Chapter 3

Three

Ethan

A Few Days Later

"Well, I'll be damned!" I muttered, staring out the window as I sipped the last of my Saturday morning coffee. The sleek, black Lamborghini that just pulled into the lot was unmistakable—my Lamborghini. And there was only one person who'd be driving it out here, in the middle of Cedar Cove.

I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head as I watched the car come to a smooth stop. Trust Sophia to make an entrance and remind me of the luxury I'd left behind. I knew exactly what she was doing—taunting me with a glimpse of my old life. And I had to admit, she wasn't entirely wrong to think I'd miss it. There was something about seeing that car again, all polished and perfect, that made me long for the rush of power and status that came with it.

But I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of knowing that.

Sophia stepped out of the car, looking every bit the city girl in her designer clothes and oversized sunglasses. She gave a little wave, smirking up at the window as if she could see right through me. I waved back, already bracing myself for the inevitable teasing.

With a sigh, I set my mug down and headed downstairs to meet her. As soon as I opened the door, Sophia was on me.

"Well, well, well," she said, giving me a once-over with a grin. "I never thought I'd see the day when my big brother was living in a place like this, wearing...what are those—jeans? And a T-shirt? Where's the suit and tie, Mr. Sterling?"

I rolled my eyes, grabbing the bag of groceries she was holding out to me. "Nice to see you too, Soph. Thanks for the reminder that I'm slumming it."

She laughed, the sound filling the small space between us. "You're not slumming it, Ethan. You're ‘immersing yourself in the local culture,'" she said, making air quotes with her fingers. "And apparently eating like a regular person. What's next? A fishing hat?"

I shook my head, leading her up the stairs to my apartment. "Don't get too excited. It's only temporary. And besides, you should be proud. I'm getting pretty good at this whole ‘regular person' thing."

"Oh, I'm sure you are," she said, following me up. "But I brought you some real food just in case you're missing those fancy meals you're used to. Organic, gluten-free, and all that."

We reached the apartment, and I pushed the door open, letting her step inside first. It wasn't much—a far cry from my mini ranch in Dallas—but it was comfortable, and it was starting to feel like mine. The mismatched furniture, the small kitchenette, the few personal touches I'd added to make it feel less like a crash pad and more like a home.

Sophia took it all in, her eyes moving around the space, taking in every detail. She walked over to the small bookshelf I'd set up in the corner, her fingers brushing over the spines of a few old books before her gaze landed on something else.

"You still have this?" she asked, her voice softening.

I turned to look at her, seeing the football she was holding. It was signed by the entire Dallas Cowboys starting team—a gift she'd gotten me a few years ago for Christmas. I smiled, nodding. "Of course. It's one of my favorite things. You know that."

She turned the ball over in her hands, a rare, sentimental expression crossing her face. "I'm glad you brought it. It's nice to see a piece of home here."

There was a brief silence between us, the kind that only siblings could share—a moment of connection that went beyond words. But, as always, Sophia was the first to break it, her playful demeanor returning as she placed the football back on the shelf.

"So," she said, turning to face me with that familiar gleam in her eyes. "How's the bet going? Remember when you thought this would be easy?"

I groaned, knowing this was coming. "I'm managing," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "It's different, sure, but I'm getting used to it."

She laughed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're just lucky no one here knows who you really are. Can you imagine what they'd think if they knew the great Ethan Sterling was fixing cars and living in a tiny apartment above a repair shop?"

I shrugged, leaning against the kitchen counter. "That's the whole point, Soph. To see if I can live like a regular guy for a month, isn't it? No money, no status, just... me."

She tilted her head, studying me with a look that was both curious and slightly amused. "And what do you think? Think you could get used to this life?"

I hesitated, not really sure how to answer. Cedar Cove was different—slower, quieter, simpler—but it was growing on me in a way I hadn't expected. "I don't know," I admitted finally. "It's... different. But not in a bad way. It's making me think about things I hadn't considered before."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Like what?"

I glanced around the apartment, my mind drifting to the people I'd met here, particularly a certain fiery preschool teacher. "Like... what really matters, I guess. What I want out of life."

She smiled, a knowing look in her eyes. "You mean what you really want. Not what everyone else expects of you."

I met her gaze, nodding slowly. "Yeah. Something like that."

She reached out and squeezed my arm, her expression softening. "Just remember, Ethan. This bet isn't about proving anything to me. It's about finding out what you really want. And maybe, finding something—or someone—that money can't buy."

I nodded, her words hitting me harder than I'd expected. "You had to remind me of my past failings, didn't you."

"Would you expect anything else?" Sophia smirked, leaning back against the counter, clearly pleased with herself.

"No," I admitted, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. "I suppose I wouldn't."

As we continued unpacking the groceries, the conversation shifted, as it always did with my sister, to the people I'd met in Cedar Cove. It started with harmless questions—how I was fitting in, what the locals were like—but I should have known better than to think she'd leave it at that.

"So," she began, her tone casual but her eyes sharp, "tell me about this pretty preschool teacher you mentioned in passing during one of our calls."

I glanced over at her, trying to gauge how much she'd picked up on. "What about her?"

