Chapter 11

Eleven

Natalie

The faint buzz of my smartphone alarm shattered the morning quiet. As I rose, I extended my arms in a languid stretch, attempting to banish the lingering disquiet from the previous night that clung to me like an unwelcome guest. Sitting up, I instinctively reached for Ethan's side of the bed, but all I found was a cold emptiness that heightened the unease knotting in my stomach.

As I made my way to the kitchen, the smell of sizzling veggies and eggs greeted me, and I was surprised to see Ethan standing at the stove with a focused look on his face. He turned to me with a small smile, and my heart sank as I realized he was trying to hide his own inner turmoil.

"Morning," I said softly, not wanting to disturb the fragile peace that hung between us.

Ethan looked into my eyes, gauging my mood. "Morning. I thought I'd make you breakfast. I know things were tense last night...and I didn't sleep much. I just wanted to do something nice for you."

I couldn't help but feel touched by his gesture, but it did little to ease the unease that still lingered in my heart. "Thank you. It smells amazing." The aroma of fresh vegetables and savory eggs filled my senses, but it couldn't mask the underlying stress that still simmered beneath the surface of our relationship.

We sat down at the table, and I tried to focus on the food, letting the familiar flavors comfort me. But even as I ate, my mind was racing. The breakfast was a nice attempt at bridging the gap between us, but I couldn't ignore the fact that there was still so much unsaid.

Ethan's usually bright and cheerful demeanor was weighed down by something as he spoke. His words were hesitant. "Natalie," he began, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing, "I need to leave town for a few days. My sister... she needs my help with a family situation."

I looked up from my plate and struggled to swallow. I could sense that this wasn't just any ordinary family matter. "What kind of situation?" I asked, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.

Ethan let out a heavy sigh, running his hand through his hair in frustration. "It's about my Dad," he said, his gaze falling to the table. "He's getting older, and my sister thinks it's time for him to give up his car keys. It's not going to be easy, and she isn't getting much help from Mom."

My heart sank a little at the thought of Ethan having to deal with such a difficult family issue. Yet, a flicker of doubt crossed my mind—was this just an excuse? But I quickly pushed it aside, reminding myself to trust him. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" I questioned.

He met my gaze, sincerity shining in his eyes. "I wanted to make sure things were really as bad as my sister said before telling you. I know how much you felt abandoned by Jason, and I didn't want to add more if it wasn't necessary."

His explanation was like a comforting hug, easing the foreboding that had been building inside of me. I didn't want to be the type of person who let past issues sabotage a new relationship. "I understand," I said, my voice soft and gentle. "Just...please don't completely shut me out. I want to be there for you, but I also need you to be open and honest with me."

Ethan's hand reached across the table to grasp mine in his. His touch was reassuring and comforting. "I promise, Natalie. I don't want to shut you out. I'm just trying to navigate how to balance everything."

With his hand still holding mine, I felt a sense of relief. "We'll figure it out together," I reassured him with a small smile on my lips.

He grinned and winked, the tension between us easing further. "So, what are your plans for the day?" he asked, his tone light as if he was trying to shift the conversation to something less heavy.

I shrugged lightly. "Just the usual—heading to school to get everything ready for the week. And then I'm dropping the car off for that oil change at your shop."

Ethan nodded, a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. "Right, I remember seeing your name on the schedule. Joe will take good care of it. Maybe I'll see you there when you drop it off?"

"I'll look forward to it," I said, feeling a little more at ease. The thought of seeing him later at his workplace was comforting. It was a reminder that despite the complexities and the secrets, there were still normal, everyday moments between us that felt right.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics as we finished breakfast. After we cleaned up, I started getting ready for the day, feeling a sense of cautious optimism settling in. The earlier tension had eased, and the familiar routine brought a small measure of comfort.

Ethan gathered his things, preparing to leave first. As he reached the door, he turned back to me, his expression softer than it had been all morning. He pulled me into a gentle embrace, his arms wrapping around me securely. His lips brushed against my forehead, a tender gesture that made my heart flutter.

"I'll see you later," he murmured, his voice tender and reassuring.

I smiled up at him, feeling a bit more confident in us. "See you," I replied, the words carrying more joy than I'd felt in days.

