“It’s okay, Ashlyn,” Ethan said quietly as he stood up from his seat. “I don’t want to be a problem. I’ll go.”
“You aren’t going anywhere.” I stood up as well, reached over, and grabbed Ethan’s hand before turning back to my father. “You are going to have to get used to the idea sooner or later, Dad. I know you don’t like it, but Ethan’s not leaving.”
A few people at nearby tables had stopped their conversation to listen to ours. Dad didn’t seem to notice.
“This is not a debate,” he said as he pointed a finger at me.
“No,” I responded quickly, “it’s not.”
Dad inhaled loudly, clenched his teeth, and glanced around. He finally noticed that people were staring and lowered his voice.
“I thought Cole was going to talk some sense into you.” Dad proceeded to mumble a few more words under his breath that I didn’t catch.
“What?” I gasped. “What did you say?”
“Cole was supposed to find you and get you to see some reason. Obviously he didn’t.”
Ethan tightened his fingers around mine.
“You…you told Cole to find me?”
“You know he’s a better match for you, Ash.” Dad shook his head slowly.
“Are you serious?” Presley nearly dropped her glass as she pushed away from the table and stepped up close to my father. “You sent than lunatic to find Ashlyn? Do you know what he did?”
“If anyone here is a lunatic, it’s this guy,” Dad said as he pointed right at Ethan’s face. “Cole comes from a good family. He has ambition. This guy is going nowhere fast, and I’m not going to put up with him being here!”
“Miles! Lower your voice!” Vanessa marched up with eyes blazing. She grabbed my father by the arm and pulled him to her side. “People will hear you!”
“She’s doing this on purpose,” Dad said. “I told her not to bring him, and she thinks just because there are people around, I won’t say anything, but she’s wrong! I’d rather embarrass her a bit now than have her constantly embarrassed by this nutcase!”
“Cole hit her!” Presley suddenly yelled. “Ethan’s young and a little weird. He’s got metal all over his face and tattoos, but I know he’s never going to do that shit to her!”
Chills raced from my toes, up my torso, and down my arms. Dad’s mouth dropped open, and Vanessa gasped.
“Sorry about the language, Vanessa,” Presley said with an apologetic shrug.
Vanessa’s wide eyes flashed from me to Ethan and then from my father to Presley.
“Fuck the language.” Vanessa turned to me and grabbed my face with both hands. “Cole hit you? He hit you?”
“Only once,” I replied quietly, trying not to meet her eyes.
“Only once!” Vanessa practically roared. She turned her terrifying gaze to Dad. “Call that district attorney friend of yours. I want charges pressed.”
“No, Vanessa.” I reached up and pulled her hands from my face. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. “It was a long time ago.”
“He couldn’t lay a hand on her last night because Ethan stopped him.” Isaac rejoined the group. He grinned and held up a fist to bump against Ethan’s.
“Ashlyn?” Dad took a step toward me and reached for my hand. “Is all
this true?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Ashlyn, baby, I had no idea. Why didn’t you ever tell me about Cole?”
“I don’t know,” I said with a sniff. “I was embarrassed about the whole thing. You liked him so much, and I didn’t want to jeopardize your business dealings with his family.”