Let's Get Ethan ✔

Chapter 31

"Linda," Ethan said not really believing she was on the other end. Was life just pulling the biggest prank on him?

"Hi," he continued in a casual manner, pretending her calling him wasn't the most shocking thing he had ever experienced.

"Yeah, listen, I was wondering if we could meet for coffee or something, it's been so long." 

It has, but why are you calling me now?

"That is, if you're in the area, I've been home since Christmas, but I'll be headed back to school at the end of January, are you busy this afternoon? Or maybe tomorrow?"

Jeez, that is quick.

"How about tomorrow morning?" he suggested.

"Sounds great, we'll meet at the café at ten, bye now, Ethan."

"Bye."

Ethan knew why he agreed to meet with Linda, some people commanded attention and Linda was no exception, she had been on his mind for the longest time.

They were just sixteen when she said I love you first. When they slept together for the first time, they were both virgins. He remembered her so vividly, her mannerisms, the way she tried to be covert about liking him, the way she would always get upset over small details and how he tried to help, and the way both of them worked together. She was the first girl to ask him out. She was the first girl that didn't see him as the quiet, silly guy in the back of the class. And he was the first guy that didn't see her as just a large brain in a blonde ponytail.

He didn't know if he was ready to confront her yet. There were a lot of tough memories and Ethan wasn't sure if he wanted to open fossilized relics from his past, but he was so curious, did this mean she wanted him back?

He laughed at his inner turmoil, what was he even going to say to her? Thanks for buying me coffee, now I'll just get out of your life forever. She clearly forgot how much he said he hated coffee in high school. Now, he supposed he hated it still, it gave him anxiety and kept him awake until early morning, and he only drank it during marathon study sessions. Was she expecting him to pay? He wasn't sure what the guidelines were for meeting with an ex-girlfriend for coffee. He was pretty sure the first rule of hanging out with an ex was don't.

Nevertheless, he didn't say no, in fact, he gave her the green light.

It was crazy but he wasn't as scared as he was concerned, did something happen to her? His last thought before falling asleep was something was very wrong if she needed to talk to him. 

He woke up to the feeling of a rock in his throat and a family of frogs residing in his stomach. This made sense as he had just completely ruined his life by agreeing to go to see Linda, he wasn't interested in restarting what they had, and he was sure that's what she wanted. She realized quickly after going to college that there wasn't much out there for other romantic prospects, and now, here she was, crawling back to him, he had to wonder if those thoughts meant that he was a sociopathic narcissist. Of course, she had her reasons for calling him, but he had no idea what they were. Maybe she needed something back, maybe she had a funny story, maybe she was just curious about him too.

Ethan entered the clean looking café, little cartoons from the 1940s were scattered on the plain pink walls. It was a tiny café, so he spotted Linda immediately. She gave him a quick smile. Ethan noticed her hair in its signature style. Her posture, her sunny air, her pretty blue blouse and slacks. She looked just as proper as she always did. He wondered if she was the best girl he would ever date, looking over at her he knew that she was the best girl in this entire city. That didn't mean she was someone who he wanted back.