Sophia raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips curling into a sly smile. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe start with why you brought her up at all. You don't usually talk about the people you meet unless they're important."

I rolled my eyes, trying to play it off. "She's just another local I'm getting to know. No big deal."

Sophia wasn't buying it for a second. She crossed her arms with that same knowing smile that had always unnerved me, even as a kid. "Uh-huh. And I'm supposed to believe that you're casually mentioning her because she's ‘just another local'? Come on, Ethan. I can hear it in your voice. You like her."

I hesitated, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of being right. But damn, she was good. Too good. "It's not like that," I said, though even to my own ears, the words sounded weak. "She's… different."

"Different, how?" Sophia pressed, clearly intrigued now. "Different like she doesn't know who you are, or different like she's not falling at your feet like the women in Dallas?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Both, I guess. She's not impressed by the usual bullshit. She doesn't care about money or status. She's real, you know? Down to earth."

Sophia's smile softened into something more genuine, her teasing tone giving way to sincerity. "That's rare, Ethan. Don't brush it off like it's nothing."

"I'm not," I said quickly, but I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, embarrassed by how easily she'd read me. "It's just… complicated."

"Everything worth having is complicated," Sophia said, her voice gentle but firm. "But it sounds like you've met someone who challenges you, and I think that's exactly what you need."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I busied myself putting the perishables in my fridge, hoping she'd let the subject drop. But Sophia, being Sophia, wasn't done yet.

"Just promise me you won't run from this, okay?" she said, her tone softening again. "I know it's scary, especially after everything that happened with…"

She didn't need to finish the sentence. We both knew what she was referring to—my past, the relationships that had ended badly, the trust that had been broken. But I wasn't ready to go there, not now.

"I won't run," I said finally, my voice low but resolute. "But I'm not ready to dive in headfirst either."

Sophia nodded, seeming to understand. "Fair enough. Just… don't let fear make the decisions for you, okay?"

I nodded, grateful for her advice, even if I wasn't sure how to apply it just yet. "Thanks, Soph."

She smiled, reaching out to squeeze my arm again. "Anytime, big brother. Anytime."

With that, the conversation shifted back to lighter topics as we continued to unpack, but her words lingered in my mind. Natalie was different, and that difference scared me more than I cared to admit.

After we'd unloaded the last of the bags, Sophia stood in the doorway, surveying the small apartment with a critical eye. She'd done her best to make the place feel more like a home—adding a few decorative pillows, a rug to brighten up the living room, and even a plant that I was pretty sure I'd kill within the week.

"Well," she said, brushing her hands together, "I think my work here is finished."

I chuckled, leaning against the door frame. "You didn't have to do all this, you know. I was doing fine on my own."

She shot me a look that was part disbelief, part affection. "Sure you were, Mr. DIY. But someone's gotta keep you from getting too comfortable out here in the sticks."

I shook my head, a smile dawning on my face. "You always did have to look out for me, didn't you?"

Sophia shrugged. "It's what little sisters are for."

I followed her to the door, feeling a pang of something—regret, maybe—as I realized she was heading back to Dallas—back to the world I'd left behind. A world I wasn't sure I wanted to return to.

Sophia paused before stepping outside, turning to face me with that familiar, knowing look. "Just remember, Ethan," she said, her voice gentler now, "this bet isn't about proving anything to me. It's about finding out what you really want."

I nodded, her words striking a chord I wasn't ready to deal with just yet. "Yeah. I'll remember."

She reached up to give me a quick hug, her expensive perfume lingering as she pulled away. "Take care of yourself, okay? And don't be a stranger."

"I won't," I promised, watching as she made her way down the stairs and back to my Lamborghini. She gave me one last wave before sliding into the driver's seat, the car purring to life with a sound that made my heart ache just a little.

As I stood in the doorway, watching the car disappear down the street, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss—not just for the luxury of my old life but for the simplicity of this one. Cedar Cove was growing on me, making me question what really mattered. And the more time I spent here, the more I realized I might be starting to figure that out.

After Sophia left, the apartment felt emptier than usual. The quiet was something I'd grown accustomed to, but tonight, it seemed more pronounced. I grabbed my jacket and headed to the local bar.

The place was small, nothing fancy, but it had its own kind of charm. I found a seat at a corner table, ordered a beer, and picked at my dinner; not really hungry, but needing something to do with my hands.

Sophia's words replayed in my mind, mixing with thoughts of Cedar Cove and the people I'd met here. People like Joe who treated me like one of his own despite knowing the truth. And people like Natalie, who didn't care about a person's last name or the weight it carried.

My thoughts stuck on Natalie. Was she at home, relaxing after a long week with the kids? Or maybe she was out with friends, laughing and enjoying herself, completely unaware that I couldn't seem to get her out of my head.

The beer tasted bitter as I took another sip, the sense of uncertainty in me growing stronger. I wasn't sure what it was about Cedar Cove—about Natalie—that made me feel like I was on the brink of something important. But whatever it was, it scared the hell out of me.

As I finished my beer, I saw headlights flash through the bar's window, catching my attention. I glanced up, my heart skipping a beat as I thought I recognized the person stepping out of the car. It couldn't be…

Natalie?