Ethan
Sitting in the garden with Travis, I watch Lexi talking to my sister. Mom said she spoke to Tanya about Lexi, and how she isn't with me for my money. Seems liked it worked. Tanya has been keeping her comments to herself.
“Lexi’s told you about Sam and what she's running from. When are you going to tell her about Edward and Angie?” Travis asks.
“I’m not going to tell her anything, for now. Why bring her into my shitty situation if I don’t have to?” I say.
When we leave the apartment, she’s constantly looking over her shoulder to make sure he’s not there. Even though I’m with her, she’s still worried. I don’t blame her. The man killed her father in front of her to get to her. He could easily do that to me.
“I don’t think she runs from a fight, but Sam is a different situation. That crazy fuck could easily kill her, but if she's staying here to fight that crazy man, then she will fight for you, too.” Travis hands me a beer, holding onto it until I look over at him.
I get what he’s saying. I’ve made her stay with me, and each time we leave the apartment she's living on the edge. Lexi fought me the whole way here, begging me not to tell my family about her situation. The more people she gets close to, the more people Sam would hurt to get to her. I told her I don't care about Sam. They need to know for their own safety, and I was going to tell them everything. Lexi knows I already told Travis. He needed to know why I’ll be working from home, and now she knows I’ll be telling Mom and Tanya today. Lexi was still annoyed with me about it, but this is happening whether she likes it or not.
“I might tell her when we’re away this week.” Getting up, I walk over to the three of them talking to tell Mom and Tanya what’s going on. Travis follows me down. “Time to tell those two about the crazy fuck,” I tell him.
“You know I’ll always have your back,” he says, and I give him a nod of thanks.
I wrap my arms around Lexi’s waist. “How is my girlfriend doing?” I ask her, kissing her on the neck.
“I don’t know, you might want to ask her.” She turns her head a little to look at me. “You still haven’t asked me to be your girlfriend,” she says with a smile. She wants to play games with me.
“Lexi, will you be my girlfriend?”
“I don’t know… I want to see if there's anything better out there before I put all my time in you,” she says, making my mom and sister laugh. “Why have supermarket shoes when Jimmy might be around the corner?” She turns to face me, and her smile is so cute.
“Trust me, I’m your Jimmy. No one will ever come close to me,” I tell her, leaning down to kiss her.
“I don’t know, I think I’m going to need some convincing.”
I bring my lips down to her ear, making sure no one else can hear me. “I’ll convince you tonight,” I whisper.
Lexi starts shaking her head and slapping my chest. “Are you going to talk to them now?” she asks.
I look behind her at Mom and Tanya talking to one another. “I’m sure they’ll be okay with it, but if they aren’t comfortable with you being around until he's found, then we’ll stay away.” I haven’t given her much choice about staying with me so I can make sure she's safe, but I’ll stay away from my family if that's what it takes to keep her with me. “Mom, Tanya, can we talk to you?” I ask.
Mom looks between Lexi and me. “Yes,” she says, looking down at Lexi’s stomach, and I start laughing.
“She’s not pregnant.” I turn to face Lexi. “Are you?” I ask her. I’m not asking because I would be pissed, I’m asking because it would be amazing. Yes, it’s fast, but the more I look at this amazing, beautiful woman, the thought of bringing a child into this world, with her, fills me with joy.
“No, I’m not,” she tells me, but I hold her eyes for an extra beat.
Turning back to them, I pause and just look at them. I’m not sure how to talk to them about this. “Ethan, you’re scaring me,” my mom says, looking back at me.
I don't know where to start. I know Lexi is going to find this hard, but I can’t hide any of this from them. I begin by telling them that Lexi is living with me now. I take hold of Lexi's hand which has been tapping on my leg for a while now. I tell them about Sam, and how she’s been running from him since she was eighteen. I tell them what he did to her father, and how he’s found her again. I tell them everything.
My mom looks at Lexi for a moment, and Tanya looks over at me. "Lexi already thinks she should leave and start a new life. She's scared of getting close to you since Sam always hurts anyone she loves. It gives her more motivation to not get close to people. If you both feel you're at risk having her around, then we’ll stay away until this is over. Just so you know, I'm not letting her leave," I tell them both. I haven’t told Lexi, but I don’t think he will go after my family. He wants her, and I’m the one standing in the way of that now.
“You're always welcome here.” My mom gives her a hug. “Don’t worry about us, okay? We’ll be all right,” she tells Lexi before looking over at me. “I only have one question, Ethan.”
I already know the question. Do I see myself with Lexi ten years from now? My mom knows I’ve never put a woman before myself, not even Angie. For Lexi, I would turn my phone off, cancel plans, take her on trips so she would be with me all the time… I never did any of that for Angie. That's how I know we’ll be together even ten years from now.
“Yes,” I answer her.
She smiles and walks into the house. Lexi watches Mom walk away then stops and stares at me.
“She’s fine.” I kiss her, then get up and follow my mom into the house. Mom is pacing around the kitchen. “So, do you not like Lexi or is it something else?” I ask her, standing in front of her to keep her from moving around.
“I like her. She’s brought out a side to you that I thought I’d lost. The fun, carefree Ethan.” She cups my face. “The half you lost when your dad left and the other half you lost after Angie. Now it’s back and…” Mom looks out of the window at Lexi on the phone. “Lexi has given my son a reason to smile again, and if I can’t like the woman who did that, then I’m not a nice person,” she says, kissing me.
My mom always told me that I lost a little of myself when my dad walked out on us. There was a lot of hate in me. She blamed Angie for that anger, as well. After her, I just forgot how to have fun again. Until Lexi. She's the sunshine in my life.
“Ethan, the girls are going to the bar tonight, want to come?” Lexi wraps her arms around me from behind. “Travis is up for it. I think his bed has gotten lonely with just him in it,” she says, making my mom laugh.
