CHAPTER THREE
Ethan’s eyes lit up when I pushed through the diner door. His excitement immediately turned to concern and I realized I must have looked like an absolute mess. He jumped off his stool and rushed over to greet me.
“Emily, I wasn’t expecting you. Are you okay?” he asked, draping an arm over my shoulder. He led me to the counter and I sank down on the stool beside him with a nod.
“Yes… no. I don’t know,” I replied, propping my elbows on the cool linoleum.
He signaled the waitress, who appeared with a steaming mug of coffee. “Would you like something to eat, darlin’?” she asked.
I shook my head and wrapped my hands around the warm, comforting mug. “No, thank you.”
She gave me a sympathetic nod and cleared Ethan’s empty plates. He took a sip of his water and turned to me, his eyes searching mine for some sign of what happened.
“You’re obviously upset,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “I assume you came to find me because you need a friend?”
I gave him a wordless nod.
“Do you want to talk here? Or would you like to go somewhere more private?”
“Private,” I answered without thinking.
He pulled out his wallet, dropped a twenty on the counter, and rose to his feet, offering me his arm. I took it and a strange, comforting warmth spread through my body. When I’d arrived at the diner, I felt like my life was over. But when Ethan touched me, I knew everything was going to be okay.
We stepped out into the parking lot and Ethan paused.
“My place or yours?” he asked. “Or if you’re not comfortable with either of those, I have a master key to the stadium.”
“Your place is good.” I wasn’t ready to be at my apartment, surrounded by things that reminded me of Ben. And I really didn’t feel like running into anyone at the stadium.
“No offense, but you don’t seem like you’re in any shape to drive. I don’t want you to feel stuck at my place. How about I drive your car now and you can take me back to mine later, when you feel better?”
“That works for me,” I agreed, handing over my keys. He opened my door and I unlocked his as he circled the car. He slid the driver’s seat all the way back before wiggling in behind the steering wheel. He drove in silence for a few minutes before placing a gentle hand on my knee.
“Is it safe to assume you’re no longer taken?” he asked.
“Is it that obvious?” I countered with a sad snort.
“No,” he assured me. “You still look beautiful. Distracted, maybe. But I doubt anyone at the diner noticed. Do you want to tell me what happened?”
I lifted one of the wine bottles I’d moved to the floorboard. “Not until I have a little of this in me.”
“I understand.”
He navigated through Irvington, pulling up to a large iron gate only blocks away from my apartment. He punched a few keys on the code box and the gate swung inward.
“You have a beautiful house,” I observed, staring at the Tudor mansion in front of us.
“Thank you. You’ll have to excuse the décor. I just moved in a few months ago and I’ve been too busy to really put my mark on the place.”
“I promise I won’t judge,” I assured him.
He pulled up to the large, solid wood door and killed the engine. He passed me my keys and took the wine before climbing out of the car. I smiled as he moved the seat back into position for me before shutting the door.
How thoughtful…
I followed him into the house and immediately understood why he’d warned me about the interior. While the outside of the home looked straight out of Medieval England, the inside looked like it had been abandoned sometime in the nineteen seventies. Velvet wallpaper in various shades of gold and green adorned the walls, continuing from the foyer into the living room. Ethan’s modern leather furniture looked out of place in the space, but the house had tons of potential.
“I have a crew coming next week to do something about these walls,” he explained, wrinkling his nose at them. He led me to the large French doors on the far side of the room, which opened to an expansive backyard. The covered veranda ran the length of the Olympic-sized swimming pool in front of it.
“This is beautiful. How much space do you have?”
“About an acre, total,” he replied, setting the wine down on a teak patio table. He stepped behind the outdoor bar and returned with two glasses and a corkscrew. He opened the first bottle, filled the glasses, and settled into the chair beside me. I finished my wine in one long gulp and waited patiently while he poured my second round.
“That bad, huh?” he asked.
I nodded and stared out at the gleaming pool. “I went to Ben’s apartment. We haven’t had much time together since school started and I thought it would be nice to surprise him with his favorite dinner. Instead, the surprise was on me.”
I took another sip of my wine while Ethan let out a low whistle.
“You caught him in the act?”
