Page 76 of All Her Broken Pieces

Keep an eye on her for me?

Anything for you, bro

CHAPTER24

Bridget

There’sa slight chill in the breeze as the sun sets and night falls around me. We’re almost halfway through September, and the evenings are starting to cool.

A night alone was exactly what I needed after a long day in the office. Every single person I interacted with today needed something from me, and I want an evening to recharge my social battery.

Ethan worked the lunch shift today, but he said he might stay through the dinner rush, so I don’t have to worry about bailing on him since we don’t have plans.

The sidewalks are somewhat deserted, and the city is winding down from the hustle of the workday as most rush hour traffic has died down. I’ve walked a good bit from home when I realize my stomach is growling, and I look around for a place to grab a bite. Sweet Serenity Café is about a block from here, and I get excited at the idea of eating alone.

Entering the restaurant, I let the hostess know that I’d like to sit on the patio. It’s gorgeous, surrounded by a tall white fence; it blocks the view of the street, creating a cozy feel. The outside of the fence is adorned with painted flowers, and a beautiful mural done by a local artist. Inside, wrought-iron tables dot the area, each situated over the brick paver-covered ground. In the spring and summertime, the patio is covered in vibrant flowers and plants, and a wisteria-covered entrance makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a secret garden.

The normal floral backdrop has been replaced with fall décor. Corn stalks, mums, and pumpkins atop bales of hay fill the space. A small scarecrow perches in the corner as fairy lights illuminate the area from overhead.

Normally, I pick up food from a restaurant and take it home. This is one of the few places I actually enjoy dining in. Well, here and Ethan’s restaurant since I have a reason to go inside now. And I do enjoy the view over there as well. My cheeks flush as thoughts of Chef Ethan invade my thoughts.

I look up and swear my mind is playing tricks on me, conjuring a mirage of Ethan just as I was thinking about him. But holy fuck, it actually is Ethan. He’s clearly not working. And he’s with a woman. A beautiful woman who appears to be older than him, maybe even close to my age. They’re standing next to a table, arms around each other in what feels like a longer-than-normal embrace. He knows this woman intimately. What the fuck?

Is he cheating on me? We’ve never even defined what we’re doing, so would it technically be cheating? What if he’s been seeing her this whole time? Am I the other woman, or is she?

Does he have a thing for older women? Is that why he’s never been bothered by my age? Maybe he only dates older women. When I asked about past relationships, he never mentioned their ages. What if that’s what he’s into?

Suddenly, every moment we’ve shared feels cheap. Everything I once thought was special is tainted with these new thoughts that he’s done this before, that I’m not the only older woman he’s been with. I’m not special, just one of many.

I stand there at the patio entrance frozen, as though I’m trapped in place by vines that are holding me hostage.

The patio that’s normally a fantastical dreamscape has become my literal nightmare as I watch Ethan hold her in his arms, his fucking dimple on full display, face beaming with joy—that until now I thought he’d only felt with me—as he lowers his lips and kisses the woman’s forehead in a way that’s way too intimate for my comfort.

The gate snaps shut behind me, breaking me from my doomsday reverie. Slowly, Ethan’s head turns toward the sound, briefly making eye contact with me, the mystery woman still wrapped in his arms.

No. Nope, I cannot be here. I cannot do this. This is why I don’t do relationships. Every intrusive thought imaginable shouts in my brain, the noise an overwhelming rush of anxiety as I turn and run through the gate. I can hear shuffling behind me as I run down the street, dodging people as I get the hell out of there.

“Bridget!” Ethan calls out, but I keep running, determined to escape the hell I’m living. “Will you stop running?” he pants.

And give you the chance to lie to my face about what that was back there? No, asshole, I won’t stop running.

Pain lances my chest, and I slow briefly to get my bearings. We’re a few blocks from the restaurant and still too far from my apartment to outrun him. Fuck, I forgot he runs every day. How am I going to get out of this?

I’m turning down a side street when his hand grabs mine, pulling me back.

“Will you stop for one goddamn second?” His voice is gruff and demanding as he pulls on my arm, forcing me to turn toward him. “What was that back there? Why did you run? I was calling your name?—”

A bitter laugh escapes me, interrupting his excuses. “You know exactly what that was, exactly what I walked in on.” I stop myself before I say more. I’m not going to be that woman. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.

The look of confusion on his face almost convinces me that I’m wrong, but I press on. “I can’t do this. You’ve made your bed. Don’t make this a bigger mess than it needs to be.” I start to turn, but his hand grips me tighter, holding me in place as a look of understanding crosses his features.

“Instead of talking to me, you’ve let your mind spiral into possibilities, none of which are true. Can you listen to me for a goddamn minute?” he angrily snaps before adding, “Please?”

Fuck, he’s right. That’s exactly what I’m doing. I have no idea who that woman is, and I haven’t even given him a chance to explain before I’ve written him off. My heart beats wildly in my chest, adrenaline still coursing through me as I inhale a shaky breath, images of my high school ex, me alone in the hallway feeling humiliated and alone, flash through my mind.They aren’t the same person, I tell myself.

“That was my mom, Ashley,” he tells me. “She surprised me at the restaurant today and wanted to take me out for dinner. I didn’t know she was coming by. Mina had dinner covered, so I left early.”

Shit. I really did jump to conclusions.

---