12. Ethan

Chapter 12

Ethan

We make it to Naples in record time, but neither of us wants to get off the boat. Our time on the water was magical. There were several times I thought about asking Clara to travel with me after her vacation was over, but I didn't want to ruin any of our moments.

This could be our life all the time. She could even still work in some role for her family. Remote work is popular now. There's a whole office with fancy equipment on board. I've tried to convince my brother to work from here several times. If she doesn't want to travel, I've got to figure out a plan for myself. Can I go to Star Mountain and find something to occupy my time? Something besides Clara.

"What are you thinking so hard about over there?" Clara looks at me from her favorite chaise lounge.

"What's next," I answer honestly.

"In Naples, I need to check into my hotel and then I thought we could walk around and just find something. Maybe just graze for dinner?"

She looks so happy that I don't want to burst her bubble, but it isn't fair to make myself sick over this either.

"No, what's next for us?" I ask and immediately regret it when I see the look on her face.

"What do you mean?" she asks so quietly, tears forming in her eyes. I see her visibly shrink into herself. "Do you mean after?"

I want to get up, go to her, and tell her I just meant tomorrow. That I wanted to know what we were doing each day in Naples, but it's too late. I've gone too far.

"Yes, I was thinking about what we will do when your trip is over."

"I don't want to think about that." Clara stands up and comes over to the couch where I have been reading and sits next to me. "I'm scared of what comes next. I don't think that either of us is going to be happy."

"But why? Why can't we be happy?" I ask.

"Because we want different things, Ethan. We're at different places in life. I don't know the real answer. Ultimately, there are many. You make me so happy, but I also think you could make me so sad."

The tears are freely falling down her face now and I reach to wipe them away, but she leans back. Fuck, I've messed everything up, which is the last thing I wanted to do.

"All I want to do is make you happy."

"I know and you do, here. But we both know you could never come back with me to Star Mountain and do Sunday dinners with my crazy, loud family. You are meant to travel on your tiny boat and do exciting things. I've worked hard to become an equal part of the business with my brothers and it's finally in my reach."

"You are an equal to your brothers. You don't have to work at the family company for that to be true. You can do whatever you want to do with your life." My voice is full of anger now as I feel my dreams for a future with her going up in smoke. "You're letting them control your life instead of living it for yourself."

"You want me to live it your way instead?" Her voice is eerily calm. "I'm sick of men telling me who I am and how to feel."

She stands to walk out of the room when two men bearing a striking resemblance to Clara walk into the room. "We've been looking for you."