I nodded. “Yep. I’ve been beating myself up for weeks for not telling him about our friendship. And all the while, he’s been screwing a cougar divorcee.”
Ethan was quiet for a moment and then cleared his throat. “You seem to be handling it okay. I mean you’re obviously upset. But you don’t seem… broken.”
“I don’t break,” I replied, my voice flat.
“Is that so?” he pressed.
“I bawled my eyes out for about half an hour after. I’m pissed. I’m devastated, actually. I honestly thought Ben and I were forever. I thought he was the predictable, stable man I’d always dreamed of finding. Obviously, I was wrong.”
Ethan studied me for a moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was low.
“I understand why you crave stability. Everyone does. But why in the world would a fascinating, spirited woman such as yourself seek out predictability?”
I let out an amused huff and reached for my wine. “I’m not sure I’d use those words to describe me.”
Ethan took my hand and met my eyes, his gaze deep and serious.
“Emily, I understand what I’m about to say may come across as strange. But when I look at you, I feel like I’m staring straight into your soul. I can see the passion, the fire behind your eyes. I can tell you’re strong and determined, that you’ve overcome unimaginable pain and come out better on the other side. What I don’t understand is why you’re so determined to settle for less than you deserve.”
I stared back at him, utterly speechless. I didn’t find Ethan’s words strange at all. I knew exactly what he was talking about because I felt the same way when I looked at him. There was an exciting, familiar quality to the way he looked at me and with each moment that passed, I felt drawn further and further in.
Coming here was a mistake. I’m too emotional to think clearly. This is all way too much, way too soon.
Pulse racing, I gripped the arms of my chair and started to rise. Ethan slid his chair a few feet away from me and held up his hands.
“I’m sorry. Like I said, I know it sounds strange. And I know this isn’t the time to talk about my feelings. Please don’t leave, Emily. You came to the diner tonight because you needed a friend. Let me be that for you.”
I relaxed back into my chair and reached for my wine. “I shouldn’t be driving, anyway.”
“Exactly,” he agreed. “Just try to relax. We can talk about whatever you’d like. And if you want to kill both of these bottles, you’re more than welcome to crash in one of the spare rooms.”
Damn it, he’s right. If I don’t stop drinking now, I’ll never be able to get myself home. Fuck it. My relationship just imploded. I deserve some alcohol.
“I have assembly duty at seven-thirty in the morning. If I crash here, you’ll have to get up super early for me to take you back to your car,” I warned.
“I’m fine with that,” he told me with a grin. He topped off my glass and I stared down silently at the wine. It had just dawned on me that I had a little over twelve hours before I had to face Ben again. I wasn’t looking forward to the reunion.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Ethan pressed, his voice lower, more sympathetic.
I crinkled my nose, frowned, and met his eyes. “I was thinking about getting a substitute for tomorrow,” I confessed.
“You’re not ready to see him?”
I shook my head. “Part of me feels like a coward. Sub days are hard on everyone and it’s completely unprofessional to let my personal life affect my students. But at the same time, when I think of seeing Ben…”
“Emily, if you think you’ll break down when you see Ben, it’s in everyone’s best interest for you to stay home,” he insisted.
Ethan held my gaze, his patient face wrinkled with concern.
I gave him a guilty, devilish grin and admitted the real reason I didn’t want to see Ben. “I’m not worried about breaking down in tears. I’m afraid I’ll go into a blind rage and beat the shit out of him in front of everyone.”
Ethan’s face relaxed and he let out an amused laugh. “Well, that settles it. You’re definitely taking a sick day tomorrow. Why don’t you call and make the arrangements while I go scare up something from the kitchen? If you’re going to keep drinking, I insist that you eat something.”
“Deal,” I agreed, completely unfazed by the fact that he was basically bossing me around. It felt good to be taken care of for once. I fetched my phone from my purse, propped my feet up on the opposite chair, and hit Linda’s speed dial.
“Hey, Em. What’s up?”
“I’ve had a terrible night, Linda,” I confessed. “When you left my room this afternoon, I started to feel guilty about hiding Ethan from Ben. I decided to surprise him with dinner at his place. He was supposed to be at the club until seven. But when I got to the apartment, he was in bed with Becky Childers.”
