Page 76 of Awakening

“Is that so bad?”

“If I don’t remember anything it’ll just end in disappointment for him.”

“I think Ethan knows not to have those kinds of expectations. He knows it’s going to take time.”

“I just don’t want him to get his hopes up. If I could remember, I would, but?—”

“I know, Liv,” Chloe says with a sympathetic smile. “I think all you can do is live in the moment.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” I say with a small smile.

“No text back from Anthony?” Chloe asks.

“No,” I say, checking my phone. “I think he’ll be respectful of my request.”

When Chloe drops me off, and I walk in the house, I’m hit with that incredible smell. It’s like Ethan’s scent has taken over the entire house. It has a way of relaxing me and making me feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

“Hey,” Ethan says as I walk into the kitchen. He’s dressed in jeans and a fitted black ribbed sweater that shows off his physique. A tingle runs down my spine when he looks at me with those steel blue eyes. “How was happy hour with Chloe?”

“It was great. It was really good to get out for a little while.”

“Good. I’m glad.” He walks to me and takes my face in his hands. “I missed you.” He leans in, kissing me with soft, gentle lips. “I’m glad you’re back. We have a 7:30 reservation for dinner. Is that enough time for you to get ready to go out?”

“It is,” I say with a smile. “I just need to freshen up.”

“Don’t take too long,” he whispers into my ear while one hand caresses my back and the other rests at the back of my neck.

Another tingle runs down my spine as I pull away and nod. “I’ll be back soon.” He grins at me when I turn to look at him while I’m going up the stairs and my face flushes. I can only imagine how many women would do anything to be in my position right now.

He told me tonight is casual, so I stick with the jeans I’m wearing, and after holding up at least ten different shirts in the full-length mirror, I finally choose a dark, rusty orange sweater with a low V-neck. After quickly touching up my hair with a curling iron, I take one final look in the mirror and grab my tall, beige boots with the four inch heels and head downstairs.

Ethan looks up from what he’s reading at the kitchen island, and a grin pulls at the side of his mouth. “Wow,” he says, walking over to me. He puts one hand around my waist and pulls me to him. He doesn’t have to speak for me to know he likes what he sees. His other hand slides behind my neck and into my hair. He whispers into my ear, “You look so fucking sexy.” I hold my breath as he gently kisses the tip of my ear, then my cheek, and then finally my lips.

“Thank you,” I say, barely above a whisper. “You look great too.”

“Thank you,” he says with that devastatingly handsome grin. “Are you ready to go?”

I hold my boots up. “I just need to put these on.” He smiles with a nod, backing away to give me room. I can feel his stare on me as I bend over to pull the tall boots up to my knees.

“Those are my favorite boots.”

“Oh? Are they?” I really like them too, and with no memory of these clothes, I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe at my fingertips.

“Yeah,” he says, not breaking his stare. “Watching you put them on is part of the appeal.”

I feel my face heating up, and I can’t help but smile as I pull on the second boot. He smiles at me when I stand to face him, extending his hand to me. Lacing his fingers with mine, he leads me out to the car and opens the door for me, holding my hand as I get in, and then closing the door for me. The butterflies rush around in my stomach as he joins me in the car and his scent surrounds me. He takes my hand in his again once we leave the driveway.

“So, are you finally going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Nope, but I do know you’re going to love it.” It’s only a short drive before we pull into a parking spot in front of a restaurant called Mas Tequila.

“Is this it? I love Mexican food.”

Ethan

“I know,” I say with a smile. “Yes, this is it.”

Everyone’s eyes are immediately on us as soon as we walk inside. We’re greeted by several people, many of them telling Olivia how happy they are to have her home. I’m trying to be polite, but I’m afraid someone is going to fuck this up, so I guide us through to the hostess station as quickly as possible, where we’re greeted by a girl in her teens. “Hello, A—Mr. Sullivan.” This is exactly what I don’t want, someone fucking up and calling me Alpha. After everything we’ve been through, it’s not yet the time to be explaining werewolf society to Olivia. The teenage girl shrinks under my glare, looking embarrassed, and Olivia frowns as she looks back and forth between us.

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