell him we still needed flour for the gravy, cranberry sauce, and onions and celery for the stuffing. He took it in stride, and we made another trip to the grocery store, getting the items he’d forgotten and a few extra things for a special dessert I was planning on surprising him with.

“So, we’re good now?” he asked as we put the last items in the fridge.

“Yup, that’s everything.”

“Good because that grocery store was insane.” He poured us a glass of wine, and we sat out on his patio around the outdoor fire pit, watching the sunset.

“I know I said this already, but this view is breathtaking.”

“Yeah, I guess.” He didn’t seem as impressed by it as I was. “Are you hungry?”

“A little. I can cook you something if you want.”

“No, you’re going to be doing enough cooking tomorrow. We can go out or just get takeout.”

“Takeout would be perfect. I don’t think I have the energy required to make myself presentable to go out to dinner.”

“You look fine,” he reassured me.

“You’re much too kind, but I was hoping for an early pajama night…and maybe a movie.”

“That sounds good to me.”

“Good.” I breathed a sigh of relief.

“So, what do you feel like eating? Chinese, Italian, sushi?”

“Umm…I don’t care. You pick.”

“Nope, you’re going to make a decision.” He stood up and pulled me out from the chair. “Come inside and look at the takeout menus.”

“Ethan, you know I’m horrible with decisions.”

“I’m gonna help you through it. You can do it,” he teased.

I looped my arms around his neck. “Here’s an idea. You decide for me.”

“Nope, you’re not getting away that easy.”

I pressed my lips against his, hoping to sway him.

“Ethan?” A woman’s voice broke us from our kiss as we both turned our heads in the direction of the attractive blonde who’d just stepped outside. Her eyes focused on me and then back to Ethan.

“Helene. What are you doing here?”

Ethan walked over to her and gave her a hug and kiss.

“We were on our way to Dad’s, so I could start setting up for tomorrow, and I just wanted to stop by and see you. I’m sorry. The front door was unlocked, so I just let myself in.”

“Helene, this is Jenna. Jenna, this is my sister, Helene.”

“Oh, hey.” I approached her with caution and shook her hand.

“Hi, Jenna, it’s really nice to meet you.”

“You too.” I forced an uneasy smile.

“Man, do I feel so much better. You might not want to use your downstairs bathroom for a while, Ethan,” a big, burly bald man announced as he came outside.

“Tom!” Helene’s face reddened.

“Oops, sorry. Didn’t know you had company,” the man said.

“This would be my husband, Tom, who doesn’t mind sharing his bathroom habits with everyone.”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter, and something told me within the first few seconds of meeting him that I liked him. “I’m Jenna.”

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Jenna. And you are…a friend of Ethan’s?”

I nodded, not knowing any other way to categorize our relationship. I smiled inside when Ethan wrapped his arm around me, reassuring me it was a lot more than just a friendship. His sister’s stare dropped to my waist where Ethan’s hand rested, then focused back on Ethan, giving him an uneasy smile.

“We should have called first,” she apologized.

“It’s not a big deal,” Ethan reassured her. “The kids aren’t with you?”

“Oh, no. They both had plans tonight. You know, it’s not cool to hang with your parents anymore when you get to be their age,” his sister replied.

Ethan nodded. “We were just going to order something to eat. Are you guys hungry?”

“No, we’re—” Ethan’s sister started.

“I’m starving!” her husband interrupted.

She turned around and widened her eyes at him.

“Well, I am. We were planning on stopping to get—”

“Tom, it’s bad enough that we just barged in here. We’re not going to interrupt their dinner. Jenna must think Ethan has the rudest relatives around.”

“Really, it’s not a big deal,” I chimed in.

“See that, it’s not a big deal.” Her husband flashed a triumphant smile. “Now, what are we having for dinner?”

“Actually, why don’t you decide?” I offered, biting back my smile while Ethan shook his head at me.