“That rat bastard,”’ Linda gasped, then growled. “Say no more. I’ll line up your sub and go over the lesson plans with her in the morning. Just let me know what you want me to tell everyone. I assume you’re not officially calling in heartbroken?”
“No, officially I’m sick. I’m sure the truth will get around soon enough, but I don’t want to be the one who lets this cat out of the bag. I’m going to email Principal Matthews and tell him I’m coming down with the stomach flu. With the number of sick kids we’ve had this week, he won’t think twice about it.”
“Got it. That’ll be my story if anyone asks. Though I have a few other words in mind for Ben. I’m so sorry, Emily. Are you okay? If you need to talk, you’re more than welcome to come hang out with Henry and me.”
“That’s okay. I have someone to talk to,” I said with a hint of mischief in my voice.
“Emily… where are you?” The tone of her voice told me she already had a pretty good idea.
“I’m at Ethan’s.”
“Well, good for you,” she said, surprising me. “Enjoy yourself. I expect a full report as soon as I get home from school tomorrow. Periodic text updates between now and then would be much appreciated,” she teased.
“We’re just talking. I’ve only been single for a few hours,” I reminded her.
“Sure, if you say so.”
“Ha, ha. I need to let you go. I still need to shoot an email to Matthews and Ethan will be back any second with my dinner.”
“Try to enjoy yourself tonight, Em. You deserve it. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
I ended the call and typed a short email to the principal. I told him my stomach didn’t feel well, which technically wasn’t a lie, and assured him that Linda was handling all of the arrangements. Ethan stepped outside with an enormous platter of barbecue just as I was returning my phone to my purse.
“Everything settled?” He sat the platter on the table and moved behind the bar to fetch a roll of paper towels.
“Yes. Linda, the other kindergarten teacher, is handling everything for me.”
“Did you tell her what’s really going on?”
I nodded and reached for a sauce-drenched rib. “She would have found out eventually. But she won’t run her mouth to the rest of the school.”
I picked it up by the bone and the meat fell back to the plate. Ethan picked up a dripping handful, tossed it into his mouth, then passed me a paper towel before tearing one off for himself.
“Do you want to keep talking about it?” he continued after chasing his bite with a gulp of wine.
I shook my head. “I’d like to talk about anything but, actually.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” he replied with a grin, sending my heart into another happy race. “I’m interested in so much more than your relationship with your ex,” he continued. “I want to know everything there is to know about you. What inspired you to go into teaching?”
I reached for my wine and Ethan shook his head, his eyes darting to the ribs.
“You’ve got to get something in your stomach, Emily. Trust me, you’ll feel much better tomorrow if you eat something.”
There was no point in arguing. I knew he was right. I took a bite of smoky, tangy meat, and then answered Ethan’s question as I stripped three more bones.
“When I started high school, a guidance counselor explained that I’d need extracurricular activities for my college applications. We were never in one place long enough for me to join any teams or clubs. But every school I went to had a shortage of tutors. I’d always done really well in school, and the job was a natural fit.”
I ate another bite of the ribs and wiped my hands on the paper towel.
“These are delicious. This is quite the meal for something you scared up in the kitchen.”
“You lucked out.” He licked sauce from his thumb and my stomach twisted. “I forgot these were in the fridge. So you became a teacher because you enjoyed tutoring so much? Somehow, I feel like there’s more to it than that.”
I swallowed another mouthful and tore off another paper towel to wipe my mouth. “You got me,” I agreed with a sigh. “Growing up with my uncle was exciting and, for the most part, I loved my childhood. But it made me tired, Ethan. Tired of uprooting, tired of being alone. The school gives me a foundation, somewhere I can belong. And I get to contribute to the foundations of a bunch of precious tiny people,” I added with a genuine smile.
“So you’re a homebody? You don’t like to travel?” he pressed, his eyebrows drawing together in concern.
“I don’t like to travel. See, that’s all the more reason we should just be friends,” I teased.
I dropped another bite of barbecue into my mouth and awkwardly swallowed while he studied me. I decided to change the subject.
