Chapter 11 #3
“I’m not sure yet. But I’ll call you once I know.”
“What about your job?”
“I’m taking some time off.”
After a moment of silence, she says, “I’m worried.”
“I’m okay,” I assure her. “But can you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“I don’t like the thought of you being alone in our condo. I was thinking you could stay with Victor so you aren’t alone.” Not a complete lie.
“Nevaeh, if something was wrong, you would tell me, right?” she pushes.
“Blaire, please,” is all I can say.
She sighs. “Okay, I’ll be at Victor’s, but please know I’m here for you. Any time. I’m only a phone call away.”
“I know, Blaire. Thank you.”
“On another note. Gerald called me looking for you. Said you sent him a text telling him to go fuck himself, and in return, I also told him he could go fuck himself.” She laughs. “Look at you getting all badass.”
“Yeah.” I side-eye my new roomie, knowing it was actually him who sent the text.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Blaire presses once more.
“I am. I’ll call you soon. Love you.”
“Love you more.”
Once we hang up, I pull up my email and type out a long and apologetic letter of resignation to my principal, explaining I had wanted to give notice, but it’s not possible.
Next, I send a group text to my parents to let them know I’m okay and will be out of town for a little while. Before either of them can reply, I turn off my phone and place it on the bar.
“Everything handled?” Ethan asks, setting the glass tumbler down.
“Yeah. Blaire said something about someone sending a text to Gerald…telling him to go eff himself. She thinks it was me…” I raise my eyebrows at him, watching him smile sheepishly, like his hand was caught in the cookie jar. I’m not mad about it. I just want to know why he’d do it.
“Sounds like someone was trying to defend you.” His brown eyes lock with mine and we hold our stare for several long beats, until the doorbell rings, halting whatever’s happening between us for the moment.
Ethan leaves the kitchen and seconds later comes back with two brown bags and a cold can of root beer. As soon as he opens the bags, the smell permeates my nostrils. Yum! He ordered Chinese. I open my container: sesame chicken and pork fried rice—minus the carrots.
“How did you get them to do this? Every time I ask, I always get told it can’t be done.”
“Money can get you whatever you want, Nevaeh,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone.
Once we’re done eating, Ethan suggests we watch a movie. After calling out several titles, I decide on Top Gun. I’ve always had a secret crush on Tom Cruise and him in Top Gun…yes, please.
We settle on the couch next to each other. Close enough I can smell his sweet and masculine scent, but far enough away, I would have to reach over to touch him. Which is probably for the best since my every other thought since kissing him in the club has been about wanting to touch him…
We’re almost an hour into the movie when the scene where Charlie admits that she’s falling in love with Maverick begins.
When I picked this movie, I completely forgot about this scene.
The song “Take Your Breath Away” plays through the surround sound of the room, and I begin to feel a bit antsy.
I fidget as I move my legs under me, trying to get more comfortable.
Charlie is underneath Maverick in a passionate and erotic embrace, and I’m sitting next to Ethan watching, wanting what she has—to feel wanted and desired.
When Ethan kissed me in the club, I felt something similar, and ever since I’ve found myself wanting more: more passion, more touching. I never wanted it with Gerald. He always begged, but I didn’t get it. Now, though… I think I do.
Ethan pauses the movie and it freezes on the part where Charlie’s hand is grazing Maverick’s back. I shift on the couch, the muscles between my legs clenching.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asks, placing his arm behind me on the sofa, edging closer to me.
I look over at him and he has a devilish smirk across his perfect face. “Yes, I’m fine,” I say, but even I can hear the breathlessness in my words.
“Is this movie making you uncomfortable?” Oh my God, he’s freaking messing with me.
I shake my head, not giving him the satisfaction of admitting the thoughts that are taking over my girly parts.
“Have you ever done anything like this?” He nods toward the still-frozen screen.
“I haven’t done anything.”
He looks at me with his mouth gaping open.
“Anything?” he clarifies.
“Well…there was this one time when my ex felt me up over my clothes. But I stopped him. It didn’t really do anything for me.
” I bite down on my lip, hard, before I continue.
“I’ve tried to pleasure myself in the past, just to see what it would feel like, and I’m pretty sure I did it, but it didn’t feel anything like I’ve read about in my books.
” And then I felt guilty for doing it, because even though masturbation isn’t mentioned in the Bible as being a sin, my mom instilled it in me that any sexual acts not with your husband are.
“Fuck—” It’s the last thing Ethan says before he grips me by my hips and pulls me into his lap so I’m straddling him. His hardness grinds against my core as he pushes my dress up to my waist. Then he gently grips the back of my neck and pulls my mouth to his for an earth-shattering kiss.