Chapter 26
F or New Year’s Eve, we head to Ryder’s house for a party. His parents are out of town and won’t be back for another few weeks. I didn’t really want to go—I still hate parties—but I don’t want to keep Ethan holed up with me just because I don’t really like peopleing. So, we go.
And it’s not a bad time. I take my usual spot in the kitchen, but this time, I have Ethan to keep me company.
I told him he could go and talk to his friends, but he doesn’t leave my side.
If someone wants to talk to him, they come over to us.
We sit by the chips and dip, and the punch that’s more than punch, and we people watch, like I used to do alone.
It’s a bit more fun this time because Ethan joins in and adds side notes. He knows most of these people, so he can tell me if I’m right in my assessments or not. And so far, I’m right about most of them.
When we get to talking about Kenneth, he laughs because I think he and Tim like each other. I’m not sure how true that is, but I get those vibes. They’re circling each other and looking all weird. I could be wrong. I mean, I didn’t pick up on Ryder and Crystal dating, so I probably am.
Ethan doesn’t think so.
“I can see it. Kenneth was really aggressive with how he talked to you a few months back. Overcompensating.” Then his face goes hard and he glares at Kenneth.
“Cut it out. You handled it, it’s fine,” I tell him with a nudge.
We see Elle and Mitch dancing and laughing, much like we are. When they spot us, they come over. Mitch gives Ethan and I a smile, one that makes him look even more handsome. Smiles look good on his usually brooding face.
“Hey. Great party, right?” Mitch asks. I shake my head, laughing. “Yeah, you’re right. Too many people are being weird.”
Elle slides her hand into his. “It’s because you’re dating the most beautiful girl in the room. It’s jealousy, love.”
He looks down at her with a smile and adoration shining in his eyes. “That’s gotta be it.” She laughs and kisses him quickly. “Are you two staying for the ball drop?”
I look up at Ethan and he shakes his head. Thank God.
“Nope,” I say in relief. “We’re out of here soon.”
“Same,” Mitch says. He wraps his arm around Elle’s shoulder and she leans into him, her face all glowy. “My parents are gone too, so we’re going to watch a movie and bring in the new year singing musicals.”
That’s such a cheesy and cute thing to do.
They leave shortly after, and Ethan waves at Ryder and points to us, then the door. I’m more than ready to get away from the party scene.
Crystal comes over, gives me a hug and says she’s going to stay with Ryder. I tell her to use protection and she laughs. I’m not sure what that means, but I’m going to ask her in the morning. We haven’t exchanged gossip in forever. I haven’t even told her about losing my virginity to Ethan yet.
A party wouldn’t be a party without some drama. And it’s our drama, unfortunately. When Ethan and I are heading to the door, we run into our friendly neighborhood hater.
Dawn stands off to the side, seemingly lying in wait. “I’m surprised you’re not tired of fucking a boy by now, Ethan.”
He gives her the side-eye, then tries to step around her. She moves in his path, and since he doesn’t want to barrel her over, he stops and stares down at her. She looks pissed, like me being with him is ruining her life.
Sighing dramatically, Ethan asks in an almost bored tone, “Is it because I never fucked you, Dawn? I passed before, and it’s not going to change now.” Her face turns beet red, but Ethan isn’t done. “Is it because I chose a boy to be my first when you didn’t have a chance in hell? Is that it?”
Snapping my head up, I look at him in shock. His first? He hadn’t been with anyone else? We never talked about that before. It never came up. I never cared. He’s with me, so his past is irrelevant.
Through clenched teeth, Dawn seethes. “You and I both know that doesn't mean anything. You had your little ‘fun’, now stop this shit. You know we belong together. We always have.”
Surprising myself, I tell her, “Really? He's clearly moved on. You’re embarrassing yourself.” She turns her angry eyes on me and I swallow heavily, but don’t back down. “It’s been months. Why won’t you give it up already?”
“Because this is a phase!” she shouts, drawing attention to us. “Someone has to talk some sense into him. You used your…your…gay vibes on him! He was straight before you came along. Now you...you've just confused him!”
“That's enough! What the fuck, Dawn?!” Ethan bellows, making me, Dawn, and a few other people jump. “I. Love. Jakoby. Period. I've never been confused. He is the person I want to be with. He didn’t use anything on me because I pursued him .” Dawn’s face pales and her lips thin.
She opens her mouth, but Ethan cuts her off.
“Nope. Hell, no, you're done. Leave us the fuck alone.
