Page 18 of Something New

"Yeah, because look at its back."

"Yeah," I agreed, even though I didn't know much about dinosaurs. "You'll have to teach me about their names later. But first, you need to show me your house. I just got here, and it's my first time to come over."

"Okay, come here," he said.

"Thank you," John-Michael said before I could take off. We made eye contact. "I'll stay here and get started if you don't mind."

I shook my head. "Not at all."

"E can show you around. The kitchen, the pool, his room, he knows where you guys can hang out. I'll be in here if you need me," he added, gesturing into the office.

I smiled and nodded, taking off with Ethan.

That man was simply gorgeous, and I smiled at the butterflies in my stomach and how they were uncontrollable. I knew he wasn't attracted to me, but I couldn't help but notice him in that way. He was like a movie star.

"Hey, Sadie, thank you for coming over," he said.

"Of course. My pleasure."

He closed the door, and I went into the living room with Ethan.

We swam for over an hour, and then we got out of the pool and hung out outside while we dried off. Ethan mentioned being hungry, and we went inside to see what we could find in the kitchen. It was close enough to dinner time that I figured he could eat. I opened the fridge and started looking for something for dinner.

I was so happy about my choices last night. I felt good physically, and I felt good about myself. I had gotten a lot of photography done, and I made it home in time to get more than a couple of hours of sleep.

"What about pizza?"

"What about ice cream?" he asked.

"What about pizza then ice cream? Is this pizza still good?" I asked him. I pulled the cardboard box out of the fridge. "Does your dad let you eat this?"

He nodded. "It's me and my dad's pizza."

"What kind is it?" I asked before I opened it.

"Slices."

"Slices? How many slices do you want? One?"

"I have one and you have one."

"Is your dad okay with me eating some of this?" I asked. I knew he would be. There was a lot left—a whole large pizza that was assembled from two or three different types in one box. "Which one do you want?"

"I want these," he said, pointing at some bread on the side of the box.

"Garlic knots?"

"What? No, it's brea-a-ad," he said, laughing.

"Yeah, the bread. Do you want both of them or just one?"

"Two."

"Do you want pizza, too?"

He shook his head, and I put the garlic knots on a plate for him. I had just taken them out of the microwave and put them in front of him when I heard my name.

"Sadie?" It was John-Michael, and he was calling my name from down the hall.

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