Page 61 of Taking Care of You
Huh, maybe this can be a thing. Ryder seems like a good guy, and my best friend is the best person I know, besides Ethan. He couldn’t do any better in my opinion.
Shortly after, the doorbell rings again, and Mitch and Elle walk in holding hands, making me do the little ‘eep’ noise I made before. Ethan looks over at me and laughs, sharing our first inside joke.
We all hang out in the theater room, then Ethan suggests we light the fire pit out back. I’ve never sat around a fire pit before.
It’s chilly outside, but with the fire going and being tucked under Ethan’s arm, I barely notice.
“So,” Ethan starts after we get settled. “Creep and I are going to USC. Mitch is going to Caltech, and Elle is going to UCLA. What about you two?” He points to Crystal and Ryder.
“Koby didn’t tell you?” Crystal asks. Ethan shakes his head and looks at me. I shrug and duck my head. I completely forgot to mention that Crystal was going to USC as well. “I’m going there, too. We got our acceptance letters the same week.” She gives me a flat look and says, “Thanks, bestie.” I laugh and blow her a kiss.
Ryder sighs. “I’m going to Washington State University. I wish I’d have known we were going to California colleges. Iwould have tried to impress their scouts.” He does look put out that everyone but him is going to be in California.
Ethan, being the amazing person he is, tells him, “Don’t worry, man, you can always come visit. I’ll even buy your tickets so you can come hang out with us.”
“I’ll probably need it.” His voice is low and hollow, putting a damper on the light mood.
Adjusting me at his side, Ethan leans forward and asks, “Everything okay, man?”
Ryder looks around at all of us and shakes his head. “Can I trust y’all I mean, not to talk about what I’m going to tell y’all once we leave here?”
We all promise we won’t tell, and he sighs and nods. “My parents pretty much told me when I go to college, that’s it. No more support. They’re going to get a divorce and go their separate ways.”
I’m not sure anyone is breathing. That’s some fucked up shit. Even if we’ll be new adults getting our life experience, your parents shouldn’t just leave you hanging.
Mitch leans forward and pats Ryder’s knee. “I’m sorry to hear that, man. How you holding up?”
Ryder shrugs. “Not real good. My dad came and told me a week into the school year, when I got my scholarship letter. I wasn’t going to accept at first, since we have the money for him to pay for my education. I didn’t want to take the scholarship money from someone that didn’t have it. I told my dad that and that’s when he told me.” He looks up at Ethan. “Remember when I was being all weird earlier this year?” Ethan nods, face contorted in anger. “That’s why. But I’ve come to terms with it. I have a scholarship and a way out of here. I won’t be homeless. But yeah, I would probably need you to buy me a ticket during football season. I won’t be able to get a job, practice, play,anddo homework.”
“I’ll take care of it, Ryder,” Ethan says in a tight voice.
He has such a big heart. I know it’s crushing him to hear about Ryder’s home life. I remember asking him how come they didn’t hang out more, and Ethan didn’t want to talk about it. He probably thought Ryder was just shutting him out. Poor guy was going through some shit and Ethan didn’t know.
Crystal reaches out and takes Ryder’s hand, sliding her fingers between his. He looks down at her hand and back up at her with soft eyes. “You can come visit me, too. I’d love to show you around.”
His lips tilt up into a smile. “I’d like that.”
I really love the look he’s giving Crystal, showing her his softness and vulnerability.
For about an hour, we sit outside and talk about things other than shitty parents. Mitch is secretly funny, cracking jokes and keeping us in stitches. Most of his stories are about theater camp, something I didn’t know was a thing, and they’re hilarious. Elle looks at him the whole time with heart eyes, and it makes me happy that they finally got out of their own way to talk to each other.
I wonder if people look at me and Ethan and think we’re perfect for each other. I sure hope so, because Ethan is perfect for me. Hopefully he thinks I’m perfect for him too.
20
Everyone leaves about two hours later. By then, Ryder isn’t as sad as he was before. I think it has a lot to do with everyone being there for him, Ethan especially. He told Ryder if he ever needed him or to get away, regardless of if it was before graduation or when we were in college, not to hesitate to call. I have a feeling their friendship is for life.
Walking them to the door, I give Crystal a lingering hug, promising to call her tomorrow.
Ethan is on me as soon as the door is closed. He has me pinned against the hard wood, his lips on mine and his body melted against me. His hands go under my shirt, squeezing and rubbing my flesh while his tongue does delicious things to my mouth. I hold on to his arms and try to keep up with him, my tongue sloppy and clumsy compared to how expertly his is moving.
Ripping his mouth away, he looks at me with burning eyes and asks, “My room?” I nod and he takes my hand, leading me to the back of the house. “My parents won’t be back for another hour or so. They won’t check to see if you’re in the guest room.Wanna sleep with me tonight?” I nod again and he gives me a big smile.
I climb onto the bed and hold my arms out, spreading my legs so he can get comfortable between them. His eyes flare, probably as surprised by my forwardness as I am. But he has me so hot and wanting that I don’t mind being forward.
Ethan eagerly rips his shirt over his head, tossing it to the floor. My eyes feast on his chest and abs, taking him in and committing the sight to memory.
He blankets me with his body, lining up his cock with mine. I gasp, and he takes that opportunity to claim my mouth. I grip his shoulders, holding on for dear life while he kisses me breathless.
