Page 80 of Naive in Love

"Uh. I need to talk to you. Have a moment?" I ask, not sure how to proceed.

"Oh. Now you want to talk. Well, I'm busy. Maybe I'll stop by later."

His attitude gives me the boost I need. "Don't bother. I'm done with you. It's over. You and I are over."

"What the fuck? That's what you think. No. You haven't even given me a chance to explain. I'm on my way.” His statement is laced with threat.

“First, I’m not at home. Second, I don’t need an explanation. Third, it. Is. Over. It has been. I just wanted to make sure you knew.” Ethan watches me closely, listening to the one-sided conversation.

“NO. It’s not over! Where the fuck are you?! I’m coming to pick you up!” Caleb yells.

When Ethan hears his booming voice, he places his open hand out in front of me. I place the phone in his hand, unsure what will happen next.

“Stay away from her.” Ethan states very calmly, with authority. As he takes the phone away from his ear, I hear Caleb yelling, but Ethan ends the call, stopping the verbal tennis match that could have ensued.

“Should we join everyone?” He looks at me.

“I guess.” I shrug.

He strokes my cheek gently with the back of his hand. I take his hand and wrap it around me as I climb into his lap, tucking myself into his muscular chest. His hand strokes my back. After a few moments, he clears his throat. "Do you want to stay in here and make them wonder what we are doing, or do we join them?" he teases.

My cheeks heat and my body hums at the thought, but before I can get lost in the fantasy, I remember my lack of experience. I stand up and walk to the door, not wanting to think about it.

Everyone looks in our direction when we step into the living room, and Paige asks, "So do we ask or…um…make up our own story…"

I look to Ethan, knowing Paige will continue until we say something. He raises his brows, and I respond with a shoulder shrug and a gesture for him to take the lead.

"Well let's see…” He pauses for dramatic effect. “…where to begin… Ah, hell, I'm sure whatever you make up will be way juicer than what I'm about to say. So have at it, make up a story. Just let us in on what sordid details you add to the mix."

A mixture of eye rolls and laughs come from our friends as Ethan goes to the kitchen to grab us fresh beers from the fridge. He takes a seat in the oversized side chair and pulls me down into it with him. And before any more questions could be asked of Ethan and I, Preston takes the attention away from us by saying the magic words,Spring Break.

Everyone jumps in and has an opinion on what we should do and where we should do it. We’re all throwing out ideas—Mexico, Florida, Colorado, The Keys, South Padre.

Lena jumps in. “It won’t be Mardi Gras, but what about New Orleans? All-day parties, shopping, haunted tours, food, no last call.”

Everyone looks around, smiling and nodding.

Preston pulls Lena to him, kissing her. “Perfect! That’s where I’m going.”

“We in?” Ethan asks me.

“Of course.” I answer enthusiastically at the same time everyone else chimes in with their approval.

The rest of the evening goes by quickly, and when it’s time to go, I don’t want to leave him. I want to stay but am also nervous about rushing things. I am not ready for our time together to be over.

"What's wrong, baby?" Ethan whispers as he runs the tip of his nose along my ear and neck, his hand running up and down my arm.

I shake my head—trying to deny that anything is bothering me—and lean into his touch.

“Talk to me,” he says, softly enough for only me to hear. How do I begin to explain? That I want to stay with him, but not rush things. How I feel when I am not with him. How I fear waking up and tonight being a dream.

I decide to keep it simple and honest when he gently squeezes my arm, raising his brows in question. I tuck my face in his neck to hide my words from the others. “I want to stay with you, but I don’t want to rush things, and I don’t know what you want to do.” I sit up and look into his eyes.

An oh-so-sexy smirk greets me as his voice drops an octave. “If I get to make the decision, you are staying here.” He leaves a trail of kisses along my jaw. “But…” He pauses while he trails the tip of his nose along my ear. “…do you think the girls will let you stay? I think they are going to drag you back to the apartment so they can play twenty questions.”

He’s right.

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