Page 38 of Taking Care of You
But I do and find Ethan staring intently at me, like he’s thinking of something or has a question.
Squirming under his intense gaze, I croak, “Good morning.”
A smile twitches on his lips. “Morning, creep. Sleep good?”
“Yeah. Hot though,” I joke, pushing against his chest.
He chuckles and scoots over. “Sorry about that.” Hopping out of bed, he holds a hand out to me. I take it and he drags me up and pulls me to his chest, wrapping me in a hug. “Thanks for last night, creep. It was fun.”
It was. I didn’t think I would have such a good time simply talking to someone. I think I laughed more last night than I have in a while. I didn’t feel shy around him last night. I felt…good.
“Come on.” He drags me out of his bedroom and pushes me into the guest bathroom. “Get yourself together so we can lounge around the house all day.”
That’s exactly what we do. It’s amazing. We barely talk, but his company is so comfortable that we don’t feel the need to fill the silence with meaningless chatter.
The fact that I’m so comfortable is not lost on me. I don’t question it, though. I’m starting to believe that Ethan really wants to be my friend, and he really wants me to open up and trust him because he trusts me. I’m holding on to what he’s showing me, not going by what my mother tries to convince me guys want from me because of my sexuality.
To my surprise, Ethan has never bought up my being gay. It’s like it doesn’t matter to him. Other dudes would make a big deal out of touching me and sleeping next to me.
Ethan is always touching me. Always kissing me. We’ve slept together twice now. So, he’s definitely secure in his sexuality, and me being gay doesn’t bother him. That makes me feel like this friendship can last.
But he did kiss my neck last night. Three times. I still don’t know what to make of that.ShouldI make anything of it?
No, not right now. Not when I’m having such a great time being in his company.
For now, I’m going to enjoy sitting around in silence with my new best friend.
13
We keep up appearances for the next few weeks. Ethan has been sitting with me during English—since we’re still working on our project—he walks me to my classes, we sit together during lunch, and he meets me in front of the school before he goes to practice to give me a hug and kiss my cheek or forehead like he always does when we part. For the most part, everyone has stopped whispering and staring. It’s been over a month; we’re old news now.
From the outside looking in, we look like a happy couple. No one but Dawn has given us shit since we started dating. She’s still giving me nasty looks, making snide comments, and trying to push up on Ethan every chance she gets.
Even if we were really dating, I wouldn’t be jealous. I know he wants nothing to do with her and he doesn’t make that a secret. He tells her to back off and that we’re together all the time. She just doesn’t care.
It's annoying, really.
Earlier that day, we got our first draft back with minimal corrections, with Mr. Redding impressed that we went with what we have.
While we’re walking to my next class, I pull out my phone and make a new group chat with me, Ethan, Mitch, and Elle. I let them know we’re ready to get started on practice and ask when they’re free.
Ethan, since he can’t help himself, answers first, saying he’s free whenever. I give him a deadpan look and he laughs, seeming pretty proud of himself for being weird. I shake my head and slide my phone back into my pocket.
I’m more than ready to get started on the play. Even though I didn’t think I would enjoy writing it or the idea of working on a group project, it’s been a good time. Probably more so because of Ethan than anything else, but also because I’m able to do something different—work with someone that actually does the work with me. I can’t remember the last time all the work wasn’t pushed off on me for a group project.
Before we get to my next class, my phone pings with two messages. One from Mitch, the other from Elle. They’re both free tomorrow evening, so we agree to meet at Ethan’s after the football team’s end of season dinner. The team lost their last game and won’t be going to State, so he’s finished with football. Now, it’s on to indoor track and field. I’d much rather he do that. I won’t have to worry about some big motherfucker knocking him down.
As his best friend, I can be worried about that and it not be weird. Right?
Even though football is over, he still has practice of some sort. Which means I have to go home. I’ve been lucky, being able to sneak in without my mother saying anything to me about whatever shit she cooks up in her head, but I know my luck will soon run out.
I’m right. When I get home that day, I can hear the music playing all the way from Crystal's house. I curse and drag my feet. I know what this means—Mom wants to clean. And mymother cleaning while she’s drunk is basically her moving things from one spot to another, without actually doing anything. Then she’ll get pissed that things got moved around and make me move everything back.
Fuck. Why can’t I have a normal fucking parent?
Seven more months. I can make it that long. I’ve already done eighteen years. Seven more months won’t kill me.
As soon as I walk in the door, she starts in. “Where the fuck have you been, Jakoby? You act like you don’t know where home is. Out there whoring around, being laid up with whoever will fuck you, huh?” She’s turned the radio down so she can be heard.
