Page 30 of Naive in Love

“Preston texted me earlier and told me you would be coming. I wanted to see you, so here I am.” His smile lights up his face.

“It’s good to see you too. But didn’t you leave your friends over there?” I nod in the direction of the girls he was talking to. Then, remembering I was talking to Jamie, I take a step back out of his arms and face her. “Sorry, Jamie. Jamie, this is Ethan Hayes, Preston’s cousin. Ethan, Jamie.”

“Hello, Jamie.” He turns back to me. “I came here to see you, or didn’t you hear me when I said it before?” A sly grin takes over his face. I glance behind him and notice the girls staring in our direction.

“Excuse me, Jamie,” I tell her, taking Ethan’s hand to pull him away to talk privately. “You came here to see me?”

“Yes…I came here to see you. I enjoyed spending time with you last weekend, and I wanted to do it again. Why, is that bad?”

“No…of course not. I… I just thought that you were here with those girls. It looked like you knew them really well.” I bite my bottom lip.

“I do know them. I went to school with them, but that doesn’t mean I want to spend my time with them.” His lips turn down slightly. “Come on…let’s go refill our drinks.” His eyes search mine.

“I’m glad you’re here.” I wrap my arms around his waist and place my head on his chest. He hugs me and sets his chin on my head. A peace washes over me, a sense of safety and joy. He kisses the top of my head, then lets me go and takes my hand, interlacing our fingers, leading me to the keg.

After refilling our cups, Ethan stays by my side mingling. He introduces me to some of his former classmates, and I introduce him to mine. He continues holding my hand or guiding me through the crowd with his hand on my lower back. I’m surprised when he turns down a game of beer pong with two very attractive girls.

Making our way to refill again, we notice Paige and Bree at a beer pong table close to the keg. They yell, challenging us to a game. Ethan looks at me, smiling. “We can take them. Come on.”

Ethan lets them go first, and it’s apparent they have had quite a bit to drink because their aim is completely off. They are laughing and getting distracted by everyone around them.

“How many games have y’all played?” I ask confused at how they are completely wiped.

“Just a one, but Jess and Cody started the first game with tequila,” Paige answers.

“Slow down, then…I’ll drive us home.” I say as Ethan stops the game because they have no business drinking any more.

Ethan takes my cup, tosses both our drinks in the trash, and says, “Dance with me.” He leads me to the center of the makeshift dance floor.

We begin dancing, somewhat awkwardly, until I am bumped from behind and fall into Ethan's chest. He catches me and being so close to him feels very intimate. He keeps me close, moving our bodies together as my hands roam his chest. He turns me around placing my back against his chest, his hands firmly on my hips, keeping me close. I can feel his breath on my neck, sending chills all over my body and making me want to melt into him. We are entwined with each other through four songs, and each time I look up at him, he is watching me intently.

The bubble we’ve created around ourselves busts when Bree comes stumbling up to us, slurring, "Paige is puking. We gotta go!” She grabs my hand and pulls me.

When we get to Briana's car, Paige is sitting on the ground with her head between her knees. I’ve never seen her this out of sorts, and I burst into giggles.

Paige looks up at me scowling, "This is not funny! Help me up, and let's go."

I calm the giggles and turn to Ethan, "I have to go. See you later."

"I’ll follow you to drop off the girls. Drop Bree and her car off at her house, and I will take you home."

"That's really sweet, but you don't have to. I’ll take Bree's car home, and she can pick it up tomorrow. Thank you, though." I smile at him and his offer.

"I want to make sure you get home safely, so I’m following you," he says firmly.

"Okay." I give in.

"Thanks again for taking me home."I say getting into Ethan’s car at Bree’s.

"Not a problem. I wanted to do this for you. So where am I headed?"

"I live off Manor in West End." He pulls out of Bree's driveway, and I continue, "If Preston told you about the party, why didn't you ride with him?"

"I didn't think about it. I just heard you would be there, so I went. I wanted to see you."

"I'm glad you came. You know we can see each other at school too."

"Are you sure?" he says skeptically, "Won't your boyfriend be mad?"

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