Ethan awoke again to the sound of the big door opening and closing. He let out a huff.
He just wanted to be alone.
"Rox." He didn't even feel himself whisper the word. He didn't know where it came from.
Except he did.
He had been dreaming of her. Of them. Together. They were in his bed. Tangled together under the sheets. Her hands were in his hair. His lips on her bare skin. The sound of rain hitting the bedroom window setting the tone for what was surely going to be an amazing night.
He shook his head.
It was just a dream. A fucking dream and nothing more.
He hated this damn cell with every fiber of his being.
"You alright there son?" His father's voice broke the silence and he shot up from his spot on the small cot.
"Dad?" He couldn't believe his father was here. The last time he'd seen him he was telling him how he pretty much wished he was dead.
"Pretty sure I'm the only one who calls you son." He was surprised by how gentle his father's voice was. He expected yelling and cussing and things being thrown.
His father wasn't one for sympathy.
"Why are you here?" He let out a sigh as he dropped his head to his hands.
"Got a call that you needed help." He heard the older man take a few steps closer and he did his best to will him away.
"I'm fine." He huffed out.
And he'd be even better if he could just get back to Rox's side. Where he belonged.
"Clearly." Ethan brought his head up at his father's statement. He was one to judge him.
"I need to get to Rox." He whispered after a minute.
He knew right then and there that he was an emotional mess. He'd never have dreamt of saying something like that to his father two weeks ago.
"I know son." His father's reply surprised him.
He wondered sometimes how much his father really knew. He was a pretty obvious guy and his thoughts and feelings were often shared with those around him. But for some reason, Ethan got the feeling that he was holding back when it came to Rox.
"She's probably terrified." He whispered. He felt his heart breaking in his chest. He just wanted her in his arms.
"Her aunt and Noa are with her." He guessed that his words were supposed to make him feel better, but they didn't.
"It should be me." He felt his voice crack. "She's scared of storms."
"I'm sure they're taking care of her son." He stood then, marching his way to the front of his cell. His father was closer than he expected and he did a double take at the sadness in his eyes.
"You don't get it dad." He wanted to tell the older man that he would never understand because he didn't know how much he loved that woman. How much he needed her. How much he cared about her.
"I do Ethan." And then his father's hand was on his and his eyes were soft and full of a recognition that he had never seen before. "You love her."
"I don't..." He didn't know why he felt like he needed to lie to everyone about this. Clearly he was fooling no one.
"Yes you do Ethan." He patted his hand softly before withdrawing his arm from the cell and eyeing him softly. "And she loves you."
"Bullshit." He whispered.
She would never love him the way he loved her. Not after what he had done to her. He needed her though. He needed her to make him whole again.
"You can tell yourself whatever you want son." His dad took a few steps back then, moving him back toward the big door. "But the sooner you both come to realize how you feel, the sooner you can finally be together."
Ethan let out a sigh as he watched his dad walk back through the way he had just come. He couldn't believe how incredibly right his father was about him. He loved her. With every ounce of his heart and soul. With every inch of his well being. He loved her.
And he needed to get to her as soon as possible.