Page 116 of Sliding Into Love
“What happened?” Ivy breathed.
“It’s over,” a new voice said.
Jimmy. Ivy turned to find Frankie close behind him.
“What happened?” Ethan echoed.
“Well.,” Jimmy ran his hand through his hair in a gesture identical to the way Ethan did it. “You know the auction?” Ivy and Ethan glanced at each other before nodding at Jimmy, unsure how the auction was relevant. “Well, I realized I forgot the bat in the car. The one I hit that grand slam with in the bottom of the ninth in ninety-four. So, I went to get it out of the car before your mother realized I forgot it, and what do I see but this bozo,” here, Jimmy aimed a sharp kick at Marshall’s ribs, “walking past, muttering, and sticking a gun in his waistband. Thought I’d see what was going on, but I didn’t want to spook him with so many people on the sidewalk. Who knows what would have happened? Then I saw him dragging you in the alleyway, but Ivy showed up and I couldn’t get closer. I started coming down the alley, and when the light went out, I took my chance.”
“So, you hit him. With a baseball bat." The bat in question had a large, sloping signature along the barrel and a small bloodstain, but seemed otherwise undamaged.
“He was threatening my family.” Jimmy inspected the bat, spinning it in his hand in a familiar casual gesture.
“And you?” Ethan stared down at Lawrence.
“I was trying to grab the gun away while he was distracted with you. Bullet grazed my shoulder.”
“And your speech?”
“I was wrong. I know that now. Hell, I knew it a long time ago. I was too mad and proud to admit I fucked up. The drinking didn’t help.” Frankie and Jimmy helped Lawrence get to his feet. “I’m sorry for all of it. And you, too.” Turning to Ivy, he continues. “I’m sorry for…what I said.”
“You’re damn right you’re sorry!” Laura appeared, shoving through the crowd like a haughty queen come to glare at her subjects. “If you weren’t bleeding, I’d punch your stupid face. I’m still considering it!” The tiny woman fumed at all the larger men around her until her face softened. “Are you okay?” She hadn’t directed the question at anyone, so they all murmured their assent, except for Lawrence, who muttered about his shoulder.
“It’s over.” As though he hadn’t any strength left to hold himself up any longer, Ethan sank to the ground.
Alarmed, Ivy dropped with him, taking his hands in hers and holding them close to her body. But when she looked into his face, it was lighter than she’d seen it. Any hint of lingering darkness and tension remaining had disappeared.
A smile spread across Ethan’s face, broader than she’d ever seen.
“It’s over,” he repeated, crushing Ivy into his chest. He repeated the words again while he held her, and it hit Ivy how deeply he’d still felt the trauma dealt by the man lying dead on the ground.
And the one still beside him.
“It’s over,” Ivy echoed into his ear, then stood, holding her hand out to him. Laura went to him at once, squeezing him with small, strong arms before waving at the others to join them. Frankie, towering over everyone, wrapped his long arms around them all, even Lawrence, who, along with Ethan, looked wary.
“I’m leaving.”
“What?” half the people in the circle shrieked.
But Ivy knew what he meant. Itwasover. He could be finished and put the past behind him.
“I’m…I’m leaving the team. Retiring.”
“You sure about that, kid?” Jimmy spoke first.
“Didn’t you always say it’s best to go out on top?” Ethan's voice was so…light. She’d heard him happy, but this was different. So much weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Jimmy laughed, and Laura fussed, but Ivy knew she’d ultimately agree with whatever Ethan decided, and her heart melted as he continued.
“I want to finish my degree and…and teach. Or coach maybe. But I want to do something good. Help people—kids—maybe. Like me. Or like Jase.”
Jimmy and Laura’s eyes softened, and Lawrence nodded solemnly.
When the police arrived, they took statements from everyone involved and all those who’d witnessed the events of the night. Ivy explained about searching for Ethan only to see him get pulled into the alley. Ethan said he’d received a strange text from someone pretending to be Lily borrowing someone’s phone, saying something was wrong with one of the kids. When he’d gone outside to call the number, Marshall had appeared.
Bile rose in Ivy’s throat over how closely Marshall had watched them, and she wondered how long he’d followed Ethan. Watched her and the kids. Prickles of fear slid down her spine, and Ivy shivered until Ethan pulled her close against his side.
After what felt like years, they were all released to rejoin the gala, which had devolved into a full-blown rager. Ivy asked Ethan if he wanted to go home, but he must still have been riding the adrenaline high because he wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear that he owed her a dance.
