The Vincent Brothers (The Vincent Boys #2)(53)

Ethan didn’t lie back in the chair. He sat on the edge facing me with his elbows resting on his knees. His head was under the shade of the umbrella and the serious expression on his face worried me. If this was about Sawyer, I wasn’t ready for that.

“You, uh, enjoying yourself?” he asked

“Yes, but I have a feeling you didn’t just drive an hour and a half to ask me if I was enjoying myself.”

Ethan chuckled and shook his head, “No, I didn’t.”

“Didn’t think so. Spill it Ethan.”

“It’s about Sawyer—”

“Never mind. Shut it, Ethan. I retract that. I don’t want to know what you have to say,” I reached for my bag and started to stand up. “If you want to visit and talk about the weather and try one of Jewel’s tropical drinks you are more than welcome. But I will not talk about Sawyer.”

“Wait, please don’t go,” he begged, standing up with me.

“Are you going to ignore my wishes?” I asked.

His shoulders slumped and he shook his head. “No. I won’t bring him up.”

Sitting back down, I put my bag back beside me and reached inside to get a granola bar. I grabbed an extra one and handed it to Ethan who had also sat back down.

“Here, have a granola bar.”

He reached for it and gave me a weak smile, “Thanks.”

We sat in silence and ate our granola bars. Once I finished mine, I turned to look at him. His face was troubled and I almost asked him if Sawyer was okay. The fear that Sawyer could be hurt or sick battled with the fear Ethan would tell me something I couldn’t handle.

“So, when do you leave for college?” I asked, trying to think of anything other than Sawyer.

“Next month and you?”

I hated admitting this to anyone. Nevertheless, it was time I faced the facts. “Not sure. I’ve had a change of plans due to my dad’s sudden lack of money. So, I’ll be going to the local community college the next two years. I’ve got to figure out what to do after but I have time. Plenty of it.” The sourness from speaking the words aloud settled in my mouth.

“Wow, I’m sorry Lana. I always imagined you going to an Ivy league or something.”

“Nope, not me.” I’d been worried about things other than my education. Bad move.

“Have you talked to Ash?” he asked.

“Don’t want to talk about her either if you don’t mind. And the answer is no.”

He was determined to discuss Sawyer with me. Did he want to know if it was clear for him to ask me out? Surely, he didn’t want to give that train wreck another try. I’d been a horrible date.

“Beau didn’t cheat,” he blurted out quickly.

Why did that news hurt? Why the heck did I care that Sawyer had been dissed for Beau, yet again? If Beau hadn’t cheated then Ash was still with him. She was crazy in love with the guy. Why, why, why? I should not care that Sawyer was alone. I should not care that he got what was coming to him. I should not.

This does not matter. If not this time, there will be a next and a next and a next and each time Sawyer will go running back to her—hoping, waiting and breaking his heart and mine in the process.

“Let’s not talk about Beau either, okay. Actually let’s not talk about anyone in Grove, except you.” I replied with a stern tone that I felt guilty for using. Ethan was nothing but nice.

“Just thought you’d like to know,” he replied, shifting in his seat.

“Don’t care. I closed that door. Or rather it was slammed in my face and I walked away after adding a padlock.”

“You know, sometimes things aren’t what they seem,” he began and I held up my hand to stop him.

“Stop. I don’t know why you’re here. But if it’s because Sawyer put you up to it or Ashton, I’m asking you as a friend to please leave.”

Ethan let out a weary sigh, “No one knows where you are. I kept your secret. Just like I promised. I just thought maybe I could come explain some things for them.”

“Why? Why would you explain anything for them? If I’m not mistaken, you were interested in me and Sawyer came and swooped in and took me right out of your grasp. Am I wrong about that?”

Ethan let out a hard laugh and shook his head, “No, you got it right.”

“Okay, then why are you here trying to help Sawyer smooth things over?” “Because he’s my friend,” Ethan replied. “And so are you.”

He was such a nice guy. Bless his heart; he had no idea what he was mixed up in. This was not fixable.

“Well then, you need better friends,” I muttered.

“Sawyer had never poached on any girl he thought his friends might be interested in. When he acted the way he did with you, I didn’t like it but I knew something was different. You must’ve gotten to him in a way no one else did because he was not acting like himself.”

“I was a means to get back at Ashton,” I replied sourly.

“Maybe in the beginning you were, Lana. I thought that too at one point. I know now that it changed. It became something more.”

“Not enough. Whatever it became, it wasn’t enough. No one will be able to compete with her,” the tears clogging my throat just pissed me off. I was not going to cry again.