Stuck In The Middle Of Romance (On Hold)

Chapter 32

"Well, it was a few years ago..." I start.
"Mom, Dad and I were in Florida visiting Cade and my aunt. It was around my 7th birthday and we just wanted to be with family. So, I decided that I wanted to visit the store down the road for a little while by myself..." I pause and sigh. "Are you sure you want to hear this?" I bite my lip and ask.
"I'm sure, babe. But if you don't want to tell me, I get that too." He took my hands in his and smiled. "I love you, Hope, and I want to be able to help you with whatever I can. So if you want to tell me great but if not, I understand."
"I love you too, babe." He smiles and lifts my right hand up to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. "While I was at the store, some guys decided that was the time they wanted to break into the store and steal." I look at Ethan's face and see that it had changed from loving and caring, to completely horrified, in the span of one sentence.
"I was up at the counter buying something when the guys came over to the regester and held a gun to the workers head demanding the money. The other two guys were rounding up all the other customers and moving them to the back of the store. I was left where I was because being a kid, no one thinks you can do any real damage. Of course, I wasn't any normal kid and called 911 behind my back, which was pressed up against the wall of the store. I turned down the volume so no one could hear what the operator said but they could hear the guys demands." I stop talking when Ethan's grip on my hand was starting to hurt from him tightening it.
"Babe, can you let go of my hand?" I ask smiling a little.
"Sorry," He said letting go. "What happened next?" He asked sounding like a child waiting for their bedtime story to continue.
"Well, a few minutes later, we heard the cop sirens outside the store. The guys looked around to see who had called but when they relized no one else had a phone, they looked at me for the first time and saw my hand behind my back. The guy that was standing next to me, grabbed my arm and pulled me over to his freinds, making me show them my phone. The door opened as one guy put a gun to my head." I pause because I had a few tears in my eyes. I wanted to tell him, but I didn't want to cry.
"Hey," He whispered trying to get my attention since I was staring at his hand still. I look at him and he smiles, while reaching out to run his thumb under my eyes where a few tears had started rolling down my cheeks. "You don't have to continue if you don't want to. You know that right?" I nod and let out a soft sob, finally allowing my self to cry. He puts his arms around me and pulls me onto his lap again as I cry on his shoulder.
"Shh, sweatheart I don't want you to cry, alright?" He asks trying to soothe me. I nod but it was a little hard to stop.
"I want to tell you, Ethan. I do, but your already getting upset. I haven't even gotten to the worst part yet and I know your going to freak out. I'm not tying to convince you not to be a cop. I know that you would be amazing. But, after what happened, I can't help but worry you might get hurt like he did. Ethan," I stop talking and lift my head off of his shoulder to look him in the eyes. "Ethan, I love you. I wouldn't be able to live if something happened to you. That's why I freaked out when you told me. I need you, babe. I can't loose you. I won't, alright?"
"Hope, I wish that I could tell you I won't get hurt, but it's part of the job at times. I'm not going to try and get hurt and I will fight to stay with you, babe, but I can't promise. As much as I wish I could, we both know I can't." He said. "I love you, and I feel the same way about loosing you."
"I know," I take a deep breath trying to slow my breathing.
"If you don't think I'll be ok with you telling me, then you don't have to. But I want to know." He said after I calmed down a little. I sat back up away from him and continued.
"I don't know why they didn't try to bargain me, but the guy with the gun pulled the trigger as soon as he saw the cop come into the store. The gunshot scared everyone but I couldn't even scream I was so scared. The cop, he jumped in front of me. Saving my life, but losing his in the process. I watched as he died in front of me."