Ethan (Alluring Indulgence #5)(105)
Author: Nicole Edwards

Beau was confident that his confusion was written plainly across his face. Based on what he’d learned from Ethan, Curtis shouldn’t know what went down with Jimmy Reardon. Of the men standing in the living room, only Sawyer would’ve been privy to that information.

For clarification, he wanted to ask Curtis for the whole story, but he knew this wasn’t the time or place. And he didn’t really think it would make much of a difference anyway, but he could sense Ethan’s emotions. He could see the way his shoulders deflated and knew he was taking on the responsibility for everything that had happened although he couldn’t have possibly been to blame.

Then again, humans were often strange like that. Taking on blame even when things were out of their control.

As the group disbanded, Beau stayed behind, waiting for Ethan. When he realized Curtis was trying to get Ethan’s attention, Beau snagged Ethan’s arm and then motioned toward the eldest Walker before attempting to sneak out the back door to wait outside.

“Beau, wait.” Curtis’ booming voice thundered through the house, and Beau came up short, much as he had when he’d been a kid and he and Zane had been caught doing something they shouldn’t have been doing.

“Yes, sir?”

“I want to talk to you and Ethan. When everyone leaves.” Curtis’ voice was low, as though he didn’t want the others to hear.

Shit. This couldn’t be good.

“I really need to get home,” Ethan said sullenly, his eyes never making direct contact with his father’s.

“Tough shit, boy,” Curtis replied in his usual growling baritone and then followed Jared and Sheriff Endsley to the back door.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” Ethan groaned, his hand balling into a fist at his side. “I’m not fucking ten years old. I don’t need my father talking to me. It’s not his fucking place.”

Beau placed a hand on Ethan’s arm and wrapped his fingers tightly around his strong bicep, not letting lose when Ethan tried to pull away.

“You don’t know what he is going to say. Give him a chance.”

Ethan glared at him and Beau knew he was overstepping, but he didn’t know what else to do. It wasn’t like they could just walk out. Curtis would just demand they come back and then they’d feel more like children than they did already.

“Sit, boy,” Curtis said to Ethan, motioning to the couch in the living room as he moved around to his recliner.

Beau was uncomfortable, desperately wanting out of this but the look Curtis shot his way said he needed to be there, so Beau followed Ethan around the couch and dropped to one end while Ethan occupied the opposite.

Curtis addressed Ethan directly, and Beau wished like hell the couch would just swallow him whole. He knew Ethan would hold it against him if he witnessed any sort of reprimand from his father – especially if the past was involved.

Then again, if Curtis was about to lay into Ethan, then he wasn’t sure he could sit by and not say something.

“I’m not gonna get in your business,” Curtis began. “I’m not here to ask questions or even suggest that you talk to me, but I am going to inform you that should you need me, I’m here.”

Beau noticed when Ethan’s body tensed, his hands fisting in his lap. Did he want to talk to his father? It wasn’t a bad idea. He wasn’t sure whether Ethan felt any relief whatsoever after sharing his story about what happened because they hadn’t spoken another word about it. The last couple of days had been strangely comfortable, almost soothing. They’d spent alone time together, much of it being naked and Beau was under the impression Ethan had wanted to bury his pain, and Beau would offer himself to Ethan for that purpose as long as Ethan wasn’t hiding from him.

Would this change everything? Would all of their progress be reduced to a couple of days of mere memories? Beau couldn’t handle that any more than he could handle hiding what he felt for Ethan.

“Why’d you do it?” Ethan asked, shocking Beau with his question.

God, he didn’t need to be here for this.

“Do what?” Curtis asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing one ankle over the opposite knee.

“Jimmy. Why’d you let him antagonize you?”

“I didn’t let that bastard do anything, Ethan,” Curtis answered roughly. “Let me let you in on a little secret. I’m just as human as you are. Things get to me. I let Jimmy get to me long before he did what he did last night.”

Beau watched the exchange between father and son, reading between the lines. Even if Curtis didn’t admit it, he knew what happened to Ethan – what Jimmy had done. How could he not? He was Ethan’s father. Coyote Ridge was a small town and surely Curtis and Lorrie would’ve been worried about one of their kids if they disappeared off the grid for longer than a day. Ethan had to know that, right?