Page 55 of Bro Amazing

It's so cozy in this bed. I can practically feel warm arms wrapped around me, holding me close.

Wait a minute. Icanfeel arms around me. My eyes pop open. My roommates aren't supposed to be home for a few more days. So who the fuck is in bed with me?

Cautiously, I shift enough that I can turn my head and look without waking whoever it is up.

As soon as I see his face, though, I sag back into the mattress with relief.

"You're back early." I roll into Ethan and brush the hair back from his face. He looks exhausted. "We'd wondered where you were last night."

"On a plane," he answers, still half asleep.

"What happened at home?" Something had to have happened for Ethan to change his plans last minute like this. Not that I'm complaining about having him here. It was lonely in this big house by myself, and now he and I will get to have some quality time together.

"Nothing." He pulls me closer until we're wrapped around each other. Less snuggling and more hugging.

"Are you sure?" I stroke his back as I hold him close. If this is what he needs, this is what I'll give him—that's what girlfriends are for, I think—but he should talk about it if he's upset.

Ethan groans and rolls onto his back, but I'm not letting him off that easy. If he's so upset that he came home from his vacation early, I'm going to be here for him whether he likes it or not.

"You can tell me. I can keep your secret." I follow him across the bed until I'm splayed out across his chest, looking down at him.

"Nothing happened," repeats Ethan. "Nothing ever happens."

"What do you mean?" If nothing happened, why is he home early? Unless he always planned to only go for a couple days and booked a shorter trip without telling his teammates, but that doesn't make sense either.

"I went home to visit, but my parents were still going about their regular life as if I wasn't even there. And they didn't let my sisters come home from school for the week. So I figured if they don't want to spend time with me, I might as well be here." Ethan stares up at the ceiling, his voice so neutral it's heartbreaking.

Turning his face so he meets my eyes, I say, "Well I'm glad you came home, then, because this is where you belong."

If his family can't see how sweet and caring their son is, that's their problem. Ethan might be quiet and shy, but he's thoughtful. He rounds out the atmosphere in the house and he adds to the team. I've watched his games, and even though I don't fully understand what they're doing, I can tell that he's talented. They all are.

"Thank you," says Ethan, and I think I hear a catch in his voice.

"You know, you're still technically on vacation, and I wrote a bunch yesterday. What do you say we play hooky today?" An idea is forming. Maybe it'll work. It could be fun, if he's interested.

"I'm not sure you fully understand the term hooky." Ethan laughs, his chest bouncing, and I nearly topple off of him.

"Come on, it'll be fun." I push up so I'm hanging over him, looking down into his eyes. He can't avoid me now. "Please?"

It was only a half idea I was throwing out a moment ago, but now that Ethan's uncertain, I'm more committed than ever. We both need to get out of the house and try something new today.

"Okay, let's do it," he says with a sly smile.

"Yay! Let's start with breakfast, because I'm starving." I roll off the bed and walk naked out of his bedroom.

Ethan doesn't stop me. Doesn't demand his benefits as a boyfriend. But I make sure to sway my hips a little so he at least has a good view as I walk away.

I rush through getting ready. I want to look nice for our outing, but I also don't want to take so long that Ethan gets annoyed and decides we shouldn't go out. I'm not sure I've ever seen him leave the house in the entire time I've lived here, except when we went to lunch with my parents and when he left for the airport. And I wouldn't call either of those outings particularly successful.

When I'm ready, I look for Ethan in his room, but he's not there. The bathroom door is open, so he's not still getting ready. Maybe he went downstairs to get a little work done before we leave. People who work a lot are always trying to sneak in a few more minutes.

I hurry down the stairs to roust Ethan out of the den, but find him huddled on the bottom of the stairs. I nearly trip over him.

"Are you okay?" I ask, knowing he's not. Something must be wrong if he's sitting here hunched over.

"I'm fine," says Ethan, slowly standing to his full height. "Lead the way."

Ethan opens the door as I slide on my shoes, but he stays right there holding the door until I step out on the stoop first.

---