Stitches and Scars (34 page)

“Believe me, I’m far from perfect.”

“You are to the person who loves you. You are to me.” She smiled. “Unless, of course, there’s some big secret flaw you aren’t telling me about.” Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him.

“The only secret I’ve ever kept from you was that I loved you. And I could only keep that from you for a day. I’ll always be honest with you. Always.” Dropping his head down, he kissed her; their tongues touched, and they both felt the spark of energy between them ignite. When he pulled away, he brushed his lips along her ear. “I have something I want to show you,” he whispered.

“Okay,” she said, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Close your eyes.” She rolled her eyes playfully before shutting them tight. Ethan kept his arms around her waist and led her to the opposite side of the room, closer to his bed. Once they were in position, he turned her body so she faced her picture and stood behind her. “All right … open.” He couldn’t see her eyes open from where he stood, but her gasp signaled when she did.

“When did you … ? I mean I never asked who it was, I just … when?” She turned around to face him, her eyes full of question.

“When I first saw you standing there in front of this picture, I had no clue that you were the person who took it. I had already seen it once earlier that night and had my eye on it. Then, after seeing you, after speaking with you, I felt this indescribable connection and I had no clue if I’d see you again. There was no doubt in my mind that I needed any tie to you that I could have, anything that would make me remember you. And this picture was the closest thing I could get. Seeing you the next night and then at the hospital and then the grocery store and practically every day since then has been amazing.”

Kate’s cheeks blushed pink, and tears pooled up in the corners of her dark eyes. She ducked her head down and placed it against his chest, directly over his heart. “I love you, Ethan,” she whispered.

He held her in his arms for a few minutes and simply enjoyed having her there, in his room, in his arms. He felt happy and complete in a way he’d never thought possible.

“You know, I’m still freaking out about meeting your parents in a week,” Kate finally said, breaking the silence. “You really should have prepared me a little better.”

“Now where’s the fun in that? You should have seen your face. That alone was worth waiting to tell you,” he teased.

Kate flipped her head back and glared at him, her eyes squinting in an adorable way.

“I promise that the next time I have something to tell you I won’t wait to spring it on you last minute. Better?”

“Better,” she said, grinning.

“Does this mean that you’ll come to lunch at Henry’s tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground. Walking back slowly, he stopped when his legs hit the bed and sat down, pulling her with him. She settled her legs on either side of his waist and slid her fingers through his hair.

“The first time I saw you, I got lost in your eyes. I remember thinking that they were the most interesting shade of blue I’d ever seen. They almost looked gray. I had a hard time talking when you looked straight at me; I felt so stupid. But at the same time, I didn’t want to look away either; I couldn’t.” Kate’s eyes looked far away as she told her story, reliving it like it was yesterday. “When you answered your phone and walked away, I was sure I’d never see you again. And then I thought for sure someone was playing a mean trick on me when I saw you the next night, only to have you leave again. I figured I’d pressed my luck at that point and that it would be the last time I’d see you.” She was silent for a moment and her smile slowly faded. Emotion flashed in her eyes and she dropped her head.

“Ethan, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?”

“For everything that happened with Scott. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about seeing him again. I should have told you. And I should have said something at the hospital when he was with me, but then you said you couldn’t do it any more.” She paused to catch her bearings. Even remembering it brought her heartache. “I just couldn’t help but think that you’d finally realized you were too good for me. But even then, I should have made you stay and talk to me. I should have told you right then that I loved you. I should have—”

“Kate,” he cut her off. “You can’t take all the blame. I should have said something too. I should have said something when I saw that he texted you the night of the football game.”

“Wait, you saw that?”

“Yes. And I automatically assumed you were letting him back into your life and that was wrong of me. I should have asked you about it, but I didn’t. And then I had a second chance outside of the hospital, and I still didn’t do it.” He shook his head. “I saw you with him and I thought for sure you were getting back together. I should have listened to my heart and fought for you.”

“As I remember correctly, you did fight for me,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

“I guess I did. I’m not normally a violent person, but when he started comparing the two of us, I lost it. I would never, could never, do to you what he did.” He dropped his head in disgust. “I’d never ask for your hand that way. When I do it, I’ll mean it.”

Kate’s eyes went wide and she paused. It took him a second to realize why she was so shocked, and when it did, he berated himself for dropping something like that so casually. Preparing to apologize, he opened his mouth to speak when Kate cut him off.

“I know you would never do that to me. And I … I look forward to the day that you mean it.” She stumbled over her words, her cheeks red.

The smile on his face signified the joy he felt. He didn’t have to say a word. Instead he simply kissed her deeply and let her feel the love and happiness he had for her.

When their tongues touched, his heart beat quick and strong and she enveloped him, heart and mind. Leaning in closer, never taking her lips off his, Kate pushed him back and held her body over his.

“Ethan,” she said between kisses.

“Yes.”

“I know this isn’t the best time to ask, but I’m kind of hungry. Do you think Trent left any food in the house?”

He laughed and pulled back, looking at her. “I’m sure I can find something. I go check and we’ll eat in here.”

“Sounds perfect.”

Without another word, he bounded off the bed, threw open the door and headed for the kitchen. But before he made it down the hall, he heard Kate yelling from his room.

“Make sure you don’t grab any grapes!”

***

“Kate, you look fabulous. Why are you so nervous anyway? It’s not like you’re meeting his actual parents or anything. That’s next week.” Sophie’s hand flew up to her mouth, trying to stifle the giggle that was threatening to escape.

Ever since Kate had gone home yesterday and told her about the big ‘parent meet,’ she’d been laughing it up, constantly reminding her of the impending appointment.