“So what made you decide to play football? I don’t mean to be indelicate, but do you really even have to work?”
Ethan frowned. “You mean couldn’t I just live off of my stepfather’s money?”
“I know that sounds tacky,” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks heat again. “But yeah, I guess that’s what I mean.”
“Don’t worry. I get that a lot,” he confided. “I could live off of Victor’s money if I wanted to. He certainly has enough of it. But what kind of man would that make me? I’m good at what I do, Emily. I’m good at everything I do. If I didn’t play football, if I didn’t take advantage of my talents, everything I am would be wasted. Does that make any sense?”
I nodded and tried to stifle a yawn. The wine and the emotions of the day were catching up with me and my eyelids grew heavy. Ethan noticed.
“You’re exhausted.” He gathered the discarded paper towels and tossed them into the bar side trash can. My heart thumped when he reached for my hand.
“Come on. I’ll get you some sweats and show you to the guest room.”
Ethan led me through the house, stopping at the room at the end of the west wing. He pushed open the door but stayed in the hallway.
“If you feel like washing up, the guest suite has its own bath. My room is right here,” he added. He took a few steps backward and opened a door on the opposite wall. “My sweats will probably swallow you, but they’ll be more comfortable than your jeans.”
I followed him into the room and perched on the foot of his bed. As I’d expected, Ethan’s room was meticulously organized. He opened a dresser drawer and retrieved a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that had been cut off at the knees.
“These are just ratty old practice pants,” he explained. “But they won’t drag on the ground.”
“Works for me.” I took the clothes from his hands, resisting the urge to hold them to my chest. Half of me wanted to pull him down beside me on the bed. The other half knew that was the last thing I should be thinking about. I decided to play it safe and rose to my feet.
“I’m glad you found me tonight, Emily,” Ethan offered as I walked toward the door. I paused and looked over my shoulder.
“I’m glad I did too, Ethan. Thanks for listening to me.”
“Anytime.”
***
Ethan tucked me into his guest bed and I spent the next hour trying to get to sleep. My body was exhausted, but my mind was racing. Ben’s betrayal stung, but it wasn’t what was keeping me awake. My proximity to Ethan was what had me reeling and I fought the urge to leave my bed for his.
I can’t jump from one man to another. Ethan’s charming, and he really does seem to be interested in me. But I don’t know him yet. And I can’t kick off my newly single status with a one-night stand… can I?
I tossed beneath the blankets, trying to get comfortable enough to drift off to sleep. But my mind kept returning to the last night I’d tried to be intimate with Ben. It dawned on me that I didn’t actually remember the last time I’d had sex.
Okay, so I’m horny. But Ethan isn’t the man to scratch that itch with. If I jump into bed with him too soon, he’ll never respect me. I’ll ruin any chance of having a real relationship with him.
That thought made me pause.
Do I want a real relationship with him? I don’t even know right now. Which is precisely why I need to stay put. He’s probably asleep by now, anyway.
About that time, I heard Ethan’s bedroom door creak open. I held my breath, hoping he was on his way to me. But after a few long, tense seconds, I realized that was just wishful thinking. A few minutes later, I heard his door close again.
Screw it. If I stay here, I’m going to be up all night fantasizing about what might have happened. I’ll go cuddle with him and see what happens from there.
My heart in my throat, I kicked off the blankets and padded barefoot across the thick shag carpet. I reached Ethan’s door and knocked softly on the thick wood.
“Come in,” he called out, his voice muffled through the wall.
I pushed the door open and slipped into the room. I lingered just inside, suddenly nervous that Ethan didn’t want my company. He pushed himself up against the headboard and flipped on his bedside lamp. His bare, well-defined chest drew my eyes and made it difficult for me to talk.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked, his voice sympathetic and understanding.
I shook my head. “No. I’m sorry, I don’t know what I’m doing here.”
“It’s okay, Emily,” he assured me. He pulled down the blankets beside him and patted the mattress.
“If you’re not in the mood to be alone, you’re welcome to sleep in here with me. I promise I’ll be a gentleman.”
“Thanks,” I replied, unsure if I was happy or upset with his promise but climbed into the bed and snuggled under the blankets. Ethan left the lamp on and curled his body around mine.
