Chapter 9
Mia
After the incident in the laundry room with Ethan, I have trouble focusing on anything other than his mouth during dinner. I watch Ethan like a hawk, all while he rambles on to my brother about hockey. I zone out, having zero interest in their conversation.
Between bites, Will asks me if I want more wine. I slide my glass to the center of the table for a refill.
After almost kissing Ethan, I need as much alcohol as possible.
What was he thinking getting that close to me?
Why is Ethan making moves every time we’re alone?
He tests my self-control on purpose. If he had kissed me, I wouldn’t have stopped him.
Either he’s trying to torment me, or he wants to kill me. Probably both.
Midway through our delicious dinner, Will gets up from the table to open another bottle of red wine.
On his way back to the table, he says, “You ready to go clubbing?”
Confused, I point a finger at my chest. “Are you talking to me?”
Will laughs. “Yeah. Who else would I be talking to?”
“Ethan,” I say, stating the obvious.
“You’re going,” Ethan growls. “It’s not a request.”
He reminds me of the beast from Beauty and the Beast when he commands Belle to eat dinner with him or starve. Ethan’s so bossy. He acts like an extension of my brother sometimes, and it’s annoying.
“You don’t control me,” I snap. “And I’m not the club type. Go without me.”
“There’s no such thing as the club type,” Ethan shoots back. “You either like fun, or you don’t, and since you have the personality of a ninety-year-old lady, we have no choice but to kidnap you if you don’t come willingly.”
“Wow!” My jaw drops, though I’m not shocked about Ethan. “Resorting to threats.”
“Come out with us,” Will adds. “Live a little, Mia.”
“What club?”
Will lets out a sigh of relief. “It’s called The Sixth Floor.”
Why is he so desperate to get me out of the house? I’m what you would call a homebody. I like staying in to read and catch up on my shows.
“Is that the new club on Delaware Avenue?”
Will nods.
“Wear something sexy,” Ethan says in a severe tone. “No frumpy sweaters or pajama pants.”
Will’s face scrunches in disgust. Teeth clenched, he looks at Ethan. “Dude, don’t tell my sister to wear sexy clothes. Gross. She can wear a turtleneck sweater down to her ankles for all I care. I would prefer it.” He says the last part, looking directly at me.
Ethan laughs.
I frown.
Will growls.
“I don’t have anything to wear that either of you would consider appropriate,” I say. “So, you can count me out.”
“C’mon, Mia.” Will stuffs a slice of garlic bread into his mouth and speaks between bites. “You never do anything remotely fun. If I have to, I’ll throw you over my shoulder in what you’re wearing. Just get out of the house and meet someone.”
I cock an eyebrow at him. “And by someone, do you mean some sweaty club dude? No thanks. Neither of you seem to understand that I only have work and lounge clothes.”
“Then don’t think of it as a club,” Will says. “It’s nothing more than an oversized bar that plays techno music and throws crazy raves.”
“I’m sure you have at least one dress in your closet,” Ethan says. “Maybe even a skirt. Go look, and if you don’t find something, I’ll take you to the store.”
“I have to work tomorrow.”
At this point, I would do anything to get out of going with them.
I’m more of a ‘drink vodka from the bottle while eating Cheetos and researching articles on my beat-up MacBook on the couch’ kind of girl.
Will was always the outgoing sibling and the constant center of attention.
We couldn’t be more opposite. Ethan is a mixture of us, or at least he was ten years ago.
I don’t know the man he’s become, but I want to know him. So bad.
Thirty minutes later, I dig through my closet, beyond frustrated and ready to give up. When Ethan walks into my room, I smell his musky scent before I hear his footsteps behind me.
Ethan laughs. “Did you throw your clothes on the floor so you could use that as an excuse not to go?”
I scan the piles of clothes around my feet and sigh. “No, stupid. I was looking for something to wear.”
“You won’t find a dress on the floor, Mia.” Ethan slides hangers along the metal rack with his muscular chest pressed against my back. “You weren’t kidding, huh? Do you own anything besides jeans or something with holes in it?”
