Page 102 of Boss and Brat

“Ethan.” Carter’s voice cut through the air, sharp enough to make Ethan flinch. “Out. Now.”

That tone—low, controlled, furious—sent a shiver down Ethan’s spine. Not fear exactly. More like…oh, I really did it this time.

He unbuckled slowly, fingers fumbling, and pushed the door open. The ocean breeze hit him, cool against the heat crawling up his neck. He stepped out, boots crunching on the gravel, and shut the door carefully, as if being gentle with the truck might somehow help.

Carter slammed his door. Hard.

Ethan winced.

Carter rounded the front of the truck, movements clipped and controlled, eyes dark. He didn’t look at Ethan—just walked past him toward the porch with a kind of deliberate stillness that said he needed space before he trusted himself to speak. The distance was like a cold draft, sharp enough to make Ethan stand a little straighter.

Ethan hesitated at the passenger side, heart thudding.

Should I follow him? Give him space? Stay put? God, I don’t know what he wants right now.

Carter stopped halfway up the steps and turned, eyes locking onto Ethan’s. “Well?” he snapped. “You planning on standing there all night?”

Ethan’s breath caught. “I—I didn’t know if you wanted—”

“I want you inside,” Carter said, voice low and tight. “We’re not doing this out here.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Aknot tightened in his stomach as a cold dread washed over him.

Oh, that sounds bad. That sounds really bad.

He forced his legs to move, each step feeling heavier than the last. The space between them thickened, like the air before a storm. Carter didn’t say another word as Ethan approached, but his eyes followed every movement—sharp, assessing, still burning with leftover fear and anger.

When Ethan reached the steps, Carter turned and walked inside without waiting. Ethan paused at the doorway, heart pounding so hard it almost hurt.

Okay. Deep breath. You can do this. Just… don’t make it worse.

The house greeted him with an unfamiliar feeling upon his entry. The place wasn’t heavy the way the truck but felt hollow, like the walls were holding their breath.

The door clicked shut behind him, and the sound was too loud in the peaceful house. Ethan stood just inside the entryway, hands shoved into his pockets, heart thudding as if he’d runthe entire way home instead of sitting in a truck trying not to breathe too loud.

Carter walked a few steps in, then stopped. His back was to Ethan at first—broad shoulders rising and falling with slow, controlled breaths. Ethan could tell he was trying to calm down. That almost made it worse.

When Carter turned around, his expression wasn’t explosive anger anymore. It was something tighter. Sharper. A mix of fear and disappointment that made Ethan’s stomach twist.

Carter’s voice was low, steady, but there was no softness in it.

“You’re going to receive your punishment in the bathroom.”

Ethan’s entire body went still.

Oh. He’s serious. He’s really serious.

Carter stepped closer, not looming, but close enough that Ethan felt the heat of him. “I want you to go in there and wait for me,” Carter said. “And while you’re waiting, think about why you’re being punished.”

Ethan nodded, but his feet didn’t move. His brain was trapped between he deserved this and he didn’t want to walk in there alone.

Carter’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Ethan.”

Ethan swallowed. “I—I know. I’m going.”

He took a step toward the hallway, then hesitated again, glancing back. “Carter… are you still mad?