Unraveling Eden ✔ [ONC 2021]

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

My heart did flips in my chest as I waited for Ethan to pick me up for our date if it even was a date. A girl and a guy hanging out always seemed to have some underlying meaning, right? Even if it wasn't officially a date, Tully thought I should treat it as one, which meant that I was all dressed up and nervous as hell. Tapping my feet against the tile floor, I peered around the corner and checked the time. It was two o'clock on the dot. My lips pursed together in anticipation and scurried over to the window. Moving the curtain to the side, I peeked out. A truck pulled up and stopped at the end of my driveway which was followed by my phone vibrating in my pocket. I spun around, looking in the mirror one last time.

I really wanted this to be a date. Not that I was desperate, but having a boyfriend would have been really nice. So I pulled out all the stops for him. I took a shower, blow-dried my hair, and pulled off a natural makeup look that made my skin look so dewy. It probably didn't seem like much to many, but on a typical day, I was lucky if I put on mascara. My phone vibrated for a second time and I let out a shaky breath as I slung my purse over my shoulder. I stepped outside, feeling the warmth of the summer breeze and as I started down the driveway, Ethan caught my eye.

He was leaning against his truck, peering down at his phone. His brown hair was the same as the night before, but now he was more casual, dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans and a v-neck shirt that showed off his defined arms.

"Hey," I muttered. As our eyes met, the weight on my shoulders faded away. I was no longer nervous. He shuffled himself upright and wiped his hand on his chest, before flashing me his bright lopsided grin. A fluttering feeling started in my stomach and floated down my extremities, making a goofy smile pull at my lips.

Ethan cleared his throat and stuttered, "H-hi. You look nice." He opened the passenger side door and gestured for me to hop in.

"Thank you, so do you," I returned the compliment and struggled to pull myself up into the cabin of his truck. A sigh of relief exited my lungs as I relaxed into the passenger seat. He let out a low chuckle and jogged around the front end. He hopped into the driver's seat with ease and started the engine.

"So where are we going?" I asked. He didn't say anything, he just shook his head, ran his fingers across his lips, and threw an imaginary key out the window. "Oh, so it's a surprise?"

"Yeah, I know it's cheesy, I just think if I tell you now you'll talk me out of my date idea. So just go along with it," he explained, but I was too focused on the fact he called it a date. "You'll like it, I think."

"You sound so confident," I teased, showing off my defense mechanism: sarcasm. Quickly, I covered it up and cleared my throat. "But I'll trust you."

"Good." He smiled. "I appreciate it. Though, it may be misplaced."

"You're not taking me to a haunted house or a zoo are you?" I checked.

"No..." he muttered, not knowing where I was going with this.

"Then it's not misplaced," I giggled, placing my hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure I'll like wherever it is you're taking me."

"Okay, good, because we're here," he said as we pulled into the city's historical museum. For a moment, I sat flustered. This wasn't the typical date location like a movie theatre or a restaurant. I wasn't really sure it was a romantic destination either.

"Is this where you take all the girls?" I teased, knowing full well it probably wasn't.

"No, I'm not really sure why I wanted to bring you here. It's a place I used to go with my mom and it's silly, I know, but even though we've only known each other a day. I guess I want you to know who I am," Ethan said, avoiding my gaze.