“It’s okay,” she said. “Part of me wants to. I just think that maybe it’s a little early for that.”
I nodded and kissed her head. “As long as you feel safe and secure. I have a call I have to make. I’ll be on the back porch if you need me.”
She nodded, and I walked into the kitchen and opened the glass door. Stepping outside, I pulled open my phone and hit Mason’s name. He needed to know what was going on.
“Hey, Bubba,” Mason said. It was his usual greeting for me and had been since we were kids.
“Hey, Mason,” I said.
“Uh-oh, that voice doesn’t sound good,” he said.
“It’s Hannah,” I said. “Her ex broke into her place last night and tore it up pretty good. Wrote some really heinous shit on the walls.”
“Oh God,” Mason said. “Is she okay?”
“Physically, yes. She was with me,” I admitted. “But she’s going to stay with me for a bit, and I don’t think it’s a good idea for her to try to come in to work or for me to leave her alone tonight.”
“Hell no,” Mason said. “You are both taking the day off. That’s an order from the boss.”
“Ava said so?” I teased. It felt good to make a joke. Mason laughed on the other end.
“She would if I told her,” he said. “Just tell Hannah that she can take all the time she needs. The new girl should be able to handle herself without shadowing anyone. She’s been waiting tables for a couple of years.”
“Will do,” I said. “Thanks, Mason.”
I went back inside to tell Hannah what Mason said. She nodded and continued folding clothes. She was setting them in neat piles on my bed, and I suddenly realized she needed a drawer to put things in.
“Thank you, Jordan,” she said. “And tell Mason I said thank you, too.”
“I will when I see him. I’m staying home tonight, too,” I said.
“Really?” she asked, her eyes floating back up to mine. Tears pooled at the edges. I walked to her and pulled her in for a deep hug.
“Of course. I wouldn’t leave you home alone tonight. Now, let’s clear out some of these drawers for you and order a pizza,” I said.
We ordered from my favorite Italian place nearby and launched up my streaming service. I let her pick what movies she wanted to watch, which turned out to be a couple of really funny romantic comedies. They were decidedly not the types of movies I usually watched, but the ones she picked were pretty good.
I tried to keep the conversation light and distracting. A bottle of wine I had put away got cracked open. I wasn’t much of a wine guy either, but for her I would avoid beer for the night. I tried talking about everything except for the house and Ethan. Eventually, she started to come out of her funk, and talk turned to the only other subject I wanted to avoid. Portland.
“So, about that,” I said after she mentioned when I was planning on leaving again. “I found something out about my expectations there.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Well, I found out that I’ll only need to be there for about six months,” I said.
“Really?” The happy note in her voice made me look up at her, and I noticed for the first time in the evening a smile crossed her face.
“Really,” I confirmed.
26
Hannah
Another week passed and there still wasn’t another sign of Ethan. He didn’t show up again, and I hadn’t gotten any phone calls or messages from him. I almost wished I had. That way, at least I wouldn’t have to wonder so much. As it was, I wasn’t sure how to feel about him just disappearing again.
On one hand, it was good to not have to deal with him. I didn’t want to see him or hear his voice. After what he did, I was so angry I couldn’t see straight. But I was also unnerved. Ethan hadn’t just threatened me. He had gone into my home and destroyed my belongings. He was in my personal space, a place where I should feel safe. It felt like a violation.
Wondering where he could be, if he was watching me, and when he might turn up next were all pushing me to the edge. The anxiety was creeping up, and I felt like I was becoming paranoid.
I wanted him found. I wanted him held accountable for what he did. More than that, I wanted him out of my life. I needed to know he wouldn’t be able to keep doing this to me.
Sitting on the couch in Jordan’s living room, I called Samantha. I ran my fingers back through my hair as I waited for her to answer. In the kitchen Jordan was making something that smelled spicy and delicious. I wanted to just be able to relax and enjoy the time with him, but I couldn’t.
“How are you doing? Is everything alright?” Samantha asked by way of answering the phone.
“I remember a time when those weren’t the most common things people said to me,” I said. “Those were the good days.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just on edge when it comes to you.”
“I’m on edge when it comes to me, too,” I said with a sigh. “Have you heard anything about him?”
“No,” Samantha said. “I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to find out anything I can. I’ve asked everybody I can think of, but no one has heard from him or anything about him.”
“So, once again, no one knows where he is,” I said. “That worked out really well for me last time.”
Jordan had a meeting with his brothers about the new bar that afternoon, and I didn’t want to sit around at the house by myself. Instead, I headed for the library to continue working on the mural. It was taking longer than I expected it to, but the library didn’t mind. I didn’t want to rush and not have it turn out the way I envisioned it, and they agreed.
Part of me felt like I was taking extra time just so I had something to do. It filled my mind and made me feel better, especially when I couldn’t be with Jordan. This was something that was mine. Something I did because I was not only good at it but enjoyed it.
