Page 49 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
“I’ve been good,” he tells me, still working on the cupcakes. “Grab those decorations and follow behind me.”
I grab the flower decorations I picked up and start putting them on the completed cupcakes. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“Yeah,” he answers, “been seeing her for about a year. Her name is Raven.”
“I’m happy for you. Are you still working at the prison?”
He nods. “Always will, I think.”
“Yeah, it works for you.”
I place a flower down on the cupcake and stare at it, wondering if I should just come out and tell Ethan I’m sorry. I know it’ll probably start an argument, and today is the first time he’s spoken to me without ice in his voice. I’m not sure I want to risk ruining that.
Still, he deserves to hear I’m sorry, even if it’s going to cause chaos.
“I know you’re angry at me, and rightly so, but I want to say something, and I’d appreciate if you let me.”
He pauses for a moment, but he doesn’t tell me I can’t speak, so I take the chance to.
“I’m sorry. I know that means little to you, and I don’t expect you to understand because, honestly, I don’t think I’d understand. But I am sorry. I left at a time when things were chaos in my head. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I know now that I wasn’t. I was thinking only of myself and I didn’t consider what it would do to all of you. I was just … in a bad place. I know that’s hard to understand, but I never meant to hurt you, Ethan. For whatever it’s worth, your friendship meant the world to me and it still does.”
For a moment, he continues icing the cupcakes as if he hasn’t heard me, and then he finally stops and looks over at me, really holding my eyes, and I see understanding there, understanding that I never thought I’d see again. “I get it, believe me I do. I did things to you I shouldn’t have done, and you forgave me. Because of that, I’ll forgive you, because you do mean something to me. But am I hurt? Pissed? Still sore about it? Yeah. I’m going to need time to get through that. Can you give me that?”
I nod, trying to fight back the relieved tears in my eyes, because I’ve missed him, so damned much. “Yeah,” I whisper. “Yeah, of course.”
“Thanks,” he says. “Now hurry up, you’re falling behind. We need to get these done before Tanner gets back.”
I can’t help the smile on my face.
Maybe things will work out after all.
Just maybe.
TANNER STARES AT ALL the cupcakes, his face lacking expression. For a second, a split second, I wonder if I made a huge damned mistake. Then I realize, even if he doesn’t like it, too bad. I’m doing this for Celia, I’m not doing it for him. Well, that’s partially a lie, I am doing it for him, but mostly I’m doing it for Celia.
She deserves to be honored.
“You did all of this?” Tanner asks, his eyes scanning the cupcakes.
“Well, Ethan and I did. I thought we could go down to the local shelter and give joy to some of those families, just like Celia would have done. I couldn’t think of a better way to honor her.”
Tanner looks like he’s about to lose his shit, but not in a bad way, in a good way. Madeline stares between us, confused, and looks to the cupcakes, saying, “Is this something special or …?”
Tanner looks to her. “It’s Celia’s birthday.”
“I know, but why the cupcakes.”
He looks back to me. “It’s tradition.”
“Oh,” she murmurs. “Are you going to eat all of those?”
God. She’s not making herself look very smart right about now.
“No, we’re taking them to a homeless shelter. You want to come?”
She shakes her head. “Oh, no thanks. I’ll stay here. Have fun, though.”
I scrunch up my nose, horrified, but I say nothing. I look to Tanner and say, “Are you ready?”
He nods, and walks over, surprising me when he puts a hand on my shoulder, squeezing just slightly. “Thank you, Callie.”
God.
That’s the best thing that could have ever come out of this situation.
My heart races and I nod. “You’re very welcome.”
We gather up the cupcakes and Tanner and I find the closest shelter and drive over there, just him and me. The drive is silent, and I don’t really know what I’m supposed to say, but when we arrive, my heart swells as I realize what we’re about to do is going to make someone’s day.
We pick up all the cupcakes and carry them inside. We’re greeted by an older lady, who is well presented and clean. She smiles and stares at all the cupcakes. “What do we have here?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.
“It’s a tradition of ours,” I smile. “We made them for a special person’s birthday, and we’d like to share them out.”
