Page 35 of Holding On

"He's not taking advantage of me. And besides, you were the one who told me to go over there."

"I never told you to go over there."

"Maybe not, but you guilted me into it. You knew what you were doing."

"So going back to my earlier question, what'd you guys do after the fireworks?"

"Went inside and watched TV."

Mike mutes the TV and looks at me. "Do you like him?"

"As a friend."

"That's it?"

"I'm not going to date him, if that's what you're implying. Even if I wanted to, it wouldn't be an option. He's Ethan Baxter. He could have any girl he wants."

"What's that supposed to mean? You're not good enough?"

"No, I'm just saying that I don't think he's looking for someone to date. I don't think he wants to be tied down like that."

"And yet he asked you to stay and watch fireworks with him. And watch TV."

"Because he's bored, and he admitted he's lonely. By the way, don't tell anyone I said that. He doesn't want people knowing. I need to stop telling you this stuff."

"You know I'd never tell anyone."

"I know, but I feel like I'm betraying his trust when I tell you what he said."

"So you care about him," Mike says.

"Well, yeah. I mean, he's a nice guy when he wants to be. Other times he's a jerk, but I don't think he means to be. I think he's just stressed because he's not sure what's happening with his football career. And it sounds like his dad gives him a hard time."

Mike turns to me and smiles. "You really like this guy."

"I do not," I insist. "At least not in the way you're thinking."

"Then why are you being so defensive?"

"I'm not being defensive." And yet I can hear my defensive tone. I decide to fess up. "Okay, fine. You're right. There's an attraction there, but that's true for every girl in town. Ethan is hot. A girl can't help but be attracted to him."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing. We'll just continue being friends."

"Meaning you'll see him outside of work? What day do you clean for him? Thursdays?"

"Yeah." I pause. "But he wants to see me before then."

Mike nods, knowingly.

"What? What's that look for?"

"You and Ethan. I have a feeling this is going to turn into something."

"It's not going to turn into anything. We're friends. That's it. He just wants someone to talk to. When his football buddies get back in a few weeks for practice, Ethan will forget all about me."

"We'll see about that." Mike faces the TV again.

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