Ethan (Face-Off 5)

I shake my head. “No, talk to me first.”

A few seconds tick by before he says, “I had an addiction. That’s how I know Connor. He was my dealer. The hospital prescribed painkillers to dull the pain from the accident. I was so fucked-up in the head after Erik died…” his voice trails off, and when I peek up at him, his eyes are closed.

He leans forward and presses his left hand to the wall with his gaze fixed on me. “I was addicted to opiates. Anything I could get my hands on. That’s why my dad moved us here. He thought it would help me get my act together. But I sought out the stoners at school. They hooked me up with Connor, who was just a street dealer back then.”

Ethan was on drugs. My Ethan.

What does his addiction have to do with him running away without saying goodbye?

“Back in Boston…” he says, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers “… I went through a detox program, one that no one ever found out about.”

“Thanks for telling me. Your secret is safe with me.” I move my hand over my heart. “I promise.”

He kisses my forehead and then grazes my cheek with his thumb. “I know. But this also means you can’t write a story about it. If Connor ever found out that you had anything to do with it, he would expose me and kill you. They’re not the kind of people you want to fuck with. Understood?”

“But the story could make my career.”

“It would ruin mine and get you killed,” he spits back. “I’m not into that shit anymore. I got clean a long time ago.” He bites the inside of his cheek, his nerves showing. “My career isn’t my biggest concern… it’s you and your safety. Those men are dangerous, Mia. A little lamb like you, so gentle and pure, doesn’t stand a chance against wolves like them.”

He’s right.

I nod. “I’ll back off. For you. For us.”

“Thank you.” Ethan kisses me. “It’s hard enough taking care of you without any complications. You’re so stubborn, Mia.”

I peek up at him and a smile. “It’s part of my charm.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ethan

Fast asleep, Mia rolls over and onto my chest. I sit up, with my back against the headboard, and hook my arm around her. Moving a strand of blonde hair away from her face, I smile.

I told Mia about Erik, the accident, and now my past addiction.

And the world didn’t end.

Nothing happened.

Curling up next to Mia, I stroke her hair as I watch her breathe. This simple gesture produces a feeling in the pit of my stomach, an ache that burns like acid. I bared myself to Mia, something I’ve never done with any woman.

Fighting exhaustion, my eyes flutter. Much like the darkness, sleep wins out, my eyes closing as I dream of Mia.

Thump, thump, thump. The sound wakes me from my slumber. When I open my eyes, the first thing I see is… Will. Fuck. He’s hovering over my side of the bed with his hand on the headboard. Will’s the cause of the noise.

I rub my eyes and sit up. “What are you doing?”

He grinds his teeth together, his face twisted in anger. “I should ask you the same thing, seeing as you’re in my sister’s bed, and both of you are naked.”

Mia pulls the sheet up to her chin, leaving me with nothing to cover myself. Not like I care about me.

She pushes out her palm, her eyes wide with surprise. “Will, don’t freak out, okay? Just give us a second to explain.”

“Explain what? How you two are sneaking around with each other behind my back?” He folds his arms over his chest, his jaw clenched. “Yeah, I would love to hear how my best friend ended up in my little sister’s bed.” Will sits at the edge of the bed, his weight dipping the mattress on my side. “I’m sure it’s a great fucking story. Let’s hear it.”

Mia lets out an exaggerated groan, blowing hair in her face. “Don’t be an ass, Will. Please. It’s too early in the morning to get into a fight.”

“How long has this been going on?” Will looks at me and shakes his head. “I flat out asked you if you liked my sister, and you said no, even though I knew you were fucking lying to my face. Of all people, I trusted you the most with Mia.”