Page 51 of Ethan's Sky

When I turn back to talk to Eli, I see he’s scowling at Ethan.

Now I see the problem.

Eli’s eyes soften when he looks at me. “Have you talked to him? You know us men. We can’t fix our stupidity if our woman doesn’t point it out.”

“I’m nothiswoman. And no. There’s nothing between us anymore. Not even friendship. There’s no point in trying to talk to him.”

“Why is that?” Eli pushes.

“I can’t tell him the information he wants to know and even if I could, he wouldn’t believe me,” I tell him, arching a brow at Eli. Understanding suddenly flashes in his eyes as he nods subtly. I sigh, taking a sip off the beer Cash slid in my hand a moment ago welcoming the thought of a buzz to take over. I want nothing more than to not feel right now.

“He made up his mind about me a long time ago. The only one with the power to change it, is Ethan.”

Eli pulls me away from Cash and into him, whispering into my ear, “Don’t let him see your pain. When he learns the truth, he’ll feel like a complete asshole, and realize what a treasure he lost in not believing in you. If he doesn’t, then he didn’t deserve you,” then drops a kiss on my head. I smile up at him thankful for he’s not rubbing it in.

If Ethan only knew what I did for him, he might forgive me.

I can’t think like that. It doesn’t matter. He won’t see facts or reason when it comes to me. I have to accept that he will forever hate me for not testifying on his sister’s behalf. Although the man who went to jail was responsible for the drugs she was taking, it wasn’t enough for Ethan.

“You want me to kick his ass just say the word. I’ll do it for shits and giggles.” Eli says lightening the mood.

I roll my eyes but still smile at his offer. I make the decision to stop watching them and finish my beer. If Ethan wants to rot his dick by dipping it in anything that has tits and breathes, be my guest. He hasn’t been mine for a long time. He’s free to do as he pleases. As am I. Though, if I’m honest, I haven’t felt freedom in anything I’ve done, except dancing.

I turn back to Cash and ask, “You almost ready to go? I just need to use the restroom first. I don’t think I’ll be able to stand being around here too much longer.”

“Go ahead. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be ready babe.” I kiss his cheek in thanks. Just as I’m about to leave to get changed, a voice calls out to Cash, stopping me in my tracks.

“Don’t feel bad,brother.Leaving is kind of her thing. Isn’t that right, Sky?” He’s drunk, or on his way, and looks at me with the utmost disgust. I fight not to let myself react to the pain I see staring back at me in his golden-brown eyes. I almost give in and apologize, but something in his tone and the way he’s glaring at me, as ifI’mthe one who’s being disrespectful has me wanting to fight back.

“I’ve never left Cash I’m not going anywhere now. Just need to pee.” My shoulders straighten. “Doesn’t look like you’ve been at a loss for company in my absence.”

Ethan grimaces slightly, but quickly recovers. The guilt of sleeping around fleeting as soon as he locks onto the fact Skyler Sinclair the shy, quiet, pushover doesn’t exist anymore.

“I could say the same to you,” he snarls, looking over my shoulder where Xander and Walker have joined at my back. “I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I was you. There’s nothing holding you here now that your dad has passed on, but then there wasn’t anything you loved enough to keep you here before, was there?” His words are a direct hit.

Before I can think twice, my hand shoots out and I slap him hard across the face. It takes a moment for me to register what’s just happened. He smirks, rubbing at the red mark I’ve left on his cheek. Part of me is a little proud of myself for standing up to him, again. Another part of me feels like an ass for losing control, but it’s too late to take it back now, so I roll with it.

“I would’ve left too if I was her. Not many people hang around after someone beats the shit out of them. Was it you, Ethan? You seem to have a hard-on when it comes to getting in her face acting like you’re ready to throw hands. Was it you who messed her up that night? Because I can tell you, that shit won’t happen again. Not on my watch!” Cash growls.

“The fuck are you talking about?” Ethan snaps, looking between the two of us.

Shit.

For a second, I’m caught off guard. Understanding what Cash’s referring to, I can’t allow him to think it was Ethan. It would become an all-out war between the two chapters.

“Cash,” I coax. “Ethan would never hurt me. Not physically anyway. He can be a dick, but he’d never lay a hand on a woman. Not even me.”

Ethan looks confused, while Cash seems unconvinced. Ethan expectantly looks back to me, but I give no answers to the questions I know he must have. I can’t without breaking my word and causing issues amongst the club.

Cash steps forward. Ethan readies himself to throw a punch and I jump between them.

“Cash, no!” I shout, placing my hand on both their chests. Cash looks at me with an anger I haven’t seen in a long time. He was there to put the pieces back together. Not knowing who broke me, and now having Ethan here radiating fury in waves directed at me has stirred up his need to not only protect me but to avenge me.

I turn to look at Ethan, in hopes to get him to see now is not the time. His eyes are staring at my hand on his chest. His nostrils flaring.

When he finally looks me in the eye, there’s a storm of emotions I can’t make out staring back at me. He grabs my wrist, throwing my hand off his chest so harshly I’d have thought my touch singed him.

“Ethan!” Gabe shouts loud enough to snap him out of our glaring contest. He must’ve seen the commotion or maybe someone called him, I have no idea. But I’m thankful for his interruption.

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