Chapter 10 - Ethan Asked to Meet
Three years after hotel night, Ethan requested meeting.
I agreed in public café.
He looked older.
Calmer.
“Noah knows?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He told me therapy.
Parenting.
Job in healthcare administration under compliance monitoring.
No romance with Natalie.
Dating nobody.
Then:
“I need to apologize for one thing specifically.”
“Only one?”
He smiled sadly.
“The rideshare.”
I waited.
“I knew you were driving nights.”
“Yes.”
“I let you.”
“Yes.”
“I knew you were exhausted, and I still took money because part of me believed your effort was proof you loved me enough to survive anything.”
That was painfully precise.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you hate me?”
“No.”
He seemed relieved.
“Do you forgive me?”
I thought.
“Mostly.”
“Could we ever—”
“No.”
He stopped.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
That was final.
We hugged before leaving.
May you like
Historical love.
No future.
