The DC winter air hit me like a slap as I stepped
off the plane. I pulled my coat tighter, shivering.
Ethan was easy to spot in the crowd, his height
and good looks drawing attention.
“Mom asked me to pick you up,” he said, taking
my suitcase and turning to leave. He paused,
glancing back. “Don’t get any ideas. I didn’t
volunteer.”
I smiled, my expression carefully blank.
“Thanks.”
He seemed to grit his teeth before striding off
towards the parking garage. I didn’t rush,
keeping my own pace. He was already waiting
by the car when I arrived, looking impatient.
“Hurry up. I have plans tonight.”
I ignored the passenger seat and opened the
back door.
<
“Ashley!” His voice was colder than the
December air.
I met his gaze calmly. “Isn’t the front seat for girlfriends?”
He slammed the car door, a harsh laugh
escaping his lips. “You’re really pushing it. Fine, sit wherever you want.”
The drive was silent. As we pulled up to the Miller’s brightly lit house, my legs felt heavy. Ethan stopped beside me. “What are you afraid of? He’s not going to bite,” he said, looking
down at me.
It wasn’t fear, it was shame. Shame at facing
the man I once called Mr. Miller.
“I’ll leave early. Come with me,” Ethan said,
heading towards the house. I hesitated. He
turned back, clicking his tongue impatiently.
“What are you waiting for? Come on.” He
く
beckoned, a familiar gesture, reminding me of
how he used to wait for me after school.
A wave of acceptance washed over me. Maybe
being just friends wasn’t so bad after all. I
smiled. “Coming.”
He looked startled, then scowled for some
reason, but slowed his pace.
Dinner was tense. Mr. Miller, his health failing,
wanted to move back to DC permanently. Mrs.
Miller remained impassive. The icy silence
between them was heavier than any argument.
After dinner, Mr. Miller called Ethan to his
study. Half an hour later, Ethan stormed down,
dragging me out of the house. I glanced back at
Mrs. Miller, her face a mask of cold fury in the
lamplight. It sent a shiver down my spine. I’d
lived with the Millers for a while, spent a lot of
time with Mrs. Miller. This was the first time I’d
seen such a chilling expression on her usually
kind face.
20
I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Ethan
practically shoved me into the car, his anger palpable. He drove recklessly back to his
apartment. He told me to go inside. I wouldn’t
go back to that apartment, not after everything.
Our relationship, like me moving out, was a
one–way street.
“Ashley, get out of the car.”
“I’m not going up there with you.” I pulled out
my phone, my voice steady. “If you force me, I’ll
call the police.”
“Go ahead. Ask them if it’s illegal for a
boyfriend to bring his girlfriend home.”
“We broke up, Ethan.”
“I never said that.”
“Does this really matter now?” I wanted to
laugh but I was too tired “Ethan I don’t want
く
to fight. I’m exhausted. I want to go home and
sleep.”
“I thought you had plans tonight?”
“Go to your plans. I’ll take a cab.”
He stood outside the car, shrouded in shadows,
his gaze intense. After a long moment, he
relented. “I’ll take you home. But if you refuse
again, you’re not going anywhere tonight.”
