bags and blankets and struggled down the tunnels to the dock. Over the pile of blankets, she saw Ethan resting against the back of the SUV. He must have spotted her and popped the hatch and then jogged over to help.
“Thanks,” she muttered when he took the blankets from her. He put them in trunk and she tossed the boys’ stuff on top. She got in the car and rested her head against the cool window, grateful for the frosty interior.
As he pulled out of the stadium, Ethan asked her about her cramps.
“What cramps?”
“Don’t play that game with me, Mia. I saw you flexing your hands and legs. Glove box—running gel. Now,” he ordered.
She glanced over at him and found serious eyes on her and did as he ordered. A grin played with the corners of her mouth. She liked when he took care of her like that.
“Ugh,” she said after swallowing the gross gel. “Can we stop for a burger or something? I’m starving.”
“We can do whatever you like,” he answered, a smile warming his voice.
She wanted to do her husband. Did he mean that too?
Ethan
He and Bridgette successfully put the boys to bed without waking them up. He’d said good night to her before heading to the kitchen where Mia had stayed when they’d arrived home—Luke, Allie, and Kaitlyn had been waiting for them.
After they stopped to get her a burger, her energy levels gradually ticked lower. That show had been intense.
Sometimes he forgot that she could sing. Day to day, Mia was the mother to their boys. She was his wife, his lover. But the times he got to see her perform, he was blown away. Like tonight.
It had been magical. She’d absolutely killed it. The hometown crowd spurred her on and he didn’t think the crowds at his games came close to this crowd in terms of volume. They sang along, bouncing to the music.
His awe turned to worry when he saw her over by Todd’s drum set, chugging the water and flexing her hands. Close to one hundred degrees and humid, he knew she was hurting.
As he entered the stairway, Mia’s voice drifted up to him. He slowly, and as quietly as he could in her old house, made his way down the stairs. “What did you think of the show, squirt?”
“So awesome,” Kaitlyn exclaimed excitedly. This wasn’t her first show. She’d been to many of Mia’s concerts over the years and that was Kaitlyn’s typical response.
“What about you, Miss Manager?” Mia asked Allie.
“As you know, I was very nervous about the setlist, as well as you performing in those conditions, but I really liked how it all came together. I’m so in love with ‘Crumbling.’ I know I heard it before the shows, but with the entire band and the way you performed it, so beautiful,” Allie responded and Ethan took a couple more steps.
He liked that song too … even the message.
Can you remember when life was good?
Of all the happy times that stood?
Before a moment ripped away
All of the love we had that day
Whatever happened to you and me?
How did our world start crumbling …
Away?
Our life crumbling …
Our love crumbling …
Away
He wondered too … what had happened to them—their love—that ate at their foundation? Could they fix it? He damn well was going to try.
“I’m sorry I made you nervous. I know you were only looking out for me. I kept looking over at all you guys. It was so nice to have everyone there supporting me. I loved seeing the excitement on the boys’ faces. It made me sad when I saw Ethan and Bridge leave with their little sleeping bodies.”
Ethan paused when Luke asked, “Sad it’s over?”
“No, I’m so damn glad it’s over. I need a break. Time to relax.”
She’d said that before but would she actually take a break this time? Would she take the time to work on them and their relationship?
“Any plans?” Luke pried.
“No. Nothing major. A few meetings here and there, but that’s it. Your wife is pretty good at canceling things for me.”
Ethan decided to stop eavesdropping and get down to the kitchen. When he entered the room, Mia looked up from her perch on the kitchen counter, a bowl in one hand and in the other, a spoon half-way to her parted lips.
“Ice cream?” she asked, holding up her bowl. He wasn’t hungry, but he’d eat the entire contents of the refrigerator to be near her right now. Moving further into the kitchen, he