“I really like this girl, Ethan!” Tom grinned as we headed inside.

After eating way too much Chinese food and having a few laughs with Ethan’s brother-in-law, I was feeling a little unnerved being left alone with Helene when Ethan took Tom into the living room to fix the surround sound on his television. She seemed nice enough, but I could sense she had her guard up a bit with me. I got up and began to throw away the empty containers and load up the dishwasher in an effort to keep busy.

“So how did you meet Ethan?” Helene asked, taking me a little off guard with her question.

“Oh, umm...at the bed-and-breakfast he was staying at. The home I inherited…my aunt and uncle’s…the one I was telling you guys about over dinner is right next door,” I replied as I vigorously wiped down the counter.

“Oh.” She took a sip of her wine and looked away, seeming like she wanted to say more.

“I would never hurt him,” I whispered, trying to put her mind to rest over the thoughts I knew were plaguing her mind.

Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget he’s no longer nine years old, and I’m not his protector.”

“I get it.” I put the rag down and stopped my scrubbing, flashing her a sympathetic smile.

“Did he tell you?”

I nodded.

“I was the big sister who tried to look out for him, and I always felt like I failed him. First with my father and then with Darrah. When he met her, I wanted to believe she’d make him happy. Make him forget about his horrible childhood, but there was just something about her.” Her eyes filled with emotion. She shook her head and looked away. “At first, I thought I was just being paranoid because I was still so fiercely overprotective of him. Turns out my first instinct was right.” Her deep-blue eyes focused on me once again. “But with you…I can just tell you’re different. The only time I’ve ever seen him smile like that before was when he was with Nolan, so thank you for giving me my brother’s beautiful smile back.”

“You’re welcome. I’m quite fond of it too.”

She gave me a knowing smile, and in that moment, I knew I’d gained her trust.

“My father isn’t doing too well. His cancer is spreading, and now it’s just a matter of time.” Her eyes teared up.

“I’m so sorry.”

She nodded and grabbed a napkin to dab her eyes. “He wasn’t the best father by any means. Especially not to Ethan. But he truly is sorry for the way he treated him. He was an alcoholic, not that that’s an excuse, but…” She looked up, trying to pull it together. “I just don’t want my brother to have any regrets years from now.”

“I-I…” I shook my head, not knowing how to respond. Ethan was clear to me about his ill feelings for his father, and I didn’t see him changing his opinion of him any time soon, regardless if he was dying or not.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to put you on the spot. I just thought that maybe if you have some influence on him, then perhaps you could try and make him see what I’m trying to say.”

“Umm...Ethan…he—”

“Once again, I saved the day,” Tom announced, creating a welcoming distraction as he and Ethan entered the kitchen.

“Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back.” Helene rolled her eyes.

“I told Ethan he could pay me back by dedicating his next ten books to his super awesome brother-in-law.”

“Oh my God! You’re too much! Let’s get going. I’m sure Ethan and Jenna have had their fill of you.”

Helene stood up and gave Ethan a kiss goodbye before turning her attention to me. “It was really nice to meet you, Jenna.”

“And you as well.”

“I hope to see you again soon.”

“I’d like that.” I smiled.

I said my goodbyes to Tom, who was a lot less formal than his wife, pulling me into a bear hug.

“Any friend of Ethan’s is a friend of mine.”

“Good to know.” I laughed as Ethan walked them to the door.

I stood in the kitchen lost in my thoughts. I’d met Ethan’s family. This was huge for me.

“Sorry about him,” Ethan apologized when he returned. “He can sometimes be a bit too much.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine. I actually thought he was funny.”

“Movie?” he asked.

“Perfect.”

“Okay, let’s go into the family room. You’re going to decide what to watch.”

“Oh, that I have no problem with. But I think you’re going to be sorry you let me decide.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I only like romantic comedies with happily ever afters, and just from your books, I know that’s so not your thing.”

