Page 60 of Run
“I think so, too.”
We sit in comfortable silence for another minute. “Hey, where did your parents end up moving to?”
Ethan leans his head back against the couch as he continues kneading my legs. “Just out past Brighton.”
“They still there?”
“No. Mom lives on the outskirts of the city now. She and Dad divorced not long after the move. And then Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he passed about a year ago.”
My hand flies to my mouth. “No way! Ethan, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“Thanks.” He takes my hand in his and brings it down to his lap where he keeps hold of it.
“I wonder why Fonz didn’t tell me about that.”
“I told him not to.”
My eyes lock with Ethan’s. His head is still leaned back against the couch but lolled to the side, toward me. “Why?” I frown at him.
“I was trying to leave you alone.”
We’re quiet for a moment.
“Hey, can you feel this?” He gives my legs a squeeze.
“Yes.” I fold my arms over my chest as I begin the explanation I’ve given many times before. “I had a spinal cord injury that left me temporarily paralyzed, which in turn weakened my leg muscles from not being used for so long. I now have full feeling in my legs, although I never did lose the sense of touch. But now I can feel muscle pain and joint sensation—everything. I just have to build the muscle strength back up in my legs, as well as my core and back. It’s obviously more complicated than that, but that’s the gist of it.”
“Wow.” Ethan lets out a heavy breath. “That’s so wild. I still can’t believe that happened to you. What about the person who hit you? Did they get arrested?”
“No.” Ethan’s hands squeeze my legs and release. “It wasn’t his fault. I wasn’t paying attention. And he wasn’t drinking or speeding or anything.”
“Crazy. And I cannot believe Fonz didn’t tell me. I would have absolutely come to you, Ari. I would have been there every day.” He brings a hand up and runs his knuckles over my jaw.
“I know. That’s why I asked Fonz not to tell you.”
He tilts his head and gives me sad eyes. “Why?”
Oh, let’s see … Because I hold you back. Because I’ve only ever been an obligation for you. Because it’s not your responsibility to always put me back together.
“Honestly?”
“Honesty would be nice.”
“You want the truth?”
He nods.
I give him a slow smile and say, “You can’t handle the truth.” Then snap my fingers and point at him, giving him wide eyes.
He stares at me, biting his lip. “I know it.” He starts snapping his fingers, and closes his eyes. “I can picture Jack Nicholson sitting in the courtroom … It’s got the chick fromG.I. Jane… Shit! I can’t think of the movie title …”
I start counting down, my hand splayed out in front of me, ticking down the digits. “Five, four—”
“Gah, it’s on the tip of my tongue!”
“Three, two—”
“Tom Cruise is in it!”
