Page 40 of Gone for You

Chuckling, I ask, “Were you a cheerleader?”

“No.”

“Damn.”

“One of your fantasies?”

“Not really. Unless you have a cheer outfit or whatever they’re called. I could definitely get on board with you wearing a short little skirt and jumping around in front of me.” Now I’m hard, envisioning her dressed as a cheerleader.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Chapter 17

Ethan

“There’ssomething that’s been on my mind and I want to ask you about it.”

“Uh oh.”

All of our conversations have been light and not too in depth. “No, no. It’s nothing bad, I promise. But, you talked about being a little afraid of heights.”

“Yeah?”

I gather my courage, knowing that she’s going to turn the same question on me. “What else are you afraid of?”

“Spiders. Most insects. Snakes. Rodents. Basically, everything that’s gross and creepy.”

I’m not sure if she’s avoiding my question or if she really didn’t read between the lines. “Not what I meant.”

She’s quiet for a few seconds. All I hear is her softly breathing on the other end of the phone then she quietly admits, “Putting myself out there and not having those feelings returned. Being left or cheated on.”

“Left?”

“Mm hmm.”

She doesn’t offer any more than that but it doesn’t deter me. I know it’s a risk to ask, but I need to know. “From what happened with your parents?”

“Yes. “

I wondered but I’m a little surprised she admitted it.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? They’re the ones who abandoned each other.” I don’t know what to say in response because she’s right, but I still hate that she went through it. “Did I scare you off? “

“No.”

“Now you know what you’re getting into.”

“I like that.”

“What? That I’m a flight risk?”

“That you know there’s something to get into.”

Chapter 18

Olivia

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