If not, I know my father will have no problems helping me with a restraining order and filing harassment charges.
And if you think I'm playing, go ahead and try it. Because this shit is ridiculous.”
She steps back like he just slapped her. Ethan and I have been together—real and fake—for almost five months. She’s really starting to sound unhinged, like she needs some professional help.
We step around her and head for the door. I look back and see a few of her friends around her, and Dawn giving us a murderous look. A shiver runs down my spine but I just grip his hand tighter as we walk to his car.
My mind is still reeling about the fact that I was Ethan’s first. As good-looking and magnetic as Ethan is, I would have thought he’d had plenty of girls. It’s hard to believe he was a virgin like me.
Before we drive off, I grab his hand. “Your first?”
He looks a bit sheepish and turns to me. “Yeah. I figured you knew.”
My mouth drops open. “Babe...what? How would I know that?”
With the same sheepish look, he shrugs and pulls away from the curb. I keep glancing at him, and he has this small smirk on his face, like he knows I’m looking.
Pulling into the driveway, Ethan puts the car in park and cuts the engine. “Go ahead and ask, creep.”
I turn to him and ask the burning question, “Why was I your first?”
He shrugs. “It never felt right with anyone else. I came close a few times, but I wasn’t feeling it. I started to think there was something wrong with me. That’s probably why Dawn cheated on me. Every time we came close, it didn’t feel right, so I’d stop.”
“Oh,” is all I say.
“Yeah. Until I met you. So...is... is that bad?”
I quickly shake my head. “No, not at all. But I wish you’d told me. Is that why you were so nervous?”
“I know, baby, and I’m sorry. I wasn’t really thinking, ya know?” I give him a look and he smiles shyly. “And partly, yeah. And I wanted you to like it too. Since I don’t have any experience, I thought I would be…bad at it. Was I? Bad?”
“Ethan, no. It was pretty fucking amazing. Exactly how I wanted my first time to be.”
He grabs my hands and kisses the back of them. “Me too. I’m glad it was you.”
Smiling at him, I slide my hand around his neck and bring him in for a kiss. I delve into his mouth and circle my tongue with his. He brings his hands to my face, tilting my head so he can kiss me deeper.
Before I know it, Ethan drags me across the seat and onto his lap.
I laugh, but he silences me with his lips.
He nips at me, sucking and biting at my lips, making me moan on a continuous loop.
The windows start to fog and it’s getting warm in the car, but there’s no way I’m going to stop this.
His lips feel so good on mine and his hands roam over my body, gripping and rubbing at me.
I feel his dick grow hard and I grind my hips slowly. Ethan moans into my mouth, and his hands stop moving over my body and land on my waist. He takes over moving my hips on his erection, his fingers digging into my skin in an almost painful way.
Snatching my mouth from his, we take in greedy pulls of air, our chests rising and falling rapidly. When I look at Ethan, I see his eyes are heated and half-lidded, and I give him one more lingering kiss, then put my lips to his ear. “Want a repeat of Christmas?”
“Fuck. Yes.” I climb off his lap and we get out of the car, rushing inside. It’s been six days, and I was only sore for the first two. It’s definitely time to feel him inside me again.
It doesn’t take long for us to get naked, and I’m laid out on his bed.
He pulls the lube and a condom from his drawer and sets them beside me.
I thought he would immediately slick up his fingers to get them into me, but he doesn’t.
My Ethan likes to kiss, that’s for sure.
He pulls me close to his body and captures my mouth in such a sweet kiss that it’s hard to breathe.
His naked skin feels hot and smooth against mine, and I can feel his heart racing against my chest.
“I love you so much,” Ethan whispers when he breaks the kiss.
“I love you too.”
I feel like I have my other half in my arms. The person that’s supposed to walk this life with me, side by side.
Carefully, Ethan lays me down on the bed, staring at me with his beautiful, soulful eyes. He runs a hand over my cheek and I turn my lips to his palm, kissing him there softly.
He grabs the lube and adds a generous amount to his fingers. “Tell me if I’m doing something wrong, please?”
I nod and spread my legs farther apart, putting my feet flat on the bed. Ethan sits back on his heels and looks at my entrance, staring at me like he’s entranced.
Slowly, he moves his hand over my tight hole and I moan softly at the feeling of him touching me there. He slides a long, thick finger into me up to the second knuckle and I groan. I'm not entirely used to this feeling yet, but it still feels good.