“I don’t think that bed ever gets time to be lonely,” she says, making Lexi laugh.
“Who’s lonely?” Travis asks, walking in. Lexi turns to face him with her back against my chest. “Is he coming or is it just us?” he asks her. He must think I’m crazy if he thinks I’m going to let him look after her with a madman after her.
“I’m coming.”
“Look at you! You’ve been to the bar twice in one week. Someone call a doctor, quick. The man’s not well.” Travis turns to my sister. “How about you, mini Knight?”
“No,” I answer in a sharp tone, making sure she knows there's no way she's coming with us.
Since Lexi mentioned that something is happening between them, I've noticed little flirty moments back and forth. I had words with Travis, telling him my sister is off limits. He said he knew and was only messing around, but I don’t trust him.
“I didn’t want to go out with you guys anyway.” She sticks her tongue out at me. “I hope you guys have fun,” she says walking out of the room.
I’m always worried about her. She ended up with the wrong crowd during college and became a drug addict. I paid for the best rehab for her, to make sure was clean and healthy, but she hasn't been the same.
“Do you want to go home to get changed?” I ask Lexi, and she turns to face me, narrowing her eyes. I already know I've said something wrong. Or have I? She keeps me wound me up all the time teasing me like she does.
“So, you don’t think I look beautiful enough for a bar?” She folds her arms across her chest.
“I didn’t say that. I thought maybe… You look beautiful,” I tell her.
“I’m just messing with you.” She kisses me on the lips, then walks over to my mom and helps her clean the kitchen.
“I love Lexi—she’s going to keep you straight,” Travis tells me with a smile that I want to punch off his face. “We’re going straight from here. Did you bring the car, or are you taking a taxi?”
“Taxi.” I walk away from them as my phone rings. “Emily,” I say, answering the phone.
“Ethan, I got an email from Selena, saying you no longer want to work with me on the children’s center. I want—”
“If you're talking or working with Edward Cult, then I don’t want to do business with you,” I cut her off. I don’t want him anywhere near my business.
“Ethan, I think that would be a mistake. Who else will put that much money into the center?”
“I'll find someone. I don’t want you and Edward involved in my center,” I say, ending the call with her. She’s right, I don’t have anyone else on my list to ask. I asked Emily because she had some insight into children and I thought she would be great, but I can’t trust her now.
“So, the children’s center is finished?” I turn to see Lexi standing behind me.
“I need to find someone new to invest in it. Back to the drawing board,” I say then kiss her forehead.
“I’m sure someone will be willing to help you,” she tells me.
“Time to go to the bar, then?”
“Dancing time,” Lexi says, spinning under my arm. I admire how she refuses to let Sam ruin her life. She knows he’s out there and knows where she lives, but she still smiles and still wants to party. In a few days, I get to take her to Washington, and I can’t wait to have her all to myself.
***
Standing by the bar, I watch Lexi dancing with her friends while Travis grinds up against some redhead. After talking to Emily, this is the last place I want to be. I want to be home, looking for someone to invest in the center, but Lexi wanted to be here, so I’m here for her.
Travis walks over to the bar. “I’m going to be having a wild one tonight.” He nods to the redhead and her friend dancing against each other. “It should be a sin to be me,” he says, before downing his drink.
I smile at Lexi as she dances. I go to reply to him, but my phone vibrates in my pocket. “Keep your eyes on Lexi for a minute,” I tell him as I answer Selena’s call. I bet Emily is trying fucking things up for me. I told Lexi I didn’t trust Emily. I didn’t want to go into too much detail about why. I’m hoping to get them all out of my life before I have to tell her about the dark cloud hanging over my head.
“Hey,” I say, standing outside the bar. I want to make sure I can see who walks in while I’m out here.
“Emily sent an email saying she's fine with canceling the ties she has with the center. Would you like me to make a list of other businesses that we can contact while you're in Washington?” she asks. I know I work her to the ground. The way she handles me and my attitude says a lot about her character. I've never had a PA as good as her.
“Yes, but I want you to come to the apartment before we can go over some details before I leave.” Ending the call, I walk back in.
As I make my way to the bar I look over at the dance floor to see if I can locate Lexi, but she’s not there. I frantically look around the bar. Where the fuck is she? My heart is pounding with fear; I’ve no idea where she is. I see Travis at the bar, chatting with the redhead.
“Where’s Lexi?” I ask him, still looking around the bar.
“Dancing,” Travis answers without even looking around at me.
“Hey, sexy. Come here often?” I turn around and there she is. The sexiest woman I’ve ever seen in my life. I look at her with a smile.
“Not often enough.”
“Would you like to dance?” She takes my hand in hers and starts walking toward the dance floor, but I stop her.
“I would like to do something else,” I whisper in her ear as her back hits my chest. Moving my hand down her dress, I smile as I say, “I can show you an enjoyable time.”
"I'm sure my boyfriend would kill you. He can be an asshole sometimes." She turns around and curls her lips up into a smile.
I can't help but shake my head at her. I knew she was trouble and she's proving me right. “I bet that’s because you can be a handful.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” Her hand moves down my chest to my belt buck. “My mouth is watering at the thought of having you inside it”—she rubs me over my pants—“thinking about how it'll hit the back of my throat while your hands are in my hair, trying to get it in further until you cum in my mouth.” She slides her tongue across my lower lip, and smiles as my dick gets harder and twitches. She presses her breasts against my chest. “Would you like to dance?” she asks, taking a step away from me and walking over to the dance floor.
Dancing is not what I had planned to do with her. But, if that’s what my girl wants, then that’s what I’m going to do, but we’re leaving in ten minutes so I can finish what she just started.