Grace.

Chapter 49.

It was a Thursday, and my turn to host. I was at home preparing snacks for the evening. Gloria walked in with Daniel as I was still busy. "Hola, bonita," Ria greeted me.
"Hey, Ria. Hey, Daniel," I replied.
"You're never around anymore. I hardly see you," Daniel said.
"Arg, been busy. You know?"
"Yep. Teenage stuff."
"Having the session here today?" Ria asked.
"Yep, I am. Why?"
"No, nothing."
"Hey, tomorrow Gloria and I are having a game night slash date night. Please join us?" Daniel invited.
"Where? Here?"
"Yeah," they both said
"Cool! I'd love to! Oh, hey...can I invite someone?"
"Who?" Gloria wondered.
"Ethan."
"Thought you said he is a cabrón."
"That was before I got to know him, Ria."
"Okay! Invite him. We'll double date."
"Cool! Can you also help me cook pasta? He loves pasta. And you cook it so well. Please, Ria."
"Of course, I'll help you. Daniel, it looks like my little sister is in love!" She grinned.
I blushed and then took the snacks upstairs to my room. Naomi wasn't there.
"Where the hell is Naomi? Busy boning Austin?" Lucy asked.
"I tried calling but she isn't answering her phone," I told them.
"Screw her. We wanna know more about you! How are things going with your hunky football player boyfriend?"
"He isn't my boyfriend, Luce."
"But you like him and don't deny!" Donna prodded.
"I-I do. Okay! I do!"
"Tell us more, sister!" Lucy giggled, moving her cushion closer to mine.
"What's there to tell?"
"Uh, everything! Have you guys kissed?!"
"They've definitely kissed. Ethan is so into Grace it's written all over him."
"What makes you say that, Donny?"
"The way he looks at her. The way he's always around her. I even heard Beanie and them talking about how he isn't calling or coming over to her house anymore."
"Wait! Grace?! Are you sleeping with him?!"
"No, Lucy! I'm not!"
"But you want to. I know I said you shouldn't but I'm starting to trust him a bit."
"You should trust him, Grace. He's a good guy." Bebe finally said. "I-I'm sorry for what I'm about to tell you but, after Luke's fight with Caleb, I went and spoke to Ethan. I asked him to speak to Luke and he said he would. I'm so sorry