Beautifully Destroyed (Beautifully Broken)

“About those self-defense lessons. Would you mind giving them here at the house?” Dad listens to whatever Ethan’s saying, then smiles. “Great. What time are you free?”

I continue to take two glasses from the cupboard.

“Okay. We’ll see you tomorrow at ten. Thanks, son.”

I have to admit, since Dad’s been home, things have been easier. There are times I don’t think about the attack at all, and it’s starting to feel like a bad dream I had.

“Ethan will be here at ten tomorrow,” Dad says as if I didn’t just hear the call.

“I heard,” I mutter while putting the pitcher back in the fridge. I grab our glasses and walk to the living room. Handing Dad his ice tea, I add, “Can’t say I’m looking forward to it.”

Sitting down in front of my piano, I place my glass down and get back to searching for the right melody to the song forming in my chest.

Wearing a pair of leggings and a baggy t-shirt, I let out a sigh when I see Ethan heading up the stretch of beach.

I go back inside. “He’s coming.”

“Good.” Dad jumps up from the couch and moves it to the side to make space for us.

I really don’t like this. When I hear Ethan’s footsteps, my arms instantly wrap around my mid-section.

“Come in,” I hear Dad say, and it takes a lot for me to look at him and not run for the safety of my bedroom.

“Morning.” Ethan glances between Dad and me.

“Hey,” I murmur, my fingers digging into my sides.

This isn’t a good idea. The moment he touches me, I’m going to freak out, and then the whole town will know.

I give Dad a pleading look, but he shakes his head. “Just try, Fin.” He turns his attention to Ethan. “Do you need more space?”

Ethan shakes his head, then his eyes lock on me. A shiver rushes through me, causing goosebumps to scatter over my skin.

Dad walks to the couch, and taking a seat, he picks up his book. “Don’t mind me.”

Ethan doesn’t move closer, and my eyes dart between him and Dad, not knowing what I should do.

The old me would’ve smiled and welcomed him into our home.

My gaze meets Ethan’s again.

The old me would’ve found him attractive.

Ethan pulls something that looks like a keychain from his pocket, and only then does he step closer, holding it out to me. “First line of defense. Spray this at your attacker's face. It’s guaranteed to disable the person, so you have time to get away. There’s a quick-release key ring so you can get it free if the keys are in a lock or ignition.”

I take the little pink pepper spray from him, and I’m surprised by the sense of safety it gives me. “Thank you.”

He takes out a taser gun that’s small enough to fit in my pocket. “Second line of defense.”

The corner of my mouth lifts, and I start to feel a little more comfortable as I take the taser from him.

Then Ethan surprises me even more, when he turns to Dad. “David, you mind helping?”

“Sure.” Dad drops the book, and he’s up in a flash.

“It’s going to take more than one lesson for you to get comfortable with the moves,” Ethan says as he steps closer to Dad. “By showing both of you, Finlay can practice.”

“Good idea.” I see the impressed look on Dad’s face. “We going to fight?”

Ethan lets out a chuckle, and the sound has my eyes darting to the smile on his face. For a moment, I stare at how handsome it makes him look.

The old me would’ve been attracted to him.

Ethan might have the whole bad boy vibe going, but from the times I’ve seen him, I think it’s safe to say he’s a decent person.

“No.” He grins at Dad. “First move is how to get free when you’re grabbed from behind.”

He turns his back to Dad. “Grab me.”

The smile widens on Dad’s face, and I watch as he shoots forward, wrapping an arm around Ethan’s neck. Before he can lock Ethan in a hold, Ethan’s body goes lax and drops to a crouching position.

Glancing up at me, he says, “You relax every muscle and just drop. The second you’re down here, bring up your elbow, or if the attacker’s much taller, you go in for the kill with a fist to the person’s groin.”

When Ethan shows the two moves, Dad jumps a little back, making me chuckle.

Ethan straightens up, then gestures at Dad. “You give it a try, Finlay.”

This I can do.

The fact that Ethan’s making an effort to teach me self-defense in a way that’s comfortable for me has the fear I feel whenever I’m around him slowly evaporating.

ETHAN

With every passing minute, Finlay relaxes more until laughter bursts over her lips when she elbows David in his side, and he pretends like she mortally wounded him.