“Is this okay?” he whispered, his mouth just inches from my neck.
“This is perfect.” And it was.
We laid in silence for a few minutes as I listened to the steady in and out of Ethan’s breathing. It slowed, becoming deeper and I knew he was ready for sleep. I was anything but. I raised a hand to the arm he had draped over me and started tracing light, teasing circles on his smooth skin.
Ethan let out a soft, happy moan and moved into my touch. I turned in his arms and gave him a bold, hard kiss on the mouth. He flinched in surprise, but then kissed me back. He pushed one hand beneath my t-shirt and gripped my side roughly before stopping himself and rolling away.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I know you’re not ready. I got a little carried away.”
I rolled closer to him and kissed his shoulder. “I think I started this,” I told him, kissing a trail to his neck.
“Oh, Emily,” he groaned as my lips found his earlobe. His tone fluctuated between passion and frustration, and he stopped me just as I was about to climb into his lap.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way,” he pleaded. “I want you. Of course I want you. But I want all of you. And right now, you’re emotional… and a little drunk.”
“I’m not at all drunk,” I corrected him with a pout. “I’m sorry. I thought you wanted this as much as I do. I’ll go back to the other room.”
Ethan grabbed me and pulled me back into his arms. “I don’t want you to go anywhere,” he confessed. “And believe me, I wish I could rip your clothes off right now. But I’m just not sure this is the right time. Like I said, I want all of you. When we make love… and we will, Emily, I want it to be about you and me, nothing more. And right now, I know what happened with Ben is motivating most of your decisions.”
“You’re wrong,” I argued. “I mean, Ben’s popped into my head a few times. But not in a ‘I wish I had him’ or a ‘I want to get back at him’ way. My only thought about Ben is that I should have left him months ago. If I had, I would have been free to give you my number that first night we met. I wanted to, you know.”
I laid my head on Ethan’s shoulder and he stroked my back.
“You did?” His tone was one of happy disbelief.
I nodded against his chest. “I did. I resented the fact that I had a boyfriend, that I wasn’t free to be with you. But I’m here now.”
I kissed Ethan’s neck and he turned his face, his mouth finding mine. His hands slid up and down my body, caressing me as our tongues danced together. Desire ignited, burning between my legs and I needed to be closer. As I climbed on top of him, he gripped me roughly by the hips and pulled his face away from mine, staring up at me with lust and infatuation.
“You’re here now,” he agreed. “And I want you, Emily. I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you. But if we’re going to do this, I need to know you’re in it for the long haul. I’m not looking for casual sex, Em. Not with you. So if you need more time, I understand. I can be patient.”
I held his face in my hands and clenched my legs around his waist. “You’re not the only one who’s wanted this since the night we met. I’ve never felt like this before. And I’m more than ready to figure out what it means.”
Ethan gave me a devilish smile and flipped me onto my back, hovering above me with his weight on his hands.
“I’m going to make you feel better than you’ve ever felt in your life,” he promised.
I smiled back at him and raised my arms over my head. He pulled off the t-shirt, taking in the sight of me before diving for my breasts. He teased one nipple between his fingers, the other between his lips, and I felt myself gush wet with anticipation. I pushed the baggy sweatpants to my thighs, kicking them the rest of the way off as Ethan slid his lips up my neck. He nibbled my earlobe and pushed one hand under my black lace panties.
“Oh God,” I cried out as he pushed a single finger inside me.
“You’re so wet,” he said into my ear.
I was too overwhelmed with pleasure to respond with anything more than a groan. I wrapped an arm around Ethan’s neck, anchoring myself to him as I writhed beneath his touch. He pulled free of my grasp, lowering his head to replace his fingers with his tongue.
“Oh… Ethan,” I gasped.
“Just give over to it,” he whispered, his hot breath tickling my clit. “Just enjoy what you’re feeling.”
He buried his tongue in me again and I let my eyes fall shut. With each movement of his tongue, Ethan pushed me closer to the edge until I finally spasmed with release. He lapped my juices as I came down from my orgasm, gentling me before moving up my body and reaching to retrieve a condom from the bedside table.
