I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, no, not really.” My cheeks warmed under his gaze, and I quickly focused on my plate again.
“I bet you’d be great,” Mia chimed in, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “And I mean, Ethan could really use someone who’s not afraid of him.”
I let out a soft laugh, trying to shake off the awkwardness. “I don’t think I’d be very good at handling someone like you.”
Ethan chuckled, but his expression softened. “I’m really not that scary. Promise.”
His voice was so gentle, and I felt my guard slipping just a little. But after what happened with Derek, I wasn’t sure how much kindness I could trust. Still, I nodded, giving him a small smile. “Maybe.”
Mia grinned between us, clearly loving whatever dynamic was brewing here. “You should give it a shot, Lila. It could be fun.”
I didn’t say anything, just kept my head down. I sat there, pushing my food around my plate, thinking about Mia’s suggestion. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I needed something—*anything*—to distract me from Derek, the betrayal, and... everything else I didn’t want to think about. The pain of losing the baby, Derek’s affair, it all felt like too much. Maybe working would give me something to focus on, and besides, I needed money. If I was going to divorce Derek, I had to at least be able to afford it.
“I... I guess I could try,” I said quietly, finally looking up at Ethan.
Mia’s face lit up. “See? I told you, Ethan! Lila’s perfect for the job.”
Ethan smiled, but there was something a little softer in his eyes. “Are you sure, Lila? I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. Honestly, it might be what I need right now. I... I need to move on. And I need the money to file for divorce.” The words came out more bluntly than I expected, but it felt good to say them out loud.
Ethan’s smile faded slightly, replaced with a look of understanding. “I see,” he said quietly. “If that’s what you need, then I’m happy to help.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed for admitting how broke I was. “Honestly, I’m not in a great place right now, financially.”
Mia reached over and squeezed my hand. “You don’t have to explain, Lila. We’ve got your back.”
Ethan nodded in agreement. “We’ll figure it out together. You can start whenever you’re ready. No rush.”
I took a deep breath, feeling a little lighter. “I’ll start tomorrow.”