Chapter 15
I grabbed my water, gulping it down in a desperate attempt to wash away the overwhelming weight of the memories that threatened to drown me. It didn’t work. Not at all.
Ethan noticed the shift in my mood almost immediately, his brow furrowing with concern. “You okay?” he asked softly, his voice gentle but edged with caution. I could feel his eyes on me, like he was waiting for me to fall apart. It made everything harder. “We can take a rain check if you’re not feeling well. We don’t have to stay.”
His words were kind, too kind, and they only made the lump in my throat grow larger. I was the worst dinner date in the world. I couldn’t even hold it together for one night.
“No. I’m fine.” I quickly wiped at my eyes, forcing a smile, hoping he didn’t notice the crack in my voice. “I just had something in my eye. Stupid, right?” I laughed lightly, but it was hollow. Still, it was enough to get us past the awkward moment.
I could do this. One meal. One conversation. You can do this.
I cleared my throat and pushed forward. “So, you own a business, right? Tell me more about it.”
Thankfully, the shift in topic worked.
Ethan’s eyes brightened, and the tension around us seemed to ease as he dove into his explanation.
“Yeah, I do,” he said, leaning in slightly as he spoke.
“I run a tech startup, mainly focused on developing software for small businesses–helping them streamline their processes, increase efficiency. It’s a lot of coding, a lot of problem–solving, but I love it. I mean, I really do. It’s like solving a puzzle every day.”
His passion was evident as he continued, and I found myself getting caught up in the rhythm of his words. He spoke with such energy, describing how he started the company with a small team of developers, how they’d worked long hours in a cramped office space until they got their first major client, how they’d expanded over the past couple of years.
“It’s funny, though,” he added, a grin tugging at his lips. “When I started out, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I just had this idea that I believed in. I think the real key to success in anything is just… persistence. Sticking with it, even when it seems like everything’s falling apart.”
“I know what you mean,” I found myself saying, though I wasn’t sure I’d been that persistent about anything in my life recently. “I think we all need that kind of drive to keep going, even when it’s tough.”
Ethan nodded. “Exactly. It’s the little wins that keep you going when everything else feels overwhelming.” He paused for a moment, then smirked. “And a few late–night caffeine binges help too.”
I laughed softly, warming to his easygoing humor. It was a relief to not have to overthink every word. This felt normal. Simple. Refreshing.
“So, do you have a team, or is it just you and a few people?” I asked, curious.
“A little bit of both)” he said, “I have a core group of developers, but the team is constantly evolving. It’s hard to keep the right balance sometimes, but we’ve gotten better at it. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about telling people what to do–it’s about inspiring them, making sure everyone’s on the same page, even when the picture isn’t completely clear. A lot of the time, I’m just trying to keep the ship from sinking while still keeping the vision alive.”
I nodded, impressed. “Sounds like a lot of pressure.”
“Yeah, it definitely can be. But it’s also rewarding, you know? You get to see something you built grow, evolve. It makes all the sleepless nights worth it.”
We fell into an easy conversation after that, the earlier tension slowly melting away. The food was excellent, the wine crisp and smooth, and the conversation, despite the awkward beginning, had become comfortable.