“You’re so right. Okay, I’ll let you out of this decision.”

“Nope, it’s too late.” I laughed as we headed into the family room.

***

“Hey, sleeping beauty.” Ethan gently nudged me as I lifted my head from his shoulder. “Are you ready for bed?”

“How long was I asleep?” I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

“Umm…I don’t know, somewhere around the time he ran back to the church to stop the wedding.”

“You finished watching it? I’m impressed.”

“Only because I couldn’t move with your head on my shoulder.”

He stood up and grabbed my hand, pulling me from the couch. My legs were like rubber bands as we headed up the stairs, and I couldn’t wait to lie down and go back to sleep. I stood in the doorway of his bedroom, frozen when he flicked on the lights.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I just feel weird, sleeping in the same bed you shared with your wife.”

He cast an intense gaze on me, making me regret expressing my opinion.

“You have nothing to feel weird about.”

I gave a hesitant nod and walked over to my bag, digging through it for my pajamas, but I could still feel his eyes burning into me. I jumped when he snuck up behind me and turned me around, forcing me to look at him.

“Would you rather sleep…if we sleep in the guest room?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Okay,” he whispered back and led me down the hallway.

I changed into my pajamas, brushed my teeth, then crawled into bed next to Ethan. “I’m sorry,” I said, curling up next to him.

“What are you sorry for?”

“For making you sleep in here.” I propped my elbow on the mattress, rested my head on my hand, and stared down at him in the darkness. “You don’t have to sleep in here with me if you don’t want to.”

“Will you come here?” He pulled me back down so my head was resting on his chest. “It doesn’t matter where I sleep when you’re here as long as it’s with you.”

I smiled and placed a soft kiss on his warm, bare chest.

“So, you never told me…did you like the movie?”

“Umm…no.”

“Oh, come on, why not?”

“Besides being a major chick flick, that ending was too wrapped up in a perfect bow.”

He turned on his side and kissed me. “But don’t you like happy endings every once in a while?” I asked in between kisses.

“Nope, they’re totally unrealistic…that’s why I never write my books that way.”

His hands moved up my shirt and I continued to press on.

“That’s not true. Sometimes real life can have a happily ever after.”

He didn’t respond as his tongue moved down my neck.

“Don’t you agree?”

“Agree with what?” He seemed annoyed.

“That sometimes there can be happy endings in real life.”

“Only if it involves something sexual.” He placed my hand on his rock-hard erection. “That right there needs happy ending.”

“Ethan.” I laughed. “I’m being serious. Do you think some people actually get to live out those movie-type endings in real life?”

“No. I don’t—at least not in my life. The chances of that ever happening ended on the day I lost him.”

He rolled on his back and sighed heavily. Me and my big mouth. I had to keep pushing, and for what reason? Did I actually think he’d say he was going to suddenly find his happily ever after with me?

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, moving closer and kissing his cheek while my hand slid under his boxers.

“Jenna, stop. It’s late and we’re both tired.”

Here we go again. Ethan number two was starting to come out. “I’m not tired anymore and neither were you just a few minutes ago. I said I was sorry for pressing the issue. Can we not get in an argument over it?”

He turned on his side to face me. “I don’t think we’re arguing.”

I sighed heavily. “No, you’re just giving me the silent treatment.”

“I’m talking to you now, aren’t I?”

“You are, but I can tell you’re upset.”

“I’m not. Really, I’m not.” He touched the top of my head with his lips.

I climbed on top of him, turning his head and forcing him to kiss me. “Are you still tired?” I teased.

He answered my question by lifting my shirt over my head and rolling me onto my back. He hovered over me and pinned my wrists to the mattress. His lips trailing down my neck intensified my want for him. I arched my back when the fullness of him filled me up inside. Maybe Ethan and I weren’t destined for a happily ever after, but as my body reveled with pleasure as he moved in and out of me, I’d settle for a happy ending just for tonight.