Art was one of the things that was largely kept from me when I was at home. My parents encouraged me to paint, but only if it was classical art, and only if it didn’t take my time and focus away from events, networking, and being there for Ethan.
Now, I got to do whatever I wanted. I could create whatever came to mind and take as much time as I wanted to with it. It was a luxury and an indulgence, and one that I was leaning into more and more.
I stepped back from the wall and looked at the new section I was adding on to the picture. It wasn’t quite as seamless as I wanted it to be, almost as if my thoughts and emotions from the different days I painted were showing up in the painting.
“You did a much better job on the one in New York.”
The voice behind me startled me. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was, but I didn’t want my back to him. I whipped around to face him.
“Ethan,” I said.
He stepped up closer to the wall and pointed out a section of the mural. “You see right here? Your lines are weak here. They don’t live up to the rest of the piece, like you gave up on this area.”
Of course he was there to criticize me. That was what he did best. While we were together, he could have listed it as his hobby on a resume.
“What are you doing here, Ethan?”
My heart was starting to beat harder in my chest, but I didn’t let my expression show my fear even as I looked around to make sure there were other people who could see us. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to me. Seeing me upset and frightened was always one of his favorite things. I gave into it for far too long. I wasn’t going to do it anymore.
I noticed a group of mothers with their young children heading for the field nearby to play. It gave me comfort to know we weren’t alone. There were too many witnesses, which gave me confidence he wouldn’t do anything.
“I’m looking at your mural,” he answered. “Isn’t that why you’re painting it? So people will look at it?”
The reply made my teeth grit and my jaw twitch. That was just like him. A sarcastic, nasty comment wrapped up
in something innocent. It was why so many people trusted him when he didn’t deserve it. Why so many were charmed by him and convinced he was so perfect. They didn’t want to see beyond the veneer he put up. But I could see past it and it made my skin crawl.
“How could you do that?” I asked.
He looked at me like he just didn’t understand what I was saying. “How can I look at your mural?”
“Don’t act dumb, Ethan. It’s not going to impress me. Why did you do that to my house last week?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Do what to your house?”
“You know what,” I said, getting angrier with every word that came out of my mouth.
“No, I don’t. I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said. “I didn’t do anything to your house. I couldn’t have. I was in California for the last couple of weeks.”
“Don’t try that. I know you’re lying.”
I waited for him to argue, to try to defend himself again. But he didn’t. Instead, the faux innocence melted away from his expression and his eyes narrowed.
“Why are you with that guy?” he asked.
“He has a name,” I said. “And I know you know what it is.”
“I don’t give a shit what it is. I want to know why you’re with him.”
The anger had shown up in his voice, and the words were coming through his teeth with greater force. Somehow that felt more comfortable. He was more predictable this way. I would rather be on edge because his aggression was ticking up than dangling, waiting for the next thing to happen.
“I’m with Jordan because he treats me with respect. And that’s all you need to know. It’s more than you deserve to know. Now, go back to New York and let me get on with my life,” I said.
I took a step back toward my paints, hoping he would just walk away. Ethan immediately took a step toward me, lessening the space between us again.
“We aren’t finished, Hannah. I’m going to prove to you who the better man is. Mark my words, you’ll be running back to me soon. You just better hope that when you do it isn’t too late,” he said.
There was an ominous threat in those words, but I didn’t back down. I looked Ethan directly in the eyes and spoke clearly and calmly to make sure he understood every word I said.
“Get the fuck away from me, Ethan.”
He started to move toward me, but the squeal of tires stopped him. We both looked to see Jordan getting out of the truck he had just parked haphazardly in the closest spot to us. Ethan looked back at me with an arrogant smirk on his face and gave a little half shrug.
“That’s my cue,” he said.
He was gone before Jordan got to us, heading across the front of the library toward the parking lot. Jordan started after him, but I put my hand in the middle of his chest to stop him.
“What was that all about?” Jordan demanded.
“He was just being an asshole, then he said he couldn’t have been the one in my house because he was in California the last couple of weeks,” I said.
“That’s bullshit.”
“I know. He asked why I was with you and said he was going to prove he’s the better man and I would go running back to him.” I took a breath and let it out slowly.
“I’m going to kill him,” Jordan said through gritted teeth.
The sound of a car flying out of the lot made us turn, and we saw Ethan speeding away.
“You can’t go after him,” I said.
“Why not?”
“Because he isn’t worth going to prison for. I just have to try to ignore him and not give him any indication he’s getting to me at all. Eventually he will get bored and go away,” I said.
“It’s that ‘eventually’ I don’t like,” he said.
“I know. I don’t, either.”
“You’re probably right, but I want to make sure that really does happen. From now on, I don’t want you to be alone.”
As the words sank in, I didn’t know how to feel about Jordan’s assertion.
27
Jordan
Ethan was really starting to piss me off. The fact that he would have the gall to even get anywhere close to her after what he did to her house was incredible, and if I could have gotten my hands on him, I would have ripped him to pieces. Hannah stopping me was probably exactly what she said, good because it kept me out of prison.
