Page 18 of The Ex-cavenger Hunt

Kevin’s face falls, and he looks away, a flash of guilt crossing his features. “You still don’t get it,” he starts, but I cut him off.

“What?”

He reaches across the table, taking my hand in his. I move it, because I honestly don’t feel like being touched by him. “Love, like everything, is free. You can’t contain it.” His eyes lock with mine, and I see a glimmer of the old Kevin, the one I fell for years ago. He’s suave, persuasive, and so dreamy that you really can’t see what he is . . . Full of shit.

“A part of me still belongs to you, you just refuse to share it, babe,” he says, his voice low and seductive. He leans closer, his eyes smoldering with unspoken promises. “If you want, I can take you to my place. Remind you how good we are together.”

Before I can respond, go and fuck yourself, I catch sight of Ethan approaching the table, his brow furrowed with concern. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I think we should get going,” I say, my voice a little too high-pitched. I stand abruptly, nearly knocking over my chair in my haste to create distance between Kevin and myself.

Ethan calls the waiter who brings the check, his eyes darting between Kevin and me, trying to gauge the situation.

“I invited you. I should pay,” Kevin states, reaching for the bill.

“That’s okay. We’ll take care of it,” Ethan says, his voice firm. He takes my hand, pulling me to him, and I feel a shot of electricity shoot through my body at his touch. It’s like a thousand tiny fireworks exploding beneath my skin, and I can’t help but lean into him, craving more.

As we head to the hotel where we’re staying, Ethan glances at me, his eyes soft with concern. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I reply, my voice distant as I try to process the evening’s events.

“He upset you,” Ethan states, his tone gentle but knowing.

I glance at him, surprised. How does he know? Am I that transparent, or is he just that perceptive?

“I take it you figured out why you broke up with douche number one?” he asks, trying to inject some humor into the situation.

I scoff and tell him about the time I found Kevin in bed with someone else and all the others I caught him in lies, but believed him when he said they were just friends. “If he had told me that monogamy wasn’t his thing . . . It’s about giving me the choice, you know.”

Ethan nods, his expression thoughtful. “If he had told you from the beginning?”

I pause, considering the question. My heart aches with the weight of past hurt and betrayal, but a part of me wonders if things could have been different. If Kevin had been honest from the start, would I have made a different choice? The thought lingers in my mind as we continue our walk, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore a distant backdrop to the tumult of my emotions.

I take a deep breath, letting the salty air fill my lungs as I contemplate my answer. “Honestly, I don’t know. I was a different person five years ago. Now, it’d definitely be a nope.” My voice is steady, but I feel a twinge of sadness for the naïve girl I once was.

Ethan walks beside me in silence, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. His profile is illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights, and I find myself admiring the strong line of his jaw. Finally, I can’t take the suspense any longer. “How about you?” I ask, nudging him gently with my elbow.

He glances at me, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’m pretty upfront,” he responds, his tone casual but honest. “No names, no attachments . . . never callbacks.”

I raise an eyebrow, trying to gauge his sincerity. “So your number is really big, huh?” I tease, hoping to lighten the mood.

Ethan laughs, the sound rich and warm. “Not really. I’ve never had a relationship or been in love. I consider it zero. You on the other hand have tried fifteen times to fall in love—find your soulmate. I think that’s brave. Many would’ve given up by now.”

I stop walking, turning to face him fully. My brow furrows as I search his face, trying to understand. “And you don’t feel like you’re missing something?”

He meets my gaze, his eyes intense and unwavering. “Nope.” Then, he pauses, a mischievous glint in his eye. “So, are we surfing tomorrow?”

I groan, rolling my eyes as I remember my earlier confession. “As I said, I suck,” I remind him. “I’m not even embarrassed to recognize that I can’t stand on a board for more than two seconds before I lose my equilibrium.”

Ethan steps closer, his presence both comforting and electrifying. “Maybe it was the teacher,” he suggests, his voice low and confident. “If I were to teach you, it’d be different.”

I tilt my head, intrigued by his offer. “You know how to surf?”

He winks at me, his smile boyish and charming. “I was a SEAL and stationed in San Diego. What do you think?”

My heart skips a beat at his revelation, and I can’t help but imagine him riding the waves, his body taut and powerful. The thought sends my nerves into overdrive, and I find myself nodding. “Okay, you’re on. But if I drown, it’s on you.”

Ethan laughs, slinging an arm around my shoulders as we continue walking. “Don’t worry, I’ll save you,” he promises, and for a moment, I believe him completely.

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