Page 35 of Taking Care of You
The DJ stops the song and introduces the Homecoming King and Queen before playing an old eighties song. Dawn tries to press herself against Ethan, but he holds her at arm’s length. After a few seconds, she gives up and drifts from side to side with him.
Elle and Crystal come to stand beside me.
Crystal throws her arm around me, resting her head on my shoulder. “You okay?”
I nod. Although I’m hella jealous that Dawn has her hands on Ethan, I know he’s not doing it to be hurtful. It’s the rules of the court, after all.
Elle steps beside me and threads her arm through mine. “You and Ethan look better together than they ever did.” I smile at her, thankful that she’s trying to cheer me up. I’m not really upset, I just want him to come back to me so he can make me dance.
The song ends a minute or so later, and Ethan doesn’t waste time dropping his hands from Dawn’s waist and making his way back over to me. He wraps his arms around my back, pulling me flush against his body.
He goes to kiss my cheek, but I moved my head to tuck into his shoulder, so his lips hit my neck. I gasp and my dick punches out so fast that it’s a miracle that I don’t pass out from blood loss.
“Oh God,” I whisper as I try to move back and get some distance between us. Ethan’s grip tightens around me and he kisses me there again, softly and gently. A delicate brush of his lips that has me gasping and holding on to him for dear life. When he kisses me there once more, I groan, wanting desperately to sink into him and allow him to do what he wants.
But that’s wrong. This isn’t real. This is pretend and I could very well be pressuring him to do something he doesn’t want, just to keep up appearances.
Wiggling away, I look at him with pleading eyes, hoping he understands he doesn’t have to do this. Not for me.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper and walk to the door of the gym as quickly as my hard-on will allow.
Dammit, I can’t think because my neck still tingles where he kissed me.
I burst through the front doors of the school and take several deep breaths, trying to get my heart rate under control.
Why did I run? All I’ve ever wanted was to feel Ethan’s lips on me, in places other than my forehead and cheek, and when I do, I run. What the fuck is wrong with me?
Shaking myself, I turn around to go back inside and run into a wall of muscle. I breathe in and realize it’s Ethan.
“Whoa,” he says, putting an arm around my waist. “You okay, creep?”
“Yeah. Just needed some air.”
He removes his arm from around me and I miss the contact. He stuffs his hands in his pockets and says, “You wanna go home? I’m kinda ready to get out of here.”
“Yes, please.” I like being alone with him more than being around a bunch of people. “Thank you. For convincing me to come. I had fun.”
The smile he gives me is so sweet, so innocent, that I can’t help but return it, unguarded and unrestrained. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled at him like this. I guess my trust in him has grown to a level where I can let himreallysee me.
Ethan reaches out and rubs a thumb over my cheek. “There you are,” he whispers. “There’s my real creep.”
My face heats and I drop my head. I feel bad that it’s taken me this long to give him the real, unadulterated version of my smile, but I don’t let people in easily.
“Let’s go say goodbye to Crystal and Elle. Can we sit inside and watch movies, please? Are your parents’ home?”
He grabs my hand and threads his fingers through mine. “They’re home, but they’re on their side of the house. We can sit in the living room or watch TV in my room, if you want to talk in private.”
I nod at that. “Your room is better.” I hope it doesn’t sound forward. But he gave me the option and I’m taking it. I don’t want his parents to hear if I spill some secrets to Ethan.
When we enter the gym again, I make a beeline for Elle and Crystal and hug them goodbye. They try to get us to stay longer, but I think I’ve had enough. My social battery has definitely been drained.
On the way out, Dawn bars our way.
As if I’m not there, she tries to lean up against Ethan. “Leaving so soon? You owe me a dance.”
The look Ethan gives her is worth her ignoring me. He looks so disgusted and fed up, that she takes a step back. The girls she has with her—her lackies—look back and forth between the two, probably trying to figure out why Ethan isn’t falling for her shit.
“I don’t owe you shit. Me and my boyfriend are going home. Get out of our way.”