“Not so fast,” I insisted. I sat up and pushed Ethan onto his back, his head pointing at the footboard. I straddled his legs and reached for the bulge beneath his shorts. He relaxed against the mattress and let out a soft moan as I stroked him through the silky fabric.
“Does that feel good?” I asked, tightening my hand around his cock.
Ethan let out a sharp gasp and nodded. I slipped my free hand up the leg of his shorts, surprising him with my bare touch.
“What about that?” I teased.
Ethan nodded again and I released him just long enough to tug the shorts down his legs. His long, thick cock stood at perfect attention, begging to be touched.
My God, he’s gigantic. This is going to be fun.
I gripped the base of his shaft with one hand and lowered my lips to the head, never breaking eye contact with Ethan. He gathered my hair in one hand, holding it out of his view as I licked up his shaft, then took most of him in my mouth. When I cupped his balls, he groaned but pushed me away.
“I don’t want to come yet,” he explained, his voice coming out in broken heaves. “Oh God, Emily, you’re so amazing.”
He palmed the back of my head with one hand and pulled my lips to his once more. He rolled me onto my back and used his tongue to blaze a trail from my chin to my clit. He licked me twice with long, firm strokes, before turning his attention back to the nightstand. He pulled a condom from the top drawer, opened it with his teeth, and stroked my wet, waiting tunnel with one hand while he rolled the condom down his shaft with the other.
“I want you, Ethan,” I moaned beneath him.
He moved in front of me with his weight on his knees and took me roughly by the hips, lifting my ass off the bed.
“I’m yours,” he said, thrusting into me with one long, swift motion. He held still, waiting for me to stretch and adjust to his girth.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, slowly rotating his hips.
“I’m perfect.” I couldn’t say anything more; the words simply wouldn’t come.
I folded my legs around Ethan’s body and rocked my hips up and down while his moved back and forth. His cock stirred within me, churning my passion to new heights. I moved quicker, more forcefully, and reached for Ethan’s neck. I pulled him downward and he let my legs drop to the mattress as he shifted his weight to his arms and drove into me harder.
“You feel so amazing,” he whispered into my ear. I sucked his lobe and ran my long nails lightly down his back. I was overcome with desperate, animalistic desire. It was unlike anything I’d ever felt before and I turned myself over to it, lost in the passion of the moment.
“Oh… God,” Ethan moaned again.
“Yeah?” I tightened my pussy around him and every throb of his cock sent waves of pleasure through my body. I dug my nails into his back and met him thrust for thrust.
“I’m going to come,” he warned through gasping breaths.
“Come with me, baby,” I cried out, already in the throes of my release.
Ethan rose to his knees again, pulling my hips into his body as he thrust forward. I felt myself gush around his cock and he let out one final gasp as his cock trembled and exploded inside me. Ethan immediately pulled out, gripping the condom and then pulling it off and tossing it into the wastebasket by the nightstand. He took me in his arms and pulled me to the pillows. We snuggled in together, holding each other and reveling in the moment.
“That was amazing,” I told him, a happy sigh lingering on my lips.
“Amazing doesn’t cover it,” he corrected me. He planted a soft kiss on my neck. “This is just the beginning, Emily,” he promised.
***
I woke up early the next morning to the sound of Ethan’s blaring clock radio. I slapped the top of it until my hand found the snooze button and instinctively rolled to his side of the bed. The sheets were empty and cold. I sat up and found a note, a bathrobe, and a single long-stemmed red rose on the foot of the mattress.
In my home gym, fourth door on the right down the east hallway.
Breakfast is waiting on the veranda. Join me when you’re finished.
I kicked off the blankets, pulled on my robe, and padded barefoot down the hallway. The house looked even worse with sunlight trickling through the windows and reflecting off the gaudy walls. But I understood why Ethan bought it. The original moldings and architecture were stunning and I couldn’t wait to see how Ethan restored it.
I found the veranda, where I was reminded Ethan was a health conscious athlete. I found chia seed pudding, fresh fruit, and a coffee decanter waiting on the table. I ate the pudding in four huge spoonful’s, tossed a slice of mango in my mouth, and carried my coffee toward the gym. I found Ethan running on a treadmill.
