Page 75 of Until We Break

Everything was expanding beneath my ribs with the new connection Margot and I had created. Tonight, could not be more perfect. She was going to stay. The sex was getting better every time. She was beautiful and creative. I was impressed that she was willing to take a risk with the Blue Heron. Sure, the money was still the biggest obstacle. But she wanted to stay. And that’s all that mattered.

I took the turn onto the gravel road a little quickly and we were jostled in our seats.

“Sorry. Maybe a little too anxious to get you home,” I teased.

I took the rest of the drive to the marina with more caution. It felt like an eternity. I slowed when a raccoon ran out in front of us. Margot squealed.

“I still forget all my neighbors around here are nocturnal.” She grinned. Her hand moved back to the top of my leg. I didn’t want her to start something again that would leave us stranded in the car in the parking lot. But her hand felt so damn good.

The tires crunched over the gravel. As we emerged from the overgrown drive, I realized there was a car I’d never seen before parked in front of the cottage.

“Who is that?” I asked. I shone the headlights in its direction. The reflection bounced onto the license plate. “New York?”

Margot’s reaction to the parked car told me she knew exactly who it was. I pulled around the side, glaring at the man sitting on the porch steps.

“Ethan,” she whispered.

THIRTY-SEVEN

Margot

“Ethan,” I whispered.

I drew my hand away from Caleb’s thigh. The heat faded quickly beneath my palm. Only a few seconds ago I had been lost in the beautiful evening with him. Our date. The ferry ride. What we were about to do upstairs in my bed.

What the hell was Ethan doing at the marina?

He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glare of the headlights. Ethan was here sitting on my porch steps. He was wearing a charcoal suit, but the jacket was draped over his arm, and he rolled his sleeves to his elbows. He had sweated through the white shirt.

“Who is he?” Caleb’s voice was rough.

I thought about making up a story, but how could I lie to Caleb? What was the point? Just to keep him from getting jealous or suspicious? I hadn’t summoned Ethan here. We hadn’t spoken since the breakup.

“My ex,” I admitted.

“The guy from New York? The one who kicked you out of the apartment?”

I nodded, waiting for Caleb to cut the headlights, but he made Ethan suffer through the blinding lights.

“Did you know he was going to be here?” he asked.

“I had no idea.” My hand was on the door handle. “I should talk to him and find out. I didn’t even realize he knew where I was.”

Before I opened the door, Caleb’s fingers curled around my wrist. “It’s okay, you know?”

“Hmm?”

The warmth spread along my arm, forging its way along my body.

“Whatever it is he wants. I’m here too. I won’t go anywhere.”

I wanted to lunge at him and curl my body against his. No one made me feel safe and secure the way Caleb did. He was the opposite of the man sitting on the steps.

“Thank you,” was all I managed to say before stepping on the gravel.

Ethan rose to his feet. “Margot.”

“I don’t know what to say about you being here.” I thought I had a few ideas on where to start with him, but they left as soon as we were face-to-face.

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