Page 105 of Every Beautiful Mile

And after all that, he couldn’t stay.

I rub my temples. Confusion turning to sadness.

I’m still leaving, this is still temporary, and my expectations are still too high.

I stare at the warm light dancing through the window.

There’s a scrape against the front door before the knob turns, and my head jerks.

Ethan steps into the house, arms full of groceries, and my heart flip-flops like a fish out of water as relief pumps it back to life.

“Morning,” he says with an earth shattering full-wattage smile as he puts the bags on the table. “I didn’t want to wake you. I got stuff for breakfast.”

I bite my lip sheepishly, pulling at the hem of my oversized t-shirt. “I thought you left.”

“I guess technically I did.” He pecks a kiss on my forehead. “But I came back.”

His gaze rakes down my nightshirt and bare legs, and the smile I try to hide is fully exposed.

“Sit,” he orders as he covers the counter in ingredients and pulls a French press out of one of the cabinets.

My eyes widen. “Do you know how to use that thing?”

“Yes?”

His chin dips as he scoops coffee grounds out of a canister. My mouth waters instantly as the nutty smell wafts around me.

“Ethan! I’m as bad at making coffee as you are at making cocktails. Teach me, please.”

I put my palms together and bob up and down.

His chest rumbles as his lips lift in amusement, and he lifts his chin in a silent get over here.

“What do you usually do?” he asks.

“I usually fill a coffee filter with coffee and push the button.”

“Fill it?” His eyes widen. “With how much water?”

“I usually drink a cup or so, and now Finn drinks a cup…”

I shrug.

“Nel, no.”

Hands on the counter, he bends at his waist and drops his head between his arms.

“This French press holds 32oz of water. I would use about 8-10 tablespoons—tablespoons!—with this.”

I tap a finger on my chin. “That could be part of my issue.”

He scoops grounds into the French press and then fills it with hot water before putting the lid on.

“How can you make the best cocktail I’ve ever had but not know how to do this?” He’s genuinely baffled.

“I’ve had a life with enablers. My college roommates always made coffee, then Travis, then I spent a year fumbling through it until Finn couldn’t take it and took matters into his own hands.”

I shrug as if to say, don’t blame me.

---