Page 71 of Safe With You

She blew out a breath and sat as if debating whether to answer. “After church yesterday, Adam asked if I wanted to get coffee sometime.”

“What did you say?”

“I’d have to think about it.”

“Have you made up your mind yet?”

She winced, a clear struggle at play. “I think I’ll tell him no.”

“Why?” Considering his situation, he might not be the best one to give relationship advice, but she was his sister. He had to try to help her.

“I’m ashamed and embarrassed, and I can hardly stand it when he looks at me. He was on the mission field, serving God, while I was living and sleeping with a guy I never should have looked twice at.”

Ethan hated the pain and self-loathing in her voice. He’d hoped it had faded more by now, but he knew it was a process. “You know he’s not judging you. And neither is his family. We’ve known them our whole lives. Things happen. People make mistakes. You’ve taken responsibility for yours and have repented for it. I know it’s hard with what you’ve lost, but now you need to move forward.”

What she didn’t know was that Adam had struggled during a couple of those years he’d been away. But it wasn’t Ethan’s place to share what Adam had told him in confidence. Only Adam could tell her. “I think you should talk to him about it. You might be surprised by what he has to say.”

She made a face, not committing one way or another.

“You could just get coffee. It doesn’t have to be a date. Friends get coffee. See how you feel after that. If you still feel the same way, that can be the end of it. Adam won’t pursue you if you don’t want him to.”

“We’ll see.”

It was better than nothing. At least she had left the possibility on the table. Maybe, with more time, things would work out with them.

He shook his head to himself. “We’re a sad pair, aren’t we?”

Becca gave an unhappy laugh and leaned into his shoulder. “Yeah.”

Ethan just sat there for a moment before moving to get up. “I’ll get my keys.”

“Why?”

“To go get those pints of ice cream. Then we can sit down by the lake and mope together.”

Chapter Thirty-one

“You know I don’t need you here, right?” Joel speared Ethan with a typical big brother look that suggested he questioned his sanity. “I’ve got plenty of guys on the job.”

Ethan shrugged as he followed him toward the half-finished house just outside town. “Well, you know what they say. Many hands lighten the load.”

Truth be told, he’d just needed an excuse to get out. Something to keep him busy while he let his heart heal. An excuse not to see Katie even if it killed him inside. He’d missed her while sitting out on the dock with Becca until all hours last night, but seeing her now would just complicate matters. He needed to get his head on straight first. Right now, he didn’t know how to do that other than to avoid her.

Joel’s eyes narrowed, but then he just shook his head, apparently too busy to debate Ethan over his sudden desire to help.

They walked over to the rest of the crew, which included Adam. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be just as suspicious of Ethan being here. They said hello and focused on Joel, who instructed everyone on what he wanted done today. Ethan ended up with Adam and a couple of the other guys putting in a set of stairs.

He really appreciated Adam’s outgoing nature today. His friend had no trouble keeping up a conversation with the guys amidst their work, which kept the pressure off Ethan from having to pretend he was in any mood to be social. Throwing in a comment or brief response here and there was all that was required of him.

The morning passed quickly. Around noon, Joel offered to get lunch for everyone. They continued working until he returned with a big takeout bag and then gathered around his truck.

“I’ve got burgers for everyone.” He reached into the bag and started handing them out. “Ketchup, mustard, pickles. If you don’t like it, pick it off.”

The guys dispersed to sit and eat, either in their own vehicles or in a group by the house. Ethan was the last to approach his brother. Joel reached back into the bag and pulled out a separate, smaller one.

“Here. Bacon cheeseburger, no mustard.”

Ethan raised his brows. “What happened to ‘if you don’t like it, pick it off’?”

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