Chapter 13
The ride to my apartment is a relatively quiet one. A part of me wants to rant to Ethan about how terrible my date was. But I know that won’t be a good idea.
I’m just glad that he showed up when he did. I had been standing by the sidewalk for over an hour trying to hail a cab before he showed up.
Tom left the restaurant with another woman about thirty minutes ago. And when they walked past me, with their tongue in each other’s throats, Tom didn’t even notice me. Or if he did, he did a good job of pretending not to have seen me.
At that point, I wanted to call Chloe and ask how she ended up setting me on a date with such a guy, but my phone battery is dead. And to think, she kept vouching for him, saying he was a good guy.
The moment I get home and power up my phone, I’m so calling her and giving her a piece of my mind.
“I think we have a problem.” Ethan’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and that’s when I realize that we’ve hit a roadblock.
There’s a road sign that says there’s construction going on. How come they weren’t there when I was coming for this stupid date? And why did they choose this time of the night to do this?
I know I should have listened to my instincts and stayed at home. I should never have allowed Chloe to talk me into this. Now I’m stuck in the middle of the street.
I blow out a breath as I try to come up with a way to get back to my apartment.
“We are being redirected to another route,” Ethan says, pointing at one of the road signs, but my hope is quickly shattered when he speaks.
“This route is quite long, and there’s an impending storm according to the weather forecast. I doubt if we will be able to make it to your place before it hits us.”
Yeah, it was announced on the radio a few minutes ago that there might be a storm tonight. My heart sinks as I realize that I will not be able to make it back to my apartment tonight.
“We could go back to my penthouse,” Ethan suggests.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea…”
He quickly cuts in. “You don’t have to worry. My place is spacious, and you will have enough space to be by yourself. Besides, I’m traveling to Miami first thing in the morning, so I’ll most likely going to be gone before you wake up.”
I’m silent for a moment as I try to consider the idea of both of us in the same space for a whole night. The last time that happened, we both barely slept, as we were busy doing some unholy things between the sheets.
But spending the night at his place is the only option I have. It’s either that, or I risk sleeping out on the street, as I can’t afford to go to a hotel.
“All right, penthouse it is.”
“I can take you to a hotel if you’re not comfortable spending the night at my place,” he says as he turns the car and starts heading in the opposite direction.
“No, it’s fine. Thanks for your help. I don’t know what I would have done if you had not shown up.”
He gives a curt nod in response, his eyes trained on the road. I try my best not to steal glances at him. He looks incredibly handsome, sporting a five o’clock shadow; his rolled sleeves reveal his arm muscles, which slightly flexed as he holds the steering.
His hair is tousled, like he has been pulling his fingers through them. And I so badly want to pull my fingers through them, too.
I slowly drag my eyes away from him when I suddenly remember that I shouldn’t be having such thoughts, especially when I’m going to be spending the night at his place. I need to be in the right headspace to avoid any form of mistakes tonight.
“Still don’t want to talk about your date, huh?” he asks, breaking the silence as he looks at me briefly, a subtle smile on his face.
“Trust me, you don’t wanna know,” I scoff as I remember how terribly bad my dinner had gone.
“I do want to know if you don’t mind. I’m curious to know what happened on a date where you were all dolled up, and then you ended up on the sidewalk, in the cold, looking for a cab.”
“Wow, when you put it that way, it sure does sound awful.” I should be angry, but I can’t help but chuckle.
“I’m sorry, but I don”t get it; did the guy not show up or something?”
“Oh, he showed up all right, but the conversation was all about him. At some point, I began to think that he came on the date just so he could hear himself talk.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Oh, it was terrible. The guy wouldn’t stop talking about himself.”
“Sorry, you had to go through that. Sounds like a nightmare,” he replies, his voice casual as he focuses on the road ahead. It’s quite obvious that he’s hiding his true feelings beneath a mask of indifference. “But hey, at least you got a good story out of it, right?” he asks.
I chuckle softly, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly as I relax into my seat. “Yeah, I guess so,” I agree, a wry smile playing at the corners of my lips. “I’ll definitely be telling this one to my grandkids someday.”
As we drive on in companionable silence, the weight of unspoken words lingering in the air between us, I can’t help but steal glances at Ethan. In the soft glow of the streetlights, his features seem softer, more ethereal, and for a moment, I allow myself to imagine what it would be like to have him as my man.
Wake up and smell the coffee, girl, that is never going to happen.
When we arrive at Ethan’s place, I’m blown away by how beautiful it is. The penthouse is nothing short of breathtaking, with its sleek modern design and luxurious furnishings. As Ethan leads me through the spacious living area, I can’t help but admire the panoramic views of the city skyline that stretch out before us.
“Wow, this place is incredible,” I remark, unable to contain my awe as I take in the elegant décor and tasteful furniture.
He chuckles softly, a hint of pride in his voice as he gestures for me to make myself at home. “Glad you like it,” he says, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he turns to head towards the kitchen.
“So, would you like anything to eat?” Ethan asks, opening the fridge and peering inside as if he’s expecting to find a feast waiting for us.
I shake my head, unable to suppress a smile at his enthusiasm. “Honestly, I’m not really hungry,” I admit, my stomach still churning from the disastrous date earlier.
He frowns, concern flickering in his eyes as he turns to face me. “Are you sure? I could whip up something quick if you’d like.”
I shake my head, waving off his offer with a reassuring smile. “No, really, I’m fine. I think I’ll just go freshen up and maybe get some sleep.”
“Alright, suit yourself,” Ethan replies as he heads out of the kitchen. “The guest bedroom is this way.”
He leads me down a hallway lined with sleek, modern artwork and soft lighting. We reach a door, and he opens it.
The room is spacious and elegantly decorated, with plush furnishings and tasteful accents. A large window overlooks the city below, offering a breathtaking view of the twinkling lights and bustling streets.
The king-sized bed is adorned with crisp white linens and fluffy pillows, inviting me to sink into its comfort. A sleek desk sits against one wall, complete with a stylish lamp.
“The bathroom is that way,” he says, pointing at a glass door in a corner of the room. “I have some shirts in the closet. You can choose any to change into. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you.”
As he exits the room, I take a moment to appreciate the peaceful surroundings before I walk into the Jacuzzi bathroom, strip out of my clothes, and take a shower.
By the time I am done, it has already started raining heavily. I turn my attention to the closet. I open the doors to find an array of neatly folded shirts and sweaters, each one bearing Ethan’s unmistakable scent.
I select a soft, oversized shirt and slip it over my head, relishing the warmth and comfort it provides. Unable to sleep, I head back to the living room.
I find Ethan sprawled on a couch eating pizza, his eyes focused on the television watching as the business news is being read. He’s now changed into a sweatshirt and matching sweatpants.
“Thanks for letting me borrow your shirt,” I say, trying to pull it down to the middle of my thighs as I take a seat on a couch adjacent to his.
There’s an unreadable expression in his eyes as he takes me in. I can bet that I noticed him swallow hard.
“Pizza?” he asks, tearing his eyes away from me.
“How were you able to order food at this time of the night and in this storm?” I take the warm slice that he offers.
“I had it in my fridge. It’s leftovers.”
“Oh.” I take a bite of the pepperoni pizza, relishing its flavor. I was too busy trying to think up an exit strategy while listening to Tom all at the same time to enjoy my food.”
He offers me his glass of red wine, and I take it. “Are you trying to get me drunk?” I ask as I take a sip of the sweet drink.
“A little red wine has never hurt anyone,’’ he replies with a smile.
For a split second, we both stare at each other, not saying a word. “Could I please change the channel?” I ask, breaking the silence.
He takes the TV remote and stretches it out to me. As I reach for it, his fingers slightly graze my skin, sending a jolt of electricity through my whole body.
I surf through the channels and then settle for a reality show. The rain outside increases, and soon, I’m shivering from the cold, even though the heater is on.
“Come here, you look like you can use some heat,” Ethan commands, and as if I’m being controlled, I find myself getting out of my chair and joining him in his.