Ethan gave me one last lingering look before stepping out the door, leaving me standing there with a mix of emotions. As I watched him walk away, I was filled with reassurance that maybe things would be okay.

I arrived at Cedar Cove Auto Repair a little while later, and the familiar sight of the shop brought a sense of comfort. Joe was outside, tinkering with a car, and he greeted me with a warm smile as I pulled in.

"Morning, Natalie," he called out, wiping his hands on a rag. "Dropping off your car for that oil change and to check your brakes?"

I nodded, returning his smile. "Yep, I figured it was time."

With a nod, Joe motioned for me to follow him into the garage. The smell of oil and gasoline filled the air as we walked among the cars. We sat down at a small table tucked in the corner, surrounded by tools and car parts.

As Joe explained the details of what needed to be done, I couldn't help but notice his sly glances towards Ethan, who was diligently working on another car nearby. There was a certain familiarity in Joe's gaze, a hint of something unspoken that made me wonder if he knew more about Ethan than I did.

Finishing our conversation, Joe let out a hearty laugh and grinned at me with mischievous eyes. "You know, Ethan hasn't stopped talking about you. I think he's got it bad."

A flush spread across my cheeks as I tried to conceal my smile. "He's... special."

Joe nodded knowingly, his expression softening. "Yeah, he is. You take care of him, okay? He's one of a kind."

"I will," I promised, though there was a hint of unease in the back of my mind. I glanced over at Ethan, who had just finished up with the car he was working on. He looked up and caught my eye, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

He walked over to me. "Joe will have it ready this afternoon," he said, his voice adoring.

"I know. Joe's been my mechanic for a long time," I replied, smiling up at him.

Before I could say anything more, Ethan leaned down and kissed me, a deep, lingering kiss that sent a shiver down my spine. His lips were soft and warm against mine. When we finally pulled apart, I could see the sincerity in his eyes, the promise that he would come back for me.

"I'll see you later?" I asked hopefully, already looking forward to our next encounter.

"Definitely," Ethan replied with a tender smile, squeezing my hand before turning back to his work.

By the time I got to the school, the doubts were still there, lingering in the back of my mind like a dark cloud. But I tried to push them aside, wanting to believe in Ethan and trust that he was being honest with me. Yet, as the day went on and my thoughts continued to swirl, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than what met the eye.

Later that afternoon, I made my way to the shop to pick up my car. Joe looked up from under the hood, his usual warm smile greeting me, but there was something different in his eyes—an emotion I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"You're just in time," Joe said, handing me my keys. "Everything's taken care of. I changed the oil and the brake pads."

I took the keys, feeling a sense of relief that at least something was going right today. "Thanks, Joe. I appreciate it."

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with something unspoken. "Oh, and by the way, Ethan's sister showed up earlier—kind of unexpected. She came to pick him up. He's already gone."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Gone?" I echoed, trying to keep the surprise and disappointment from my voice. "He didn't mention that he was leaving for Dallas so soon."

Joe nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, family stuff. You know how it is. He left in a bit of a rush."

I swallowed hard, trying to process the news. "Did he say when he'd be back?"

Joe offered a small, comforting smile. "He'll be back before you know it. But he did leave something for you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, folded note, handing it to me.

I took the note, my heart pounding as I unfolded it. Ethan's familiar handwriting scrawled across the paper, brief but with a tenderness that tugged at my heart.

Natalie,

I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye properly. I'll explain everything when I get back. Please don't worry. I love you, and you'll be hearing from me soon.

Ethan

I stared at the note, a mix of emotions building in my chest—relief that he'd left a message, frustration that he hadn't said more, and a gnawing sense of doubt that I couldn't shake.

Joe watched me carefully as if waiting for my reaction. "He really cares about you, Natalie. He wouldn't just take off if it wasn't important."

I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice steady. "I know. It's just… I wasn't expecting it."

Joe nodded in understanding; his gaze sympathetic. "Give him some time. I'm sure he'll be back before you know it."

As I drove home, the note clutched tightly in my hand, the doubts crept back in, stronger than before. I wanted to believe Joe, to believe Ethan's words that everything would be okay and he'd return as promised. But a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story—more than Ethan was willing to share.

As I pulled into my driveway, the note still heavy in my hand, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the way he was ending things—if Ethan's sudden departure was just the first crack in the foundation we were trying to build.