Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always: A Short Story Read Online Free Page B

Denny, my boss at this restaurant where I waitress. When I told him my plans for this road trip, he understood and said something about only being young once. He’s having his niece fill in for me while I’m gone and promised me I’d still have my job when I get back, but I doubt that’d be the case if I stayed away too much longer.
    “Yeah, I’m supposed to start work on that house being built up on Maple Street in a week.” He sighs heavy heartedly. “I guess it’s time to return to the real world.” He pauses, assessing me. “Although…” He trails off, cracking the tiniest smile.
    “What?” I ask as he stares at me with this strange look on his face. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    He shrugs, his smile expanding. “Because I was thinking about taking another route back home.”
    “What sort of route?” I ask curiously.
    He bites on the end of his pen, studying me, his eyes following the beads of water rivering from my hair down my chest. “I was thinking maybe the beach sort of route.”
    My mood perks up and it seems to boost his too. “Are you being serious? You want to stop by the beach on our way home?”
    He nods, his smile breaking all the way through. “Yeah… you’ve been saying how much you hate the cold and so I figured we could head down south to South Carolina and spend a day there before we head west… maybe to the beach you said you went to as a kid.”
    I attempt not to smile, but I can’t help it. “I can’t believe you remembered that.”
    He sets his journal aside and scoots closer to me. “How could I not?” he asks, cupping my cheek. “It was probably the only pleasant story you’ve ever told me about your childhood.”
    “That’s because I went on the vacation with my friend’s family,” I tell him. “Not my own family.”
    “I remember,” he says. “You said it was your favorite vacation ever.”
    “It was… I actually felt happy for once… and content.” I pause. “Although, this one easily tops it.”
    He gives me a questioning look. “I’m kind of surprised you said that.”
    I’m baffled. “Why? I’ve been having fun and I thought you knew that.”
    “I did know, but…” He struggles, shifting his weight, and then he places his hands on the tops of my thighs. “You’ve been so upset since Chicago… and then last night…” He waits for me to explain, but I still don’t feel like I want to tell him.
    “It’s not because of the vacation,” I promise. “Although I’m not a huge fan of the mountains, I’m still having fun with you… everything is fun with you.”
    “Then why does it seem like you’ve been upset lately?” he asks, searching my eyes for something. “Ever since we visited Ella and Micha. And you won’t talk about it.”
    “Ethan…” I trail off, unsure. “I just don’t think I can talk to you about this.”
    “Why not?” he asks, starting to get frustrated. “Goddammit, Lila. I wish you’d just tell me because it’s driving me crazy. You tell me a lot of things and now suddenly you won’t… it makes me think it has something to do with me.”
    I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t talk to you about this… I just can’t…” I’m growing worried because I can feel a fight approaching, just like the one we had back in December.
    “Why not?” he asks, but there’s wariness in his voice and I wonder if he already knows what I’m thinking about.
    “Because the last time I brought it up we ended up fighting,” I say quietly. “And I don’t want to fight.”
    He tenses and I know he’s figured out what’s been bothering me, that it’s about marriage and our future. He lets out a slow breath and I feel like I’m going to cry because I want him to just say it.
Lila, I want you for the long run
. It doesn’t have to be
Lila, will you marry me?
I just want to know what’s ahead of us, more than just the next few days.
    “What can I do to make you feel better?” he asks with