Page 104 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
He chuckles, getting on the bike and yanking his helmet on. Lifting the visor, he turns around. “Ready?”
“Yep.”
“Are you going to hold on this time?”
Bending forward, I wrap my arms around his massive waist, thinking back to that night. Things were so different back then, it feels like years ago.
Ethan places his hands on mine, leaving them there for a little while. Is he also thinking about that night?
A few seconds later, he removes his hands and I feel cold for some reason. He revs the engine and the bike lurches down the street. I tighten my hold on his waist, digging my face into his back. He smells so darn good and I’m happy I can appreciate it now. I can love and appreciate everything that is Ethan Palmer.
“Lift your head and look around!” he calls over the wind. “See how amazing everything is!”
I raise my head. The view really is awesome. And being behind him, holding on to him, is exactly where I want to be.
***
The ride to my house isn’t long and I’m a little disappointed when Ethan stops the bike. I want to ride with him forever, into the sunset like all those romance movies.
But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.
Ethan gets off the bike, removes his helmet, and his eyebrows furrow as he looks at me. “What’s wrong?”
“I kind of don’t want to get off. This is so much fun. I see why you love it.”
Smiling, he bends close to brush my lips with his. “Then we’ll ride on my bike as often as you want. But right now…” He swallows, as if just remembering he’s going to meet my parents.
I take his hand. “They’ll love you.” I glance down at the bike. “Although maybe not this so much.”
He laughs, placing his hands on my waist and swinging me off. Once my feet are planted on the ground and my head is helmet-free, he kisses me with more feeling, and I return it just as strongly.
“Ooh!” a voice calls.
Drawing back, I find Natalie at the doorway, with a few of my other siblings. All with wide eyes.
Ethan laughs. “Are those your brothers and sisters?”
“Yep. Come meet them.” Taking his hand, we step toward the house, where I introduce all my siblings to my awesome boyfriend.
Natalie gapes at him. “You’re that hot football player, right?”
Chuckling, he ruffles her hair. “You’re a cutie. All of you are. Do you guys know what a fun sister you have?”
They jump and cheer. I’ve been making an effort to be a good older sister to them this weekend, hanging out with them and helping them with their homework. Just being there for them. They’ve included me in their lives like I never left, and they understand that I stay over at Katie’s a lot because of my videos and because she gets lonely in that huge house.
Natalie and my other siblings grab Ethan’s hands and pull him into the house. Mom and Dad are seated in the living room, curious eyes trekking to him.
They tell the kids to go play, leaving just the four of us in the room. Dad gestures for us to sit.
Before he does, Ethan holds out his hand to my dad. “Hello, I’m Ethan Palmer.” He shakes Dad’s hand, then Mom’s. They seem impressed with his manners, but I note the suspicion in Dad’s eyes.
We sit down across from my parents. I take Ethan’s hand, holding it tight.
Dad spends a few long, long minutes grilling my boyfriend about everything. And I meaneverything. But Ethan doesn’t seem to mind, not growing upset or frustrated. He’s so calm and collected, so charismatic. I can see my mother loving him more and more as he talks.
“Dad,” I groan once half an hour passes. “Can you stop interrogating my boyfriend?”
Mom places her hand on Dad’s arm. “Why don’t we let the two of them have fun? What are your plans?”
