Page 13 of Imperfect Player

Unknown: You wound me, Everly.

With no one else in mind, I send back a name with a question mark.

Me: Ethan?

Ethan: Whew. At least I’m not that easy to forget.

Impossible is more like it.

As soon as I have confirmation that it’s him, my heart begins to beat faster.

Ethan: What are you up to?

“Nothing. You are doing nothing. Tell him.”

I look over at Chelle and laugh. “No way. I’m way too drunk and—”

“Even better.”

Ethan: You still there?

Me: Yeah, sorry. At dinner with my BFF.

Ethan: Sounds like a blast.

Me: It is.

Me: How did you get this number?

Ethan: I have my ways.

Me: I bet you do.

Ethan: Does it bother you that I did?

Me: No.

It doesn’t bother me, per se. It just confuses me and excites me when it shouldn’t.

Me: Just not sure why you want it.

Ethan: You’re not an easy woman to forget, Everly. In fact, you’re all I’ve been thinking about.

My eyes widen, unsure whether I am reading into the words too much or not. Because if I didn’t know better, I would say he’s flirting.

Me: Is that so?

Ethan: It is. Have you been thinking about me?

“What the hell am I supposed to say to that?” I ask Chelle.

“Tell him the truth. Fuck yes, you’ve been thinking about him and all the things he can do to you.”

“That might be a little too much truth,” I say with a giggle.

Me: Maybe.

Maybe. What the hell kind of answer is that? I couldn’t have given him more? Been a little more definitive?

---