16. June
JUNE
Checking the time on my phone, I glance out the window one more time.
Lexie’s ten minutes late. I’m not exactly surprised, but I am tired.
It’s been a long shift, and after triggering a six-year-old’s gag reflex during x-rays, I had the opportunity to clean up a puddle of vomit on the floor, dental chair, and half the tools.
Not exactly what I’d consider the highlight of my day.
My nose wrinkles at the memory as I collapse into one of the cushioned chairs in the waiting area.
I’m too exhausted to even pace the room properly while waiting for Lexie to show up.
Yeah, stick a fork in me because I’m done.
If only I hadn’t promised to give her a free cleaning today.
To be fair, we probably could’ve worked out a different day since HHU’s dental department offers free cleanings so students can practice on real people.
But Dr. Roger’s office is closer to The Drift, and since Lexie’s brother is already squeamish enough as it is when it comes to Harden territory—and Dr. Roger doesn’t mind if I use the place after hours for dental cleanings for family and friends as long as I promise not to do any scaling—I figured it was a decent alternative.
Now, though? Now, I’m starting to second-guess my decision.
The bell on the door jingles, and I stand, striding toward a gorgeous as always Lexie in a red crop top, jean jacket, and dark pants. Seriously, the woman’s a runway model. “You made it!” I give her a hug.
“You really think I’d miss out on a free teeth cleaning?
” She lets me go and looks me up and down.
“Okay, it’s official. I should’ve looked into becoming a dental whatever-you-are because this?
” She plucks at my baby blue scrubs. “Looks comfy as hell and so much better than lingerie. Do you know how sick I am of picking my thong out of my ass?”
I cover my snort with a quiet laugh and shake my head. “You did not just say that.”
“Oh, I most definitely did—”
The door’s bell jingles again, and I lean to one side so I can see who walked in, since we aren’t supposed to have any more patients for the day.
When I recognize the culprit, my pulse jolts, and not in a good way.
Cauliflower ears. Bulky muscles. Brown hair cropped close to the head.
And a chip on his shoulder so big, I feel like I can see it sometimes. Like in this very moment.
Well, crap.
“June, you remember Ethan, my brother. Ethan, this is June,” Lexie says, introducing us. “Ethan gave me a ride.”
Of course, he did.
I haven’t seen Lexie since before the auction, which means she doesn’t know what happened or how rude her brother was to me unless Violet passed along any information.
I kind of doubt it, though. Even Violet and I haven’t really talked about it.
How awful Ethan acted. If Lexie found out, she’d probably knee him in the balls.
Well, if he was anyone else, she would, anyway.
“That was nice of him,” I reply. I have no idea whether or not she sees right through me, and the way the flashbacks to the auction spark like fireworks, crippling me.
Lexie’s brother basically called me a bargain bin woman. Someone who didn’t belong, and man, did his harsh words hit their mark. The truth is, I didn’t belong. Not on that stage. Even if Ford surprised the heck out of everyone and did his best to prove differently.
“Yeah, he’s a real sweetheart once you get to know him,” Lexie continues.
I guess I’m a better actor than I thought. She’s clueless.
A grin spreads across Ethan’s face as if he knows I’m reliving it. One of the most embarrassing moments of my life. “Hear that, June?” he interjects. “I’m a real sweetheart once you get to know me.” He offers me his hand. “Nice to see you again.”
My eyes thin because…is this guy serious?
If only my mama hadn’t raised me right. I take his hand and give it a short shake before letting him go. “Nice to see you, too.”
“I like the scrubs,” he adds, blatantly checking me out. I don’t miss the derision in his beady gaze. “It’s better at hiding the cellulite.”
“Ethan!” Lexie snaps. Horror swallows her expression, and she raises her hand as if to smack him before creating a fist and lowering her arm back to her side.
It’s so quick, the flurry of movements. The shift from surprise to anger to defense to resignation.
It mingles with the lingering tension and deafening silence, leaving me speechless and on guard.
I’ve been around Ethan a handful of times since becoming friends with Lexie.
Not once, and I mean not once, has Ethan ever looked at me, let alone spoken to me.
Period. So, why now? And why the derision?
Was it really the fact that I was presented with the rest of the gorgeous volunteers during the auction that I somehow offended him?
Lumping in the bargain bin woman with the gorgeous sorority girls who are nothing less than perfect?
