Chapter 18

MAY. Ethan's on edge. He said his family was coming over and I didn't have to do anything that made me feel uncomfortable. He told me to relax, but he's the one panicking for reasons unknown to me. I toss a glance in his direction as I grab a bottle of water from the fridge. He's engaged in a deep conversation with someone and he looks pissed. Slowly, I approach him to hand him the water, and I hear him say, "She'll get mad. She just might leave. I don't want her finding out until the time is right." Who's *she?* Who is leaving? As far as I can tell, other than myself and Harriet, there are no other women in Ethan's life. I shake my head. It's nothing. I'd know if there was someone else, I think. Ethan's different. He isn't like Sean. He's an open book who says things as they are. He doesn't lie to me. Doesn't need to, and if there was someone else, he wouldn't have asked me to marry him. I tap on his shoulder and he jumps, nearly dropping his phone. Steel eyes are dark with fear when they meet mine and I tuck that away for later to think about. "Have you been there long?" I shake my head, handing him the bottle of water. "No. You seemed tense. Are you alright? Is there a problem?" He looks at me funny and then runs his fingers through his hair. "Not quite. I haven't seen them in a while. I am not sure what to expect." I smile, gripping his arm and I squeeze a little to comfort him. "It'll be alright. They're family. When I was back in school and I had to face a panel in a presentation, I would get scared. Had a horrible case of stage fright. Anna had said a single sentence to me that changed my outlook on everything." I pause, and my grin widens as I tell him, "What's the worst that could happen?" Yes. It'd helped a lot. I would think of the worst-case scenario, and manage it in my head. I miss Anna. I'll go visit after this visit from Ethan's cousins. Ethan's expression turns contemplative and something unreadable flashes in his eyes. I'll name it panic, because there's no reason why it would be guilt. I'm obviously seeing wrong. His lips part as if to say something to me, but the doorbell suddenly rings and we both jerk. My heart flutters a little, but that is all it is. Excitement or unease, I can't tell which it is. "I'll get it," Ethan says, striding to the door quickly. I run after him, halting him as I pull his arm back. "No. It's simple courtesy that the wife greets the family. I've never met them before. I can't make a horrible first impression on them." Ethan's lips pull in a thin line and worry has lines etched on his forehead. I smile again. He's worried about me. Ethan's really sweet. "It'll be fine," I tell him and pat his hand. "You don't need to worry so much. I won't make a mess of things, I promise." He nods and I let him go. Sucking in a sharp breath, I make my way over to the door, heels clicking on the polished marble floors. Yes. I'm wearing a dress and heels. After arranging the potted plants, Ethan had gone out for a ride, returning with a shopping bag that had a couple of dresses and shoes. He'd then said, "Take your pick." I searched high and low for the price tags, so I would be aware of how much I owed him, but there had been none. He had removed them before handing the bag to me. Then I went online to do a search on them, and the prices I saw were outrageous enough for me to realize they were probably knockoffs. Ethan wouldn't waste so much on shoes and a dress. It was all comfortable, though, and a perfect fit. Upon reaching the door, my fingers encircle the door knob and I say a quiet prayer to the heavens before I pull it open. There are two people by the door, and they are overly dressed for a simple dinner. Hell, even I am overly dressed for this dinner. I understand now why Ethan was so worked up. A man and a woman with a striking resemblance to each other. Siblings, possibly. The woman is a brunette with a shade of blue that almost looks grey like Ethan's. The man is a blonde, and his cobalt blue eyes take me in with keen interest. "You must be...ah..." Oh, he doesn't know my name...or remember it. I smile, widening the door. "I am May. You must be Cole and Rachel. Welcome to our home. It is nice to meet you both." Cole takes my hand in a firm handshake, and when I extend a hand to Rachel, she stares at it, and then fans herself with nails long enough to be claws. "Ethan is in this decrepit apartment? This is unlike him." She pauses dramatically, exchanging a glance with Cole. "I think we've got the wrong apartment, Cole." I frown, letting my hand drop. "Ethan Chase is my husband," I tell her, stifling the urge to ask her what she means by decrepit because heaven knows there's nothing decrepit about this apartment. "You're in the right house. Please come in." Cole's lips twitch at my stern tone and Rachel's frown mars her beautiful face. She says nothing as she steps in, staring around the house with unhidden disdain. "It is so small. Confined. How do you breathe in here?" I don't like this woman named Rachel. She's starting to get on my nerves. Confined? There are countless rooms in here that heaven knows we have no use for. The windows are large, and the cooling system is superb in comparison to where I spent my childhood. Ethan's home is my home, my haven, and I can't have her walk in here, insulting it. "The same way you are right now," I mutter under my breath. She doesn't hear me, but Cole does and he chuckles. "Nice place you've got here," Cole says. "It's just a little surprising because everyone knows Ethan doesn't do things in moderation." My brows go up at that. "What do you mean?" Cole looks at me funny. "I mean, how can he? He is the—" "Cole, Rachel," Ethan suddenly says, appearing out of thin air like a ghost.