Page 19 of Unbearable

“No, it’s not bad.” She let out a breath in relief. “This is the first summer I’ve had air conditioning anyway. I’m used to the hot.”

“That’s right. I remember Brooke saying something about you having air conditioning installed last year.”

He started the ignition, and they pulled away from the curb. She guided him across the suburb to a small Italian restaurant. He found a place in the back of the restaurant and pulled the truck in.

She met him at the back of the truck before he could come around to open her door. There was no reason for her sister’s boyfriend to work that hard at tending to her.

“This place makes a great parmesan,” she said as they walked to the door.

“Veal, chicken, or eggplant?”

“Any of them. You just can’t make a bad choice.” They were escorted to a table toward the back of the restaurant. Fox held her chair until she was settled at the table.

“I’ll have water,” he said. She doubled the order, and they picked up their menus. “I think I’ll take your advice and order the chicken parm.”

“So, how is Brooke?” she asked after they placed their order. As much as she hated to bring up her sister, it seemed wrong not to. She needed a reminder that this wasn’t a date.

“Good, I guess.”

“Ethan?”

“Ethan’s great,” he answered with more enthusiasm. “He got his own library card the other day. Brought home a massive stack of books. He thinks he’s all that now.” Fox’s face lit with a smile that made her knees weak. It was a good thing she was already sitting down, or she would have melted to the floor.

“I love when he stays with me,” she agreed. “I let him pick out the movie we watch in the evening. It always involves a dragon.” They both smile at each other. Then Fox sobered.

“I worry about him,” he said. “If you had to take Ethan and run, would you? If he was in danger?”

“Of course. Why?” He was starting to worry her. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing yet, but Brooke has been acting more erratic lately. I just need to know that you’ll be willing to do whatever you have to for Ethan.” He stopped talking when the waitress arrived. They lapsed into silence.

“You’re scaring me, Fox,” she finally whispered.

“I’m scared too.” He sighed and looked up at her. “It’s not fair, you know.”

“What’s not fair?”

“That Ethan’s not yours. That I didn’t meet you first.”

Bailey felt her head swim at his words. She had felt the same way so many times. Why did her thankless sister get the best things in life? Not that she didn’t have a good life, but Ethan and Fox deserved better.

“Fox—” She didn’t know what she wanted to say, but she didn’t get the chance.

“I know,” he admitted. “I’ve stepped way outside the line.”

“You can’t help how you feel.”

“But I can keep from saying it out loud.” His gaze moved around the room until they settled back on her. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m with Brooke, and Ethan needs me. What I want isn’t important.”

CHAPTER 7

Fox satoutside the preschool Ethan attended. The text had said simply that Brooke would be home late and to pick up Ethan. He had left work early to drive back across town in time to be there when the bell rang. Climbing out of his truck, he joined the other adults milling around the gate to the school. Moments later the bell rang, and teachers marched their students to the gate.

Ethan ran toward him waving a paper in his small hand. “Fox, look!” he yelled. He was caught by the teacher at the gate and told to wait like everyone else.

Fox hid his grin at the boy’s rampant enthusiasm and his sudden dismay. When it was finally his turn, the teacher checked his driver’s license before releasing Ethan to him. He appreciated her diligence.

“Look what I drawed,” Ethan said, happiness once again etched on his face.