Page 34 of More Than Words
I tugged the oversized slouchy knit sweater that should have been thrown out ages ago, but I couldn’t seem to part with, over the tank top I slept in and was just about to grab my book and climb into bed when I heard the knock.
I froze, unsure I’d heard properly.
The door that led straight up the stairs to my apartment over the shop was in the back, and hardly used considering I tended to come and go through the shop, and I rarely had visitors.
I waited for a moment.Three sharp raps.Hesitant but purposeful.I hadn’t been hearing things.
I glanced at the clock.It was almost midnight.
I padded across the apartment, the old wooden floor cool under my feet, and peeked out the little window that looked down to the alley below.
Ethan.
What was he doing here?
Still in his button-down from earlier, with his sleeves rolled up, he wasn’t wearing a coat.His hair was slightly mussed, like he’d run his hands through it a million times.He looked good.But also tired….and restless.
I headed down the steep back stairs to unlock the door.
“Ethan.Hey.”I wrapped my sweater tightly around me, aware I was wearing little more than my pajama shorts and tank top.
“You wear glasses?”
It was the last thing I expected him to say after knocking on my door at midnight.“I do.”Reflexively, I pushed my thick plastic frames up the bridge of my nose.“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he said.“I mean no.Not really.I don’t know.”
“Do you want to come in?”
He looked past me at the tiny staircase that led to my place.“No.”He shook his head.“I mean, thank you.But I know it’s super late, and I don’t want to keep you.I should have…I mean, I can come back in the morning when?—”
“No.”I put a hand on his arm.“It’s fine.What’s going on?Is it a beer emergency?”I tried for a joke, but he didn’t crack a smile.
He shook his head.“It’s Quinn.”
Something in my chest tightened, and the smile fell from my face.“Is she okay?”
“Yes,” he said quickly, seeing my concern.“It’s just…I ran into her teacher tonight,” he said, his voice low.“She told me that Quinn did a great job at career day.With you.”
I swallowed hard.“Oh.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
I shook my head and wrapped my arms tighter around my waist.“Quinn asked me not to.”
I didn’t miss the flash of hurt in his eyes before it was replaced by something else.His jaw tightened.“And you listened to her?”
“I did.She didn’t want to hurt you,” I said, trying not to let my voice rise.“She was upset and disappointed with her mother and didn’t want to make it your problem.She didn’t want it to be a whole thing.”
“And you think that stepping in without saying anything…that’snot a whole thing?”
I bristled and took a small step back.“I was trying to help, Ethan.It’s not a big deal.”
“But it is,” he said sharply, before catching himself.“Itisa big deal,” he tried again, his voice softer now.“Quinn tells me everything.We’re a partnership.”
Something inside me softened.I reached for his arm again.“You still are,” I told him.“She knows how busy you’ve been.I really think she just didn’t want to add to your worry.It was fine.”
Ethan inhaled.A moment later, when he blew out his breath, there was the trace of a smile on his lips.“I know.”He ran a hand through his hair.“I mean, I really do know.”
