I Took His Own Radio Advice And Walked Away From Seven Years Chapter 08

I Took His Own Radio Advice And Walked Away From Seven Years Chapter 08

Ethan did not leave Bayport. He found a place near the documentary office and appeared outside the building every day. At first, he brought breakfast. Then he started bringing lunch and medication for my stomach.

Whenever he saw me, he tried to hand me something. I never took it. Eventually, he stopped blocking my path and left the bags with security instead. Whenever I saw his name on one, I asked the guard to return it unopened.

A week later, we finished an overnight shoot. My coworkers packed the equipment and left one by one. I checked the gear list and was the last person to walk out of the location. Ethan was still waiting outside. He carried a thermos. The moment he saw me, he came over.

“Claire, I asked the crew and found out you’d be filming late tonight.”

He held out the thermos.

“It’s soup. Have some when you get home.”

I did not take it.

“I told you to stop coming here.”

“I didn’t go inside. I didn’t interfere with your shoot.”

“So you stood out here all night?”

“I only want to make things right.”

His voice softened.

“I failed you before. From now on, if you’re sick, I will come to you immediately, no matter where I am.”

I gave him a humorless smile. I had waited seven years to hear those words. I had sat through an entire IV alone in a hospital room. I had waited while every call I made went unanswered. Now he was finally willing to put me first. But I did not need it anymore.

“Ethan, what happened between us can’t be fixed with one meal.”

His grip tightened around the container.

“I know. I was wrong about the hospital. I thought it was only your stomach acting up. I didn’t realize it was that serious. If I had known…”

“If you had known, would you have come?”

Ethan fell silent. I looked at him steadily.

“I told you I was in the hospital. You didn’t ask which room. You didn’t ask what the doctor said. You told me to stop making trouble because Tara hadn’t finished recording her show.”

His face went pale.

“Claire, I’m sorry.”

He stepped closer, his voice growing rough.

“I ended my partnership with Tara. I publicly clarified our relationship. No one will misunderstand us again, and I will never let her come between us.”

I stepped back before he could touch me.

“Ending your partnership with Tara was your decision. Correcting a lie you allowed people to believe was something you should have done long ago. Neither one is a condition for my forgiveness.”

“I’m not trying to force you to forgive me.”

His explanation came quickly.

“I only want you to know that I can change. Give me a little time. Please. I can make up for everything I denied you before, one thing at a time.”

I looked into his bloodshot eyes and felt nothing. There had been a time when one gentle word from him would have made me invent every excuse he needed. Now, no matter what he said, I no longer wanted to believe him.

“Whether you change is up to you. But I will not stand still and wait for you.”

All the color left Ethan’s face. His lips moved, but he could not speak. After a long time, he asked hoarsely, “After seven years together, you really won’t give me another chance?”

“No.”

A coworker called from a short distance away, asking if I had finished checking the equipment. I answered and walked past Ethan. He remained where he was, holding the soup I had refused.

Without looking back, I carried my interview notes toward my waiting coworker.