He wore earbuds and was wrapped up in a roundtable discussion on the finance channel. I didn’t want to startle him, so I leaned against the wall and watched him work out. His body was so firm and defined that every muscle looked like it had been hand chiseled from marble. His bare skin glistened with sweat and my mind flashed back to the night before. When Ethan realized I was there, he slowed to a stop. He toweled off as he crossed the room.
“Good morning,” he greeted me with a kiss on my forehead. “Did you sleep well?” He stayed a safe distance away from me, careful not to cover me in his sweat.
“I slept great. I was a little surprised to wake up alone. What time do you start working out?”
“I usually sleep a little later, but I wanted to have a few hours to spend with you before I have to go to practice. I scheduled a couples’ massage at nine, and then we’re meeting with my decorator.”
Hold on… couples’ massage? Decorator?
“That sounds great,” I replied slowly.
Ethan could tell my enthusiasm was forced. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Sweetheart?
“Nothing’s wrong.” I looked around the room, searching for words. “It’s just… well, isn’t it a little early for us to be getting couples’ massages and meeting with decorators? You have a lot of eyes on you right now.”
“You didn’t know who I was,” he reminded me with a grin. “It’s one of the reasons I found you so irresistible.”
I rolled my eyes. He was never going to let me live that down. “Yes, I was pretty much the last person in Portland to know who you are. But you’ve gotten a lot of press just this week. Don’t get me wrong, the massage sounds fantastic and I’d love to tag along to your decorator. I’m just afraid we’ll end up with our pictures in the paper and people will get the wrong idea.”
Ethan shoulder’s tensed and he moved his hands to his hips. “Maybe I’m the one who has the wrong idea. You don’t want anyone to know you’re my girlfriend?”
I stared at him, my mouth refusing to work for a moment. “I… I didn’t know I was your girlfriend.” He plopped down onto a weight bench and rested his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry, Ethan. For the past year, I was someone else’s girlfriend.”
“So last night meant nothing to you?” The words came out very much like a pout.
“Of course it meant something to me.” I felt the panic coming out in my voice. This wasn’t coming out right at all. “But this is all happening so fast. I need time to process it. We need to slow down and—”
“If I remember correctly, you’re the one who crawled into my bed last night,” he interrupted.
I crossed the room and sank down to my knees in front of him, forcing him to look at me. “I know I did. Last night was one of the most incredible nights of my life. I just need a little time to figure out what this means.”
Ethan slid off of the bench and pushed past me on his way to the door. I struggled to my feet and followed him to the dated living room. He paced the shag carpet and I could tell he was considering his words carefully.
“Look, Emily,” he finally announced. “I know that our timing could be better. But I also know how I feel. I want you. You’ve invaded my thoughts since that first night we met at the diner. I’m not an ‘ease into the shallow end’ type of man. I’m a ‘dive in, head first, all or nothing’ type of man. I’ve followed my instincts my entire life and they haven’t failed me yet. And my instincts tell me you’re the one for me. I want to take you out, spoil you, and shout from the rooftops that you’re my girl. If and when you’re ready for that, you know how to find me.”
He opened the front door and gestured for me to leave as if I’d even think about climbing behind the wheel of my car in nothing but his bathrobe. I put my hands on my hips and remained rooted in place, infuriated by his audacity.
“I’ll leave,” I assured him. “But not until I’ve had my say. Last night meant everything to me. And I feel the exact same way as you. Whatever this connection is between us, it’s strong. I understand that you’re not a patient guy and you’re probably used to getting your way. And if what I’ve read online is true, you’ve been too focused on football to ever have a real relationship.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but I held up my hand, giving him my best kindergarten ‘don’t you dare’ stare. It closed immediately and I went on. “I get that you may not understand how this works. But you don’t get to dictate how I feel and when I feel it. You have to let me get comfortable on my own. If and when you’re ready to do that, you know how to find me. You may as well shut that door and get back to your workout. I’ll see myself out after I change.”
I turned and stormed off to the bedroom without waiting for his reply. I hoped he’d be waiting to apologize when I returned to the living room. But all that greeted me was the still open door.