THE LIFE ETHAN COLE NEVER EXPECTED
Chapter 3
Ethan didn’t tell anyone.
June didn’t either.
But Greyhaven noticed.
Greyhaven always noticed.
Walter noticed first.
They were working on an old truck when Walter looked at Ethan.
“You’ve been smiling.”
Ethan continued tightening a bolt.
“No.”
“You have.”
“I’m concentrating.”
“On what?”
“The truck.”
Walter looked at the truck.
Then at Ethan.
“Truck’s been broken for twenty minutes.”
Ethan stopped.
Walter grinned.
“You like her.”
Ethan sighed.
“Who?”
Walter laughed.
“You’re terrible.”
Ethan wiped his hands.
“Don’t start.”
“I haven’t started anything.”
“You are.”
Walter leaned against the workbench.
“She’s good for you.”
Ethan looked down.
He didn’t deny it.
Walter’s expression softened.
“You’ve spent a long time thinking you were supposed to keep moving.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Maybe I was.”
“Maybe.”
Walter picked up a wrench.
“Or maybe you finally found somewhere worth staying.”
Ethan said nothing.
That evening, he went to the diner.
June was closing.
She looked at him.
“You came late.”
“I know.”
“You always come late.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“Why are you here?”
Ethan looked around.
The diner was empty.
Chairs were already on the tables.
The lights above the counter were dim.
He took a breath.
“I wanted to see you.”
June stopped.
She studied him.
Then quietly said:
“Why?”
Ethan looked at her.
Because he had never been good with words.
Because he could repair an engine but couldn’t explain what was happening inside his chest.
Because saying it aloud would make it real.
He finally said:
“Because I miss you when I don’t.”
June’s eyes softened.
She looked away.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then:
“You’re making this very difficult.”
Ethan smiled.
“How?”
She looked back at him.
“Because I miss you too.”
