Page 70 of Something Old

ChapterTwenty-Three

Delaney struggled to keep up with Ethan as he stalked onto the porch, down the steps, and onto the soft grass. Her heels sank into the soft turf and she tugged on his hand to slow him down. Ethan barely paid her any attention until she stopped dead and refused to move any farther. He paused and whirled around, almost as if forgetting that he had dragged her along with him. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were cold. She took an involuntary step backward, shrinking from that stare, that coldness that she hadn’t seen since the day she broke up with him.

She swallowed and took a tentative step toward him, laying a hand on his tightly corded arm. “Ethan? What happened?”

He shook her off and started pacing, gesturing angrily with every word, talking more to himself than to her. “Pompous assholes. Dictating to me how I should live my life and who I should associate with. As if they can tell me what to do.”

A couple of people were walking on the lawn, taking in the sunset and shamelessly eavesdropping. Delaney grabbed his arm and tugged him toward a side area with chairs. He followed, still fuming about his conversation.

When they were finally in the area and secluded enough, she turned to him. “Ethan, what are you talking about?”

He growled. “My father and his cronies. They want me back, but only on their terms.”

A band of ice contracted around her heart. She steadied her breathing. “I thought your father wanted you back. What’s the problem?”

He leveled his gaze on her. “You.”

The ice expanded, stealing her breath from her. She pressed a hand to her stomach to quell her sudden fluttering of nerves. “Me.”

He gripped her shoulders. “Some stupid thing about your father and how it looks. Same argument as before.”

She sighed. Ignoring her dress, she sat on one of the lawn chairs, perched on the edge, her hands clasped in front of her to minimize their trembling. “Time may go by, but some things never change.”

He squatted in front of her and took her hands in his. “I have to go back. My father’s heart attack eight months ago is forcing him to cut back. He wants me to learn from him, to take over some day. I have no choice.”

The ice spread until her throat was paralyzed. She squeezed the words out past the fear. “What are you saying?”

He peered into her eyes, his own troubled and sad. “It’s going to be hard for you, but we can make it. You’ve survived the past five years on your own. I can help you, but it won’t be easy.”

She tugged her hands free and stood, walking a few feet away to stand with her back to him. “Maybe we’re kidding ourselves, Ethan. It might be hard for me, but worse for you. What if you lose clients like before?”

He stood behind her, hands on her shoulders. “So what? We’ve survived worse.”

She turned, seeing him through the haze of unshed tears. “No, Ethan. It shouldn’t be this hard. Everyone is against us.”

He froze, eyes wide and face pale. He flexed his fingers on her shoulders, then pulled them away before bruising her. “We can get through this. I know we can.”

She pulled back, blinking rapidly to clear her eyes, her direction now clear. “No, we were right to break up in the past.” She held a hand to his cheek. “I’m so glad we had this week to say goodbye, Ethan. I love you, but I can’t be with you.”

He seized her hand in his, freezing her in place. “So you’re just going to run again? I should have known not to trust you again.” His mouth twisted as he spat the words. He pushed her hand, and she stumbled. “Fine, just go. It’s what you wanted, anyway. I won’t be waiting for you this time.”

Tears started again, her throat choking back sobs. “Be happy with Cami, Ethan. She seems nice.”

He pivoted on his heel, turning his back to her. “Just go.”

She stumbled across the lawn toward a side door, away from the reception, needing time and space before anyone could see her. She blindly pushed past Cami into the women’s restroom, waving her off when Cami asked if she needed help. Delaney firmly closed the door in her face and turned the lock, then slid down to the wicker chair to cry in peace.

* * *

Ethan’s jaw ached from clenching and grinding to keep from shouting for Delaney to come back and ignore everyone. But pride and pain choked the words before he could speak. He should have known she would run. The island and its isolation lulled them all into a false sense of security. Away from society and their prying eyes and wagging tongues, she was brave. But the minute reality intruded, she cut and ran as soon as the going got tough. He’d thought the past five years had toughened her, made her immune to the challenges of other people. But she hadn’t really changed. She still cared more about what other people thought than him.

“Ethan?” A quiet female voice spoke behind him.

For a moment, his heart leaped, thinking she’d reconsidered and come back. He whirled around. Cami stood a few feet behind him, a concerned look on her face.

He shook his head. “Leave me alone, Cami.”

She stepped to his side and laid a hand on his arm. “Did you and Delaney break up?”

---