“Soph, you could at least try to be more sympathetic. Do you remember what it was like the first time you met Logan’s parents?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. I wasn’t nervous at all. I knew they’d like me,” she said, shrugging.

“Yeah, well, you had Elle as a friend to help soften the blow.”

“True.” She nodded. “But don’t forget, you do know Henry. You told me that he was really nice to you.”

“He is, but I mean … Sophie, I’m not you. I don’t glow like you do.” She flailed her arms out, motioning to her cheery friend.

Stepping forward, Sophie grabbed hold of Kate’s hands and looked her in the eyes. “You glow to Ethan. And that’s what matters. You are fabulous, Katherine Thomas, and they will know it as soon as they meet you.”

Kate knew she wasn’t only talking about meeting Henry and Lori. It was her way of calming her nerves; not only for today, but for the meeting she would have in a week. She smiled appreciatively. “I hope you’re right.”

“I’m always right.” Sophie rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Now that you’re nice and calm, what do you say we go torture Elle?” Her eyes gleamed.

“All right, but let’s go easy on her. I’m pretty sure she’s more nervous than I am.”

Smiling, Sophie took off down the hall with Kate following at her heels. Just as the two of them were about to enter Elle’s room, they heard her talking.

“Is Trent here already?” Kate whispered. “He and Ethan were supposed to come together.”

“I don’t think so. I didn’t hear the door, did you?”

She shook her head at Sophie, took another step forward, and listened. She could faintly hear Elle speaking and she couldn’t believe what she heard.

“It’s so nice to see you again, Dr. Williams. This is a beautiful house you have. Mrs. Williams, this is a beautiful house. Oh, hi, Dr. Williams. It’s good to see you again too. Trent talks about you guys all the time. Ugh, who am I kidding?” She groaned. “This is completely ridiculous. I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

Both Kate and Sophie peeked around the doorway and saw Elle standing in front of her mirror, nervously adjusting her outfit while she continued to mumble to herself. Kate contemplated leaving her to calm down on her own, but Sophie had other plans.

“Elle,” she said in a sing-song voice. “Are you excited?

She spun around. “Seriously, Soph, do I look excited?” Her hands shot up towards her shiny face. “Would I be sweating like a freaking race horse if I wasn’t nervous?”

“I’m sorry,” her blond friend said with repentant eyes. “I guess you’re a little more nervous than I thought.”

“Nervous? Sophie, have you even stopped to think about the fact that Henry Williams, Dr. ‘Do-Me’ Williams, is his dad? His dad.” She repeated for emphasis. “The very guy I’ve had fantasies about and the same guy who makes it almost impossible for me to even smell Band-Aids without getting excited. So, yes, Soph, I think you can say I’m a little more than nervous.”

“Band-Aids? Really?” Sophie’s face scrunched up, trying to understand the appeal.

“That’s beside the point!” she snapped. “Right now, I just need help calming down. Because I’m this close to calling Trent and telling him I can’t go.”

Both friends’ mouths dropped open. They’d seen Elle nervous before, but this was something different. She was terrified.

“Elle.” Sophie stepped up and placed her hands on her friend’s shoulders. “Sweetheart, everything is going to be great. You care about Trent, right?” Elle nodded quickly, twisting her fingers nervously. “Then that’s all that matters. So what if you think his dad is hot?” Sophie shrugged.

“Who doesn’t?” Kate added, and walked over to the two of them. “And believe me, I’ve had my fair share of fantasies that included Dr. Do-Me.”

“Really?” Elle looked at her with hopeful eyes.

“Yes. And from what Ethan’s told me, all the females who work in the hospital feel the same way. They even have a nickname for him – and Ethan, for that matter. They call them the two Ds, Dr. Dreamy and Dr. Divine. So just forget about it. You like Trent, he likes you, and you’re meeting his parents. No big deal. You just so happen to know one of them. And if this helps, I hear his wife Lori is wonderful. They’re perfect together.”

At Kate’s words, Elle took a deep breath and relaxed for the first time all day. “Thanks,” she sighed.

“No problem. But I’ll have you know, I expect you to do the same thing for me before I meet Ethan’s parents next week. If his dad looks anything like his son, I’m going to have just as difficult a time.” Both of her friends doubled over in laughter, and she couldn’t help but join them. Their giggles were cut short when they heard someone calling from the front room.

“Kate?” Ethan’s voice echoed down the hall and was soon followed by Trent’s and Logan’s.

“We’re back here!” the three yelled in unison.

Logan stuck his head around the corner first, his brown eyes lighting up as soon as he saw Sophie. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said, walking into the room. “Guess where we’ve just been invited?”

“To lunch at the Williams’?” she squeaked.

“Yep. Trent figured that since the four of them were going, we needed to tag along. Apparently his mom is a the-more-the-merrier type.”

“She sure is. If she could, she’d adopt everyone,” Trent said as he walked into the room, hearing the end of Logan’s comment. “Hey, baby.” He walked over to Elle and wrapped her up in his arms. “You ready to hit the road?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She gave a weak smile.

Ethan wrapped his arms around Kate and pulled her in. Ever so gently, he kissed along her neck and worked his way closer to her ear.

“Ethan,” she whispered.

“Yes?” he asked, knowing exactly what he was doing.

“If you keep doing that …” She trailed off, her voice breathy.

“If I keep doing it, what? Are you saying we won’t be able to leave?”

“Maybe.” She smirked.

“Oh, really?” he teased.

“Yes, really.”

“All right, all right.” He straightened his back and put a few inches between them. “I’ll let you go this time. Besides, I think I could have some fun playing with you at the Williams’ house.”