Page 24 of All Her Broken Pieces

“Ethan.” A look of embarrassment stains her cheeks. My eyes follow hers as they focus on my lips.

Fuck, it’s good to see her again.

“I was just on my way to your place. You weren’t in a hurry to avoid me, were you?” I tease.

The red in her cheeks darkens, and her eyes shift around nervously. Shit, shewasavoiding me. I let go of her arm, not even realizing I was still holding it.

“Ethan, I…” she trails off, her eyes evading mine.

“Dre mentioned that she hadn’t seen you at the restaurant in a little while, and I figured I’d bring you some food,” I explain. The bag feels like a lead weight in my hand as I extend it to her.

“Thank you.” A ghost of a smile crosses her lips as she takes the food. The sun gives her face a warm glow and the few freckles that dot her cheeks stand out. Fuck, she’s beautiful.

I reach out and brush the back of my hand along her forearm before she finally speaks. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“Do what?” I’ve learned not to make assumptions with her. She doles out information in small doses, never giving me enough to make me feel secure.

“I’m not good at accepting help. I have three and a half people in my life that I trust.”

I huff out a laugh. “A half?”

“My mom, dad, and Becka are the three people I trust. Becka’s husband Robert is the half,” she says. “And I only trust him because of Becka.”

“Makes sense.” My hand continues stroking her arm, and goosebumps form in her skin. I know she feels this energy between us, even if she won’t admit it. “I’d like to join that circle of trust if you’d allow me. I can take time off from the restaurant, and I can be at your disposal while you recover from your surgery.”

“Why? Why would you do that?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’re very sweet, and we had a great time the other night. But I don’t want a relationship. I’ve made that clear,” she says firmly.

“You don’t feel it?” I ask, gesturing between us with my free hand. “This thing between us is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I can’t walk away from this without knowing I’ve done everything in my power to explore it.”

“Ethan,” she warns.

“Please let me help you. As a friend, if that makes you more comfortable. I want to help. I need to help. Don’t make me pull the dead grandma card.”

Her eyes flicker to mine as she sucks in a deep breath.Please let her see how good this can be between us.I know we could be amazing together.

“Okay, you can help,” she relents as she pulls her arm away from mine. “But as afriend,” she emphasizes, “which means the touching has to stop.”

“You got it.” Warmth spreads in my chest as I smile down at her.

“And that.” She points at my cheek. “Stop it with that dimple.”

“I can’t make any promises. It has a mind of its own.”

“Thank you for doing this for me. I’ll text you the details,” she says as she turns back in the direction of her apartment. I pump my fist in the air as I watch her walk away from me determined not to squander this opportunity she’s giving me.

Bridget

What the actual fuck am I doing? I must have lost my mind. That’s the only logical explanation for why I agreed to let Ethan help me.

The feel of his hand on my arm was…well, it was something. I’ve noticed that he does that a lot when I’m around him. Little touches here and there.

It’s hard to deny the attraction I feel for him, but that’s never been my problem. I don’t do well with intimacy. What Ethan and I experienced wasn’t just sex, and that’s what scares me. It was intimate, but it came naturally. I’m not sure what it is about him that makes me open up. I’ve shared things with him that I never would with any other man, confessing feelings that I’d rather keep to myself.

Letting Ethan help me makes me uncomfortable. I don’t depend on anyone for anything. My life is built around having independence. I’m not even sure I’d enjoy being tied to one person, and I certainly wouldn’t make a good partner to anyone. Not with all the baggage I have.

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