I answered on the fourth call because ignoring Julia never worked. It only made her angrier.
"Julia, I can explain..."
"Explain?" Her voice came through the phone so sharp I had to pull it away from my ear. "Explain what exactly, Ava? That you've been playing house in the mountains while I've been covering for you? Telling Mom and Dad you're taking time to regroup? Telling your clients you're working on new projects?"
Ethan stood in the doorway, coffee mug frozen halfway to his mouth. I shook my head at him, a silent please give me a minute, and he nodded but didn't leave. Just leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his jaw tight.
"I wasn't playing house," I said, hating how defensive I sounded. "I was trying to figure out my life."
"By shacking up with some random mountain man a
