Page 74 of Captivating Mr. Second Chance

“I just…” She shrugged, buttoning her dress back up. “Ever since everything happened with Bobby, it’s opened my eyes to how much of myself I was putting out into the universe, and I…” She lifted her eyes to his and bit into her lip at how he was so intent on her and yet still so naked. “I don’t want to do that anymore.”

He narrowed his gaze a fraction of an inch, his lips pinching for a moment before he wiped the emotion away, replaced by his usual easygoing smile. “So, we’re not going Instagram official?”

She’d wiped a lot of her social media from the last three years of her life. So much evidence of exactly how often she’d let perfect strangers into her life, or at least into some made-up version of herself and her life.

It had taken turning her world upside down to realize how thick of a veneer she wore. She had to strip completely down to understand that she’d been trying to keep up with a lifestyle she didn’t truly enjoy. And she didn’t want to go backward, not with something as important as the man she loved.

“Not any time soon.”

He ran his hand through his hair, his lips wrenching to the side like he was chewing on the inside of them, but before she could ask what he was thinking, he nodded and turned back toward the bathroom. “Give me a few minutes to shower and get dressed. I’ll make toast and eggs,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the door. “I’ve got a grocery list on the fridge. Add what you like to eat in the mornings to it.”

Then he stuck his toothbrush into his mouth, ducking out of sight, and she sat on his bed, considering the last few minutes. Something was bothering him, and she had to assume it was because of Bobby.

Ever since Ethan waltzed back into her life, he was so sure of himself, so sure of them. She knew he didn’t appreciate that Bobby texted and called her, and maybe—even more than his irritation at Bobby still communicating with her—that she had been hesitant to make any decision about it. But everything seemed almost too good to be true, and she couldn’t help to wonder if the other shoe would drop. She still needed time to get used to everything.

It was a lot to take in, after all. She’d left her entire life in California to start all over again. Sure, she had Ethan to lean on, yet she didn’t have a job and was still mooching off Dean for housing. She wasn’t exactly in a place where she felt proud to be there. And she wasn’t going to shout it out to Internet strangers.

Although she could send Ethan the picture. That was easy enough. She texted it to Ethan along with a couple of emojis, then made her way to his kitchen, writing a few things on his grocery list: Greek yogurt, cherries, spinach, frozen pineapple, super tampons.

22

“So, how’s everything going with Laney?” Justin asked in between sips from a water bottle, his eyes on his wife and son while they played in their backyard.

“Good.” Ethan backtracked with a stiff shake of his head. “Great, actually.”

“Yeah?” Justin faced his brother, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “You really like her?”

“I love her,” Ethan said without equivocation. “I’d marry her tomorrow if she’d say yes.”

“Oh, whoa.” Justin laughed. “It’s like that?”

Ethan nodded, glancing over at Trace when he shrieked at how high Leah pushed him on the swing.

“Moving a bit fast, no?”

Ethan shook his head. “Not really. I think if I hadn’t been an idiot when we were kids, we’d probably be married already. I wouldn’t have been able to wait.”

Justin blew out a low whistle in amusement. “So, all this time, you’ve been in love with her?”

“Basically.” Ethan met his brother’s curious stare. Sure, they’d talked about personal matters before, but Ethan never had much to contribute to the conversations. Not until now. “Yeah.”

Justin patted Ethan’s knee twice. “Good for you, man. I’m happy for you.”

Ethan nodded his thanks. “I, uh, wanted to talk to you about something else, though.”

Justin struggled to screw the cap of the water bottle back on for a few seconds before he succeeded. Then he set it down next to him and crossed his ankle over his knee, giving Ethan his full attention. “About what?”

“Mom gave me the contact information for my adoption agency, and I got in touch with them. My birth mom is willing to talk to me.”

Justin leaned his elbow on the arm of the bench. “Wow.”

Ethan swallowed down his fears. “I have her email address.”

Scratching at his eyebrow, Justin asked, “Did you email her yet?”

Ethan shook his head, and his brother lifted his arm along the back of the bench. They didn’t need to exchange many more words; Justin already understood what Ethan was feeling, the trepidation and anxiety.

Justin clamped his hand on Ethan’s shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

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