Page 28 of Played

Thirty minutes later, Trudy is at my door, and she knows right away that there’s something bothering me. “How do you do that?” I ask, dumbfounded. “How do you know that something happened?”

“You get a look in your eyes. They don’t crinkle when you smile.” She explains. “What’s up? Getting older freaking you out?”

“No.” I answer soberly. “Ethan told me he loves me.”

Her eyes widen. “Shit.”

“Aye.”

“I’ll assume that you haven’t told him.”

I shake my head. “That would be a no.”

“Better to do it now, than when he introduces you to his family, and Caleb spills the beans.”

“He won’t, but still, I get your point. Frankly, I’m surprised that Caleb hasn’t told him yet.”

“Why would he? Unless Ethan has told him about you, which I assume he hasn’t, since mister ‘I don’t want the world to know I have a girlfriend’ is so fucking secretive.”

“I get it though, Trudy.”

“That’s the part I’d give money to understand. How is it that you get that? He’s embarrassed. You’re not a fucking billionaire like he is. That family doesn’t want their blood tainted with civilian DNA, Freya. That’s why he’s keeping you a secret.”

“I know. But I love him, Trudy. I don’t care what form I get him in.”

“Well, you’re not going to have him in any form, if you don’t tell him the truth. Some day, his father is going to make him get married, and it’s bad enough that you don’t have nine digits in your bank account, you give him more reason not to choose you, you’re sunk.”

I sigh. “I know. It’s just...”

“You’re afraid. I get it. But, Freya, the longer you leave it, the worse it’s going to get.”

“Can we not talk about this anymore tonight?” I whine.

After a beat, she waves. “You’re right. It’s your birthday. Live it up. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I know you only want what’s best for me. And you’re right. I’ll tell him. The sooner the better.”

She nods. “Okay. On with it. Let the debauchery begin!”

My head finally stops pounding around noon, and that’s after my da’s special hangover concoction; something I've grown to tolerate over the years. And it works. Ethan calls me around two o’clock, from the office, and I can tell because it’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop. When he’s home, he’s always got music or the television on in the background. And he almost always puts me on speakerphone when he’s home, since he’s always multitasking. “How do you feel?” He opens with, speaking with a soft chuckle.

“Alive. About an hour ago.” I snuffle honestly.

“I take it you had fun? It was worth it?”

“Aye. So much fun. We bar-hopped and partied all night long. I think one of my friends got laid, too.”

“No kidding.” He laughs. “Did you decide what you want to do with me?”

“How about we order in and have a nice quiet night here?”

“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we will do.”

“I look forward to it.”

“When do you think you’ll feel alive enough to welcome me?”

“Ethan, you are welcome anytime. I just don’t know when you can drag yourself away.”

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