Page 77 of Until We Break

I nodded, wrapping my hands around his back. “I’m still in shock I think that he showed up like that. It’s as if he wasn’t really here.”

“What do you think you wanted?”

I shook my head. “I have no idea.” Unless I talked to him, I wasn’t going to know. A shiver of icy panic ran through me. Had I made a mistake? Should I have heard him out?

Caleb pulled away. “Let’s go inside. I’ll turn off the truck and meet you in there.”

I trudged up the stairs, hit with exhaustion. The screen door slammed behind me. I sat on the couch, wondering if I should go after Ethan.

“You okay?” Caleb strolled in and closed the door behind him.

“I’m not sure.” I bit my lip. I turned to look at him. “It doesn’t make any sense why he’s here.”

“Did you leave a voicemail? Something about the apartment?”

“No. I left New York and we haven’t had any communication. It’s been over. I promise.”

Caleb smiled, sliding next to me on the couch. He put his arm around me. “I’m not worried. I believe you. I’m only trying to help you figure out what the guy is doing on Marshoak. He’s right. It’s not easy to get here. He went through a lot of trouble.”

I took in his words. “I should talk to him, shouldn’t I?”

“I don’t love the idea, but you’re going to wonder until you do. And you barely get any sleep as it is. You won’t sleep tonight worrying about it.”

My brows furrowed. “Hey, I’ve been sleeping much better, lately. I haven’t awakened you in weeks.” It was true. I didn’t wander the house at night anymore. The insomnia had slowly vanished. So had the nightmares. Every night I spent with Caleb was like medicine without the nasty side effects. It healed me. He healed me.

“You’re right. But tell me you’re going to sleep knowing your ex-boyfriend is a mile down the road and you have no idea why. There was no warning. No text. Nothing. He appeared out of thin air. You aren’t going to sleep.”

I exhaled. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I might not sleep that great either.”

I played the scene over in my mind. “It’s pointless. There’s nothing I can do for him.” I pushed off the couch and headed toward the kitchen. I rinsed out the coffee pot for the morning. “Besides, there’s nothing I want to do for him. I didn’t ask him to come here. You heard everything I said to him.”

“I know you didn’t ask him to come for a visit. But the guy’s here.”

“He shouldn’t be here. He should go back home.” I filled the coffee tank full of water and dug into the canister for coffee grounds.

“Whatever you want to do.” Caleb watched as I stabbed the scoop back into the canister.

“But what you mean is that I should find out why he’s here.”

“I didn’t say that.”

I closed the lid on the carafe. “I know that’s what you mean. But you don’t know Ethan like I do. He always has an angle. He always wants something from someone.”

“Sounds like a great guy.”

I frowned. “I didn’t know that about him when we started dating.”

“He could take the ferry in the morning and be gone and you won’t have to deal with him or see him again. It could be that easy.”

It was as if snapping my fingers would make the problem disappear. Nothing was that easy.

“Or?” I glanced at Caleb, anxious to hear his thoughts on Ethan.

“Or, there’s something really important he needs to tell you. If he’s as selfish as you say, then why would he come this far? It’s a long trip for an asshole to make.”

I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to think about what Caleb was implying. Was it possible that Ethan was in some kind of trouble? He came to me for help?

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