Page 78 of Holding On

"Because he doesn't want to be seen with you?" he asks harshly. "Are you not good enough for him?"

"That's not why. It's because he doesn't want people seeing him on the crutches. He thinks it makes him look weak or...I don't know. He just doesn't want people gossiping about him, or speculating about whether or not he'll ever play football again."

"They're already speculating. People are already predicting whether or not he'll play again. They've been doing that since the accident."

"Which is why he doesn't want to be seen. He doesn't want them making more assumptions that aren't true."

"You don't need this, Becca. Your life is hard enough, working two jobs, helping me out. You don't need the drama of some guy who sits around feeling sorry for himself."

It's true, but I still want to help him. Even though he won't admit it, I can tell Ethan's struggling, unable to get past the accident, unsure what's going to happen with his football career. And sitting alone in that house isn't making anything better.

"Maybe you could talk to him," I say.

"Why would I talk to him?"

"Because he's having a hard time right now. I know your situation is different, but what happened to you forced you to reevaluate your future, which is what's happening to Ethan. He seems lost, like he isn't sure where to go from here."

"His leg is broken, not gone, like mine. He'll be able to play football again. He'll go to the pros, just like he planned."

"Maybe not. He doesn't know yet. And even if he can play football again, I'm not sure if he wants to."

"He doesn't?"

"Shit." I cringe. "I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Don't tell anyone I said that."

"So what's he want to do?"

"I don't know. I don't think he does either, which is why he feels lost. I think talking to you might help."

"I doubt it. And honestly right now I'm so pissed at him for taking advantage of you that I'd probably punch him if I saw him."

Throwing my hands up, I say, "For the last time, he did not take advantage of me. We're dating. That's what dating people do."

"Don't talk about it." He gets up and returns to the stove. "I don't even want to think about that."

It dawns on me that this is the first time Mike's seen me date someone. He was deployed overseas when I started dating in high school, and since he's been back, I haven't had a boyfriend until now. So it makes sense Mike's reacting this way. It's just annoying because he makes me feel like a kid.

Wanting to get off this topic, I walk over to the stove where he's stirring something in a pot.

"What are you making?" I ask.

"Tacos. I'm making the meat and Heather's doing the rest. She volunteered to make the meat too but I told her I'd do it. It's one of the few things I can cook."

I smile. "You're going out with Heather again?"

"We're not going out. We're staying in. We were going to have dinner here but that's when I thought you weren't coming home. I'll text her and tell her I'm going down to her place."

"Are you saying you don't want me around?" I tease. "What exactly are you two going to do?"

"Have dinner. Then watch a movie."

"Along with a few other things." I hop up on the counter next to the stove. "Are you spending the night there?"

"That's up to her."

"So you can spend the night with someone, but I can't."

He looks at me. "I'm 26. You're 21."

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