I could play the woe is me card, but the truth is, I don’t think it has anything to do with me at all.
Not really. I think, if I take a step back and strip my insecurities from tainting my perspective, Ethan’s vehemence against me has more to do with my very loose connection to the Harden Brothers and his strange obsession with pissing them off than it has to do with my looks.
Not that it’s any of my business. The more I learn about the Harden Heights and Drift beef, the less I want anything to do with it.
That includes testosterone-filled pissing matches like the one I witnessed at the auction, and it includes this tense and totally foreign interaction in the middle of my work, too, no matter how much I appreciate my friend standing up for me. “Lexie, we should probably—”
Ethan steps in front of us, blocking our path toward the back of the dental office. “So, when’s your date?” Ethan questions.
Seriously? Can I not catch a break?
“I’m sorry, but we kind of need to start Lexie’s cleaning because I have plans after—”
“Plans, huh?” He moves closer. “Is he cashing in on your date already?”
“Who?” I ask. Maybe if I play dumb, I can end the conversation before it even starts.
“Pretty boy,” Ethan clarifies without missing a beat.
So much for not having the conversation.
“Ford?” I question.
His chin dips.
“Oh. We haven’t nailed down a day,” I lie.
I’m not sure why. Our date is this weekend.
Friday at seven, to be exact. I’m still grateful Ford didn’t push me on the whole Saturday thing.
Apparently, there’s a chili cook-off at Bryan’s work, and if I canceled for my auction gig with Ford, Bryan might finally write me off and break up with me.
Not that we’re officially together, but you get my point.
So why did I lie just now? The question flickers at the back of my mind as I hold Ethan’s creepy stare.
There’s something about him. The way he looks.
The way he carries himself. The way he bid on Violet just to get under Jagger’s skin before attempting to embarrass me in front of Ford to get under his.
Not that it worked. If I’m being honest, I’m pretty sure the only reason Ford decided to bid on me for real is because he doesn’t like losing.
Not because he likes me. Not because he looks at me as anything other than a friend, er, a friend of a friend.
Still. I can’t help but feel like…the less Ethan knows about anything, the better.
“Tell me, are you gonna put out?” Ethan prods.
“What the hell, Ethan?” Lexie grits out.
“I’m just saying,” he argues. “For twelve grand, I bet he’ll have you tied up on his bed all weekend.”
“That’s enough, Ethan,” Lexie starts, but I raise my hand, stopping her.
“Pretty boy and I are just friends,” I tell him. I don’t know why I feel the need to give the guy any kind of clarification. But it’s clear something changed during the auction. The sooner I get off his radar, and we can go back to before he realized I existed, the better.
Moving even closer, Ethan crowds me in the waiting room.
He’s big. Massive. Like a bear. And clearly, he’s unafraid of using our height difference to his advantage.
Slowly, he lifts his hands as if considering touching me, but doesn’t go through with it.
Not yet. His gaze falls to my lips. “Or maybe you have a magic mouth,” he murmurs.
“I mean, turn off the lights and a solid blow job’s a solid blow job, right? ”
Bile glazes my tongue, and I battle my instinct to cower away from his hand.
It hovers an inch from my face, and a not-so-small part of me knows he’s baiting me.
Trying to freak me out. To tattle to Ford as if he actually cares.
Heck, maybe he does. Not in a romantic way, but in a, no one messes with my friends kind of way.
And adding gas to the fire already raging between Ethan and the Harden boys? It’s the last thing they need.
With that in mind, I stand strong and hold my ground. “Lexie, we should get started.”
“Good idea.” Lexie begins to push me toward the back area where the dental chairs are kept, but stops and faces her brother. “Dear wise one, may we please get to the reason why we’re here so we can go home before the game starts?”
We?
Does Ethan still live with Lexie? Not so long ago, Ethan won Violet’s childhood home, which happens to be right next door to where Lexie lives. I assumed she’d have the place to herself again. Am I wrong?
His nostrils flare before he lowers his hand and runs his fingers atop his close-cropped hair. “Be quick, all right?”
“Sure thing.” Lexie gives him a mock salute, then turns back to me, pushing me toward the small cubicles we use for cleanings. I veer to the right, where the dentist usually performs more intense procedures. This room has an actual door for privacy.
And boy, do we need it.