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After riding together in the same car twice and trying to bump into other people, and then in separate cars three times bumping into each other, Chase moves on to the bouncy castle and Ethan joins me at the table.

I order him a beer. His eyebrows are drawn together as he slowly sips his drink.

“Just so we’re clear,” he starts, “this doesn’t make up for you sleeping with my wife. If anything, it only pisses me off more.”

“I’m not trying to make up for anything. I just want to help Chase. And Amelia’s not your wife. You left her.”

He shakes his head. “Well, don’t get too close to Chase either. You don’t want to hurt him when you realize that you’re bored in two weeks and bail.”

It's rich of him to pretend like now he cares about protecting Chase. There’s no better time to set him straight.

“I’m not going to leave Amelia.”

He puffs out some air. “Yeah, right. You’ve never been in a relationship that lasted more than a month.”

“I know. But I love her. And I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

Ethan’s face, which was annoyed before, is now full of rage as he stares at me open-mouthed.

“You’re unbelievable,” he finally manages to spurt out. “Now you want to marry her? You want to steal my family?”

“I know that you were hoping Amelia would stay single for a long time, and that when she finally met someone, it would be someone from out of town who would take her away and out of your life, and I’m ruining your plans for a guilt-free bachelor life in Dogwood Grove. But I am not stealing anything. You started this. You left her!”

“It doesn’t mean you can have her.” Ethan spits out the word you.

“It means she can be with whoever she wants. And I’m going to do everything I can to let it be me.”

He brings his beer bottle down on the table a little too hard causing foam to spill out.

I hand him one of the clean napkins that came with my burger and wipe down the table with another. “I’m just trying to be honest with you. You’re going to need to get used to the idea of Amelia and me together.”

“Honest?” He scoffs. “How long have you been in love with her?”

My belly contracts. Well, I should have expected that one. And I’d rather get it all out now anyway.

“Since the first time I ever saw her.”

Ethan shakes his head. “And did you… have you ever… I mean, while we were still married?”

“No!” It’s my turn to be outraged. “No. I put all those feelings away while you were together. I would never have done anything to mess up your life. Or hers.”

Ethan nods slowly, and I think deep down he must believe me. “Because you’re such a good friend.”

Chase runs toward us.

“I am your friend,” I manage to get in before Chase reaches our table.

“Ice cream?” Ethan asks, forcing a smile on his face.

Chase cheers, “Yes!”

Amelia

It’s the end of the Dogwood Spring Festival. Mayor Anderson makes her closing remarks, and the last band of the day starts their two-hour set.

“My first Spring Festival on my own,” I say to Madison.

Her bags are packed and in her car, and she stopped by to say goodbye. We’re waiting for Chase to come back so she can say goodbye to him too and leave.