Page 54 of Holding On

Chapter Eleven

Ethan

I call Becca, knowing she's home for lunch. She told me her schedule yesterday.

"Hey, Ethan," she says, and just hearing her voice makes me smile.

"Hey. Question for you."

"Hold on. I need to go to my room." I hear her walking, then a door shut. "Okay, go ahead."

"Wait or not wait?"

"What are we referring to here?"

"When you really like someone, and you want to see that person again, do you wait the recommended two or three days before doing so, or do you forget the rule and just invite the person over?"

"Well, in our case, I think we already broke the rule last night, given that we were together two nights in a row. I assume you're talking about us?"

This feels strange to me. I'm not used to admitting how much I like a girl. Then again, I've never liked a girl this much.

I haven't answered her question but the answer is obvious. She knows I'm talking about us.

"Are you asking me to come over?" she asks.

"Yes. But I know you have to work tonight. What time do you get off?"

"We close at eleven, but by the time we're done cleaning up it's close to midnight."

"Oh. Shit, that's late and you have to work the next morning. Okay, well, I guess you can't come over."

"Unless you want me to stop by between jobs. I should be done cleaning by four and I don't have to be at work until five-thirty. I usually go home and shower but I could skip that today if you really want to get together."

I hope she's not agreeing to this because she feels sorry for me. By now I'm sure she's figured out I never leave the house.

As I'm sitting here talking to her, I'm realizing how desperate I sound calling and asking to see her again after spending the weekend with her. But it's not because I'm lonely. It's because I like her so much and want to see her.

"Just forget it," I say. "I don't want to mess up your schedule."

"No, Ethan, really. I don't mind."

"I shouldn't have asked. I know you're busy. I just—"

"I want to," she blurts out, followed by a pause. "Not wait. That's my answer."

"What?" I ask, not sure what she's referring to.

"I'm answering your earlier question. If I really like someone and want to see him again, I don't wait. I don't follow the two day rule."

I smile, feeling both relieved that she doesn't think I'm some desperate loser, and happy that I'll be seeing her in a few hours. "So a little after four?"

"Yeah. I'll see you then."

At four-fifteen, she shows up in her maid's uniform that on anyone else wouldn't be sexy at all, but on her is so damn sexy I've had fantasies about her wearing it. About her coming here to clean, but then I end up ripping off that blue, button-up dress and doing her right here on the couch. Of course in my fantasies, my leg isn't trapped in some stupid cast. The cast really limits what I can do, although there are ways to work around it. I've had fantasies about that too.

"Hi!" She comes over to the couch, a big smile on her face.

It's been a long time since I've seen a girl truly happy to see me and not just smiling because she's with Ethan Baxter, the star quarterback. Those girls had a motive; have sex with Ethan Baxter so they could tell their friends and make them jealous. I hate that bullshit but I played along because I got laid by some very hot chicks.

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