Page 16 of Unfolding Ethan

I grinned. “Okay, Volt. Count us all in.”

I hoped going back to the farmhouse wouldn’t affect our friendship. But I really wanted to know what was going on inside Ethan’s mind when he had asked me for a kiss when we were sloshed.

???

The headache didn’t go away. If it was possible, it became worse.

I massaged my temples when Volt, Rio, and Ryan’s friends, Carter and Samuel, started a fistfight, every two minutes screaming at the PlayStation. Volt was sporting a black eye, and Rio and Samuel had nosebleeds from the random punches.

Man, boys are weird.

By the sound of high-pitched giggles of my friend, I knew Ryan was keeping her busy in the kitchen. I smiled when he teasingly whispered something in her ear, making her laugh, and they started making out. Shuddering, I quickly looked away.

Ethan was sitting on the other couch, completing his homework so he could focus more on his swim practice. He was wearing his study glasses and I smiled when his tongue occasionally poked out of his lips to lick them when he calculated the answer in the calculator. One of the strands of his hair fell down when he was writing on his notes and I had the same urge to go and tuck it back.

I shook my head.No.I can’t have these thoughts about Ethan.I should have brought a book or my laptop with me, but we came directly here after Ethan and Rio’s swim practice. I looked out of the glass doors, at the swimming pool. I could use some fresh air.

“I’ll be outside,” I muttered to no one and made my way to the pool, which was in the backyard where no one could see or disturb me. I would probably swim for a while.

“Hey, Kiara.”

I stopped and my heart quickened when I turned toward him.

“Can I join you?”

Hai Bhagwan.

I smiled. “Of course, Ethan. I’d love that.”

I could feel his burning eyes on me when we stepped outside the glass doors, cool breeze brushing against our bare skin. Ethan slid the doors behind him. I swallowed the lump in my throat when I realized no one could see us from the living room or the kitchen unless they walked out here.

We were completely alone. Just like that night.

“Are you going to swim?” I asked, removing my shoes and sitting on the edge of the pool, dipping my bare legs in the cold water.

His tall frame loomed over me and he sat beside me, following my actions. “Probably later.”

I swayed my legs in the water. Even though I had naturally tanned skin, thanks to my Indian genes, Ethan had a darker skin tone than me. I wondered how we would look pressed against each other. I bit my lip to stop my imagination from wandering too far and thinking of my legs wrapped around his strong torso.

I studied his profile and his eyes were trained on our legs floating in the water. With a small kick, a few the water droplets fell on his clothes and I hid my smile. He looked at me and did the same, water spraying over my black skirt and sweater. I giggled and swayed my legs harder so his pants were wet with water.

Uh-oh.

“Ethan!” I shrieked, a bubbly laugh escaping my lips when he held my wrists in his one hand and leaned closer, about to push me in the pool.

He grinned, his green and blue eyes glinting with mischief. “Would you like to swim, Kiara?”

My eyes widened in disbelief and I whispered, shaking my head, “Ethan . . . you wouldn’t. D-don’t do it.”

I tried wrenching away from his grip, but he smirked and I held my breath when he pushed me inside the water, my body downing in the pool and water gurgling around me. My skin prickled with the icy cold water as I surged up on the surface, moving my hair from my face and glaring at my best friend, who was busy laughing at me.Jerk.

“I didn’t peg you as a jerk, Ethan,” I snapped when he easily lifted me from the pool even though my wet clothes were weighing me down.

He snickered, his cheeks flushing when he handed me a towel. “You started it, Bella. Don’t blame it on me.”

I sighed and shook my head when the skirt and sweater stuck to my body. I didn’t have spare, but I hoped Ryan would have Katherine’s clothes in his room, which I could borrow. Dripping with water, I sat beside Ethan, who was staring at my wet clothes that stuck to me like a second skin.

“So, what are you thinking about?” he asked, clearing his throat, and looked away.

---