Page 66 of Taking Care of You
He puts the car in park when we’re in the driveway and leans his head back against the head rest. “What did she say?”
I tell him everything and I’m glad he doesn’t laugh like I thought he would. He looks pained, like it hurts him that she hurt me. I almost wish I didn’t tell him, but I can’t lie to Ethan.
“Look,” I sigh, rubbing my hand on my neck. “We can stop this now. You don’t have to play at being my boyfriend anymore.” He whips his head sharply in my direction.
His eyes fill with an unreadable emotion, then they settle on exasperation. “You thi—,” He stops and takes a deep breath. “You think I’m playing at this? Is that what you’re doing?” I quickly shake my head. “Good.”
He pulls me to him and crushes his lips to mine. I kiss him back just as urgently, hoping to convey how much I’m not playing at being his boyfriend. That I really care about him and want him to be mine. That Ilovehim.
He snatches his mouth away and rests his forehead against mine. “You’re my creep,” he whispers. “I only want you.” He’s quiet for a beat, then pulls back and looks me in the eyes. “This is real to me. You’re my everything,” he says earnestly. “When did it become real to you?”
He doesn’t have to pull the truth out of me and I don’t feel the need to lie. I want to let him know how deep I’m in this with him. I tell him with no hesitation, “It’s always been real for me.”
Ethan closes his eyes briefly, then looks at me with so much tenderness and affection, I almost want to break down into a puddle of tears.
Exiting the car, Ethan comes around to open my door and help me out. He takes my bag and we walk inside.
Dragging me to his room, he sits me on the bed and drops to his knees in front of me. “I’m not confused. I don’t think you look like a girl. I obviously like sucking dick,” he says with a sardonic smile, making an involuntary giggle bubble up from my throat. Only Ethan could make me laugh right now. “I don’t want you to believe anything she said. Dawn is bitter and jealous, so she’ll try to do anything to hurt you. Okay?”
“Okay, babe,” I answer, making him smile at the pet name. He gets up off the floor and sits beside me, putting an arm around my shoulder. “You need to go to practice today.”
He sighs then flops onto his back. “I know. I don’t want to leave you here, though. Not when you’re feeling like this.”
“I’m okay. I’m better now because of you. I can sit in the guest room and do some homework until you get home.”
“No. Sit in here,” he says, squeezing my side. “My parents won’t be back until after six. I’ll be home before then, and we can hang out and watch a movie.”
I nod, lying back and staring at the ceiling along with him. “Okay. I’ve never skipped class before,” I admit quietly.
“Oh, shit. You’re a rebel now,” he quips. I nudge him in the side, making him chuckle. “It’s cool. It’s Friday. I’m sure no one will care.”
He’s probably right. We don’t have many assignments due since we’re out of school next week. I probably won’t have to make up any work, but I still feel guilty about it.
Oh, well, it’s better than going back to school with red eyes and a runny nose because a mean girl followed me to class, spewing lies.
I hate confrontation. While I’m sure I could bite back and say a few choice words to Dawn, I’m not that person. To me, it’s a waste of time. I won’t ever see her again when I leave here. From what I’ve heard, she’s going to an in-state college. She’ll still be on the East Coast and I’ll be in California, living my best life and soaking up the sun with my boyfriend. I have no reason to start some drama when I’m almost out of here.
A few hours later, Ethan goes to practice and I curl up in his bed. I don’t have much homework and what I do have can wait until the weekend.
I lay there in silence, just thinking. My mind wanders, not settling on any one thing, my thoughts free to roam as they will.
Then, I get a lightbulb moment. I sit up suddenly, looking for my backpack so I can get a pencil and paper. I know what to give Ethan for Christmas.
22
It's the day before Christmas break, and I'm happier than I remember being in a long time. I’m looking forward to a few days off that I can spend with Ethan, Elle, Mitch, Crystal, and Ryder, talking and getting to know each other better, building a stronger friendship between us all. I have Ethan’s gift ready and I’ve even managed to avoid Dawn for the past few days. It looks like she’s stopped pestering us, even though she still gives me the stink eye when I pass her in the halls.
For the first time in a long time, everything feels right. Ethan doesn’t have practice today, since it’s early dismissal, so our little crew meets at the diner Ethan took me to for breakfast a few weeks ago. We sit around for a few hours, talking and laughing. It’s one of the most fun days I’ve had in…maybe ever.
I’ve never had this before. I think the last time I spoke to anyone other than Crystal was when we were in kindergarten. Back before I got painfully shy, I would talk to anyone. I didn’t know how much I needed this type of interaction until I got it. Now, I don’t know if I can go back to not being this open with the people that have worked their way into my trust circle. Today is one of the best days of my life.
Until it isn’t.
After we get back to Ethan’s house, we head straight to his room. His parents will be back at a reasonable time tonight, since they want to spend some time with Ethan before the holidays swamp them with work.
With that in mind, we go to his room, and his mouth is on mine and his hands are down my pants almost immediately. I groan into his mouth, loving when he touches me.
Pulling my mouth from his, I shimmy out of my jeans and pull my shirt over my head quickly before he reclaims my mouth with a rough kiss. My clumsy fingers work his pants open and I shakily grab on to his rigid length, jerking him slowly. When he snatches his lips from mine, I drop to my knees and suck him down my throat before he can stop me. I take him deep, holding him inside for a few beats before I pull back, circling my tongue around his cockhead.
