Page 84 of Broken Rivalry

Eva’s fingers press gently into my arm, the warmth of her touch grounding me. The faint scent of her lavender perfume wafts by, calming my nerves. “You got this,” she whispers, her voice a gentle balm to my anxiety.

Stepping outside, the cool air hits me, but it’s Ethan’s nervous form leaning against his car that captures my attention. Our eyes lock, and for a heartbeat, everything else blurs.

I force a smile and walk to him, giving him a brief kiss. He rests his hands on my shoulders and runs them up and down my arms.

“You look beautiful.”

My smile turns a little more relaxed as I dismiss his predictability. “You always say that.”

“It’s because it’s always true, even if I’m partial. I like you best when you wear nothing at all.” He rests his warm hand on my neck, and the contact makes me shiver. Will this feeling ever go away? I’ve always thought that with familiarity, the intense reaction to his touch, his smell, and his beautiful, dimpled smile would lessen, but it seems to be firmly anchored in my body.

“You look extra dashing, too.” I rest my hand on his blue dress shirt that is peeking through his open coat. “Very respectable.”

He chuckles. “That’s the vibe I’m going for. Took me over an hour to find the perfect outfit, and I almost gave myself a nosebleed.”

He moves from his position against the car and opens the door for me before taking my hand and helping me in, my gentleman.

“You’re teasing,” I accuse, watching as he slides into the driver’s seat. Without missing a beat, he cranks up the heat, knowing how easily I get cold.

This simple little gesture shows me how much he cares, how attuned he is to my needs.

“I swear I’m not! I kept interrupting the guys, asking for their opinions with each outfit change. I only stopped when Liam threatened to burn all my clothes.”

“That’s mean,” I say, but I can’t hide the laughter in my voice.

He throws me a fake, annoyed look before concentrating on his driving again. “I don’t need your mother to know I wish to ravish you every hour of the day. I need to make a good first impression.”

I can hear the weight of that statement in his voice, the pressure he’s putting on himself. It’s not only about today; it’s about every moment that will follow, every judgment and expectation. We both know it’s not his first time meeting my mother, but it’s the first time after everything that happened. It’s the first time after the name Hawthorne became a curse in our family, and most importantly, it is the first time as the man I love.

We drive in comfortable silence, the familiar hum of the car and the faint music from the radio filling the space between us. Every so often, his hand brushes against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

As the Brenthill signs come into view, he hesitates. “You know, sometimes I overthink, trying to fix things that aren’t broken.”

I turn a little in my seat, throwing him a questioning look.

“I love you, remember that,” he says with a sheepish smile before pointing at the back seat.

I turn around, and my eyes widen in disbelief. The back seat is a sea of colorful packages, bouquets of flowers in various shades, and boxes of chocolates. For a split second, I’m speechless, trying to process the sheer volume of gifts.

“Ethan… what on earth?” I manage to say, my voice a mix of amusement and astonishment. I reach out to touch a bouquet, the delicate petals brushing against my fingers. I had thought the scent of roses, lilies, and other flowers I couldn’t identify in the car was some overpowering new car scent product.

He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, looking almost sheepish.

He rubs his neck, his voice laced with exasperation. “I told you I panicked! I went to the toy store for the game console James wanted, then saw Legos for Billy. It’s not his birthday, so I compensated with more games for James. I might have gone a bit overboard.”

“A bit?” I tease, picking up a box of chocolates and shaking it playfully. “You’ve practically bought out the entire store! And what about the flowers and the chocolate? There must be like ten different kinds in there.”

His cheeks taint pink, and my heart melts in my chest. I can’t resist him when he is self-conscious.

He grimaces, rubbing the back of his neck. “I… I wanted to make a good impression. I went out to get your mom flowers, but I wasn’t sure which kind she’d like. The florist suggested a bunch, and I ended up buying them all. Then, on the way to your place, it hit me—what if she prefers chocolates? So I stopped at Teuscher’s and…” He throws his hands up in exasperation. “I just couldn’t make up my mind, and one thing led to another…”

“This is madness…” I whisper, still in awe.

“I know,” he groans, resting his forehead on the steering wheel.

The view of my six-foot-one man like that is more than endearing, and my heart expands so much in my chest it’s almost painful.

I can’t help but laugh. The sound light and genuine. “You’re unbelievable,” I say, but there’s warmth in my voice. “But it’s one of the things I love about you. Your heart is always in the right place, even if you do tend to go over the top sometimes.”

---