Page 90 of Writing On The Wall

What if…did I just sign my brother’s death sentence by withholding something that I don’t even need?

As Ethan approaches, his warm hands envelop my arms, drawing attention to the fact that I’ve been hugging myself, trying to ward off the chill that settled in as the sun dipped below the horizon.

My eyes slowly reach his, wide with growing panic. “What…what if I made a mistake? What if something happens to him? Maybe he was serious?—”

“Vee,” I hear Toby from behind as Ethan’s face floods with sympathy. “It’s not your responsibility.”

“Yeah…okay. You’re right.” I hear myself say, but I’m not fully convinced.

Ethan places a kiss on my forehead before lifting a chin toward the door. “Let’s head inside.”

As I enter the kitchen, Ethan’s phone buzzes insistently onthe counter, displaying the nameCrystalon the screen. He ignores it and strides over to the fridge to grab a water bottle. I inadvertently catch a glimpse of the text that pops up a second later.

Crystal

Give me a call when you can. We can’t wait to have you in Frisco!

Ethan twists the lid from a bottle, handing it to me while I hover, unsure where to stand or what to think. I bring the bottle to my lips, sipping robotically while Toby and Ethan stare at me like they’re worried I might break.

“I need to think…I just need some space.” I nod while my brows crease. I’m just going along with the words that are spilling out of my mouth. The frowny twins in front of me seem to have bonded in their mutual overprotection. They share a concerned look, then it’s back to silently eyeing me.

“You need to eat,” Ethan finally lets out.

I shake my head and begin tossing items into my purse, while Ethan and Toby seem on the verge of short-circuiting from what appears to be a case of ‘unsure of female hormones.’ “I’m fine. I’m going to Opal and Gail—I’ll eat there. Promise.”

Everything feels like it’s unraveling. I’m peeved at these two for their overbearing ways. Who knows what would’ve happened if they hadn’t told Ross to leave, but I would have liked the opportunity to stand up for myself. And now the anxiety over what might actually happen to my brother begins ramping up. Then, there’s Ethan and the fact that adventure is literally calling at this very moment.

After giving Toby a quick hug, I turn to Ethan, my palm resting against his cheek as I rise on my toes to kiss him. “I’ll call you later.”

My chin quivers as I turn and walk out the door. I have tobe okay with letting Ethan go, if that’s what he wants. He’s an adventurer at heart, and I won’t hold him back. This thing between us always had an end date, anyway.

“Let me get this straight,” Opal frowns, waving a wrinkled hand while leaning over the arm of her wrought iron chair. “You’re upset ‘cause two men—the man you love, plus another man-friend—chased your brother away when he got violent?”

“He wasn’tviolent!” I scowl back at her after an eye roll. I also don’t mention that she’s probably casting the other two male roles backwards in this story.

“Honey, if someone breaks something when they’re mad—it’s violent,” Gail adds.

“Fine. Then, yes, that’s the gist of it.”

“Well, goodness, how terrible it must be for you to have a couple of strapping, young men coming to your defense. And without your permission? That’s just…despicable,” Opal quips, glaring at me from under her lowered brow. The sarcasm is strong with this one.

I stab a fork into the pasta bowl cradled in my lap. Of course, I’m not just sulking over Toby’s and Ethan’s overprotective tendencies. The truth is, I hate how much I’ve come to care for Ethan in such a short time. And just as soon as I allowed him to sneak past my defenses, I’m reminded that he’s going to take my heart with him when he jets off into the sunset. Maybe being able to process this with someone would help, but I’m still stuck in my web of lies and struggling to remember which degree of the truth I’m supposed to be admitting right now.

Opal narrows her eyes, locking her gaze on me like she’s trying to extract more of my secrets with her stare. She pursesher lips in thought. “How’d that sexy boyfriend of yours handle you running away?”

“Fine,” I add hesitantly.

She knows. She knows it’s Ethan we’re talking about and not Toby, and she’s waiting for me to come out with it. But I’ve got to hold onto this secret a little longer. She’s too close to Gran. I need to figure out how to tell my grandmother the truth in the least detrimental way before divulging this mess to anyone else.

Opal and Gail allow me to continue brooding over the meal they lovingly made when I showed up at their door, heavy-shouldered and grouchy.

I hug them goodbye, letting out a loud growl when I shuffle into my car and Dwight Schrute repeating the word ‘idiot’ blares from my phone. The ringtone I assigned to Ross’s contact still hasn’t stopped me from making stupid decisions in regard to him, or in life in general, for that matter.

“Ross, I swear if you’re?—”

“I thought about what you said, Vee…”

My shoulders instantly straighten as I look ahead through the windshield. “Yeah?”

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