Apparently, his prints were nowhere to be found in the house. As far as the cops were concerned, it was a break and enter and vandalism, but they couldn’t go after Ethan without evidence. It frustrated the hell out of me, but Hannah just wanted to let it go. She thought that him doing that to her place “got it out of his system” somehow, and that he would disappear eventually.
I wasn’t so sure.
It had been a pretty quiet few days since the mural run-in, but that didn’t mean he was gone. I didn’t trust him not to be watching us from somewhere and ready to strike at the worst possible time. I didn’t want to be paranoid, but my instincts were kicking in, and I was extremely frustrated not to be able to go scan every car in every parking lot and make sure.
Driving by all the hotels and motels in town was a slow crawl, but I did it anyway. Hannah thought I was out with Luke usually, and most of the time I was. But we were both on reconnaissance. I scanned every parking lot for his car and found nothing. I knew there were a few houses in Astoria that were rented as vacation homes, but I had no idea where they were and online searches came up with nothing. Wherever he was staying, he was keeping out of sight. Even Luke thought he might just be gone, but I couldn’t buy that. Not yet.
It was about time to leave for work, and I was putting on my shoes when Hannah came into the living room dressed to go.
“Umm,” I began.
“I’m coming to work, Jordan,” she said.
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
“It is,” she insisted. “I can’t just keep hiding out. It’s giving him way too much power over my life to never go anywhere or do anything. I have to be able to go to work and get back on track with my life.”
“I understand that,” I said. “I do. But I don’t trust that he isn’t hanging around here somewhere. What if he attacks you?”
“Well, you’ll be there, won’t you?”
“Yeah,” I admitted.
“Then I am much more worried about how he will survive than me.”
She grinned, and I returned the expression. Hannah was right. By the time he got within touching range of Hannah, I would have already ripped out his eyes and used them for dice.
“Okay,” I said. “You’re right. I’ll drive.”
We headed out to the truck and drove through the early evening darkness to get to the bar. When we arrived, the place was already rocking. Getting inside, we went to the back, put on our aprons, and kissed before opening the door and disappearing into the din of The Hollow.
The money was flowing in off some really decent tips, and when I felt like I couldn’t take the people anymore, I would switch with Mason and go behind the bar and make drinks for table orders. It helped give me a little break from one-on-one interactions while also giving me the best view of the clientele. From behind the bar, I could see the entire floor, and if Ethan walked in, I would know.
My eyes were peeled for him the whole night, and as closing time got closer, I began to relax. If he had planned on coming in, he would have done so before then. And I would have ripped him into little, tiny pieces, stuck them on skewers, and had a barbeque.
As the night got closer to being over, I was on the floor and noticed Mason had taken a call in the hallway. I didn’t think much of it, but when he got off, he headed over to me. The look on his face told me that the news he was going to tell me wasn’t something I particularly wanted to hear.
“Hey, can we talk for a minute?” he asked.
“I have three tables. Can someone take care of them?”
“Yeah, let me get her,” he said.
Maso
n walked back to the bar, said something to Ava, and pointed to the three tables that were still sitting. They were regulars, and we usually let them hang out a bit later than others, provided they were drinking water or soda and their drinks were done by lights up. Ava came over, and I handed her my book with their orders so she knew what they would want if they wanted refills.
“Come with me,” Mason said. I followed him down the hall and to the door outside. As I passed the kitchen, Hannah came out carrying a plate of mozzarella sticks. We maintained eye contact as I backed through the door, and when it closed, she was standing in the hallway, sadness in her eyes.
“I guess I know what’s coming,” I said. “It was Tom, wasn’t it?”
“It was,” Mason said. “He said the licenses are all in order, and we’re clear to open the bar now. He wants Matt and me back there next week to finish up the setup and get it going.”
“When’s the grand opening?”
“Tom’s thinking a couple weeks. He wants to spend some time working out the ad campaign. We might lose a little bit having a bar we could open that’s still closed, but if we build enough buzz it might see us through the lean period that usually comes after a place opens and then the novelty wears off,” Mason said. “So, maybe first of next month?”
“It would be a Friday night,” I said.
“It would,” Mason said. “Ava has already gotten busy working out a big theme party for it. She’s playing on the décor idea you had. From what I understand, she already had internet fliers and a mailing list ready, so he cleared her to release those earlier today. The wheels are officially moving.”
“Ah.” Knowing that the plans were already in motion before I was even told when I was heading back there was irritating. I got out of the military once already, I wasn’t particularly enjoying the rest of my life taking orders, too.
But it was part of the business. Mason and Tom were the business guys, and Ava was probably better at it than both of them. If the three of them had cooked up a plan for getting the Portland bar off the ground, I had no doubt it would work like gangbusters. It was just terrible timing for Hannah and me.
Boss Daddy: A Secret Baby Romance Page 15