“The holes are intentional.” I turn around to face him, stunned by how polished and refined he is at all times.
Why is he so damn perfect when I’m a hot mess?
“It’s not like I sit around with scissors and cut up my jeans and shirts.
” Tugging on the sleeve of his navy oxford, I continue, “We all can’t look as good as you do on short notice. ”
He cups the side of my face in his big hand and strokes my cheek with his calloused thumb. “You’d look good in a trash bag. Stop dragging your feet and get ready before I dress you.”
Once the thought is planted, I imagine Ethan undressing me. He does that well enough with his eyes. And now I’m thinking of him naked and sweaty.
Stop it, Mia.
Get your shit together.
“You were never this bossy,” I choke out. “What happened to you?”
“I’m not the same person, Mia. The sooner you get that through your pretty little head, the easier it’ll be for you to accept that I’m not going to change. This is who I am now. Take it or leave it.”
“I don’t believe it for one second.” I place my palm over his heart and move closer. “For whatever reason, you don’t want to let me back in. You were never this arrogant and rude to me.”
He covers his hand over mine and blows out a puff of air. “Some things are better left in the past. You can either get to know the person I am now or cling to the memory of the boy you had a crush on when we were kids.”
I snort. “I did not have a crush on you.”
A smirk turns up the corner of his mouth. “That’s a lie, and you know it.”
“Whatever.” I take a step back, and his hand falls to his side. “I have to get dressed. Can you get out?”
“You have nothing to wear. Let me take you shopping.”
“I don’t know whether to be offended or flattered that you would do something so selfless for me.”
He pushes his hands to his hips and shakes his head, staring at me with one of his killer smirks. “Someone has to help you.”
I close the distance, and our mouths are almost touching. “I don’t need your help or pity, E. Now, get out of my room.”
Ethan cups my shoulders with his big hands. “I’m calling my shopper at Boyds.”
“I don’t see why you insist I go with you and Will tonight. Watching skanky women grind their ass on you isn’t my idea of fun.”
“Good,” he growls. “Because you’re the only woman I want grinding on me.”
I gasp at his comment.
Ethan is making this living situation too hard for me. And we’re only less than twenty-four hours into the arrangement. I won’t last a month with him invading my personal space while forcing me to confront my feelings for him.
“You can’t turn this on and off whenever you see fit, Ethan.
Will is your best friend, and I’m his sister.
He will kill both of us. Don’t pretend you like me one minute and hate me the next.
Even Will is starting to notice the subtle things you do and say to me.
When Will saw your hand on my knee at the Wells Fargo Center, I thought he would rip your face off. ”
He cups my cheek and whispers, “He doesn’t have to find out. You’re a big girl now, Mia. You can make your own decisions without your brother holding your hand.”
I lean into his touch and sigh. “Stop torturing me, Ethan.”
“I think I’m torturing myself more than you.”
“Are you ready?” Will says from the doorway.
When I step back, Ethan removes his hand from my face and shoves it into his jeans pocket.
Pretending around Will is hard for both of us.
I have no idea how to handle the sexual tension that burns like a lit match with Ethan.
My brother senses it. He’s not stupid. Despite our attempts to conceal the truth, my brother will eventually walk in at the wrong moment and kill us both.
I turn my back to Ethan and sift through my closet, dragging the hangers along the metal bar. “Give me a few minutes. Okay?”
“You don’t have anything to wear,” Ethan points out. “Let me call my girl at Boyds. What size do you wear?”
I glance at him over my shoulder. “None of your business.”
His eyes rake over my body. “Size two?” He stops when he reaches my breasts and takes in the size of them. I almost laugh at his comment. There’s no way in hell my curvy ass is fitting into a size two.
“We don’t have time to fuck around in department stores,” Will says, throwing his hands on his hips, his jaw set in irritation. “Find something to wear, and let’s go. We’re going to a club, not a wedding. No one will care what you have on as long as it’s passable to get in the front door.”
This time, Ethan doesn’t bother to argue. He keeps his mouth shut and follows Will out of my bedroom. I close the door behind them and lean against it.
With Ethan out of my sight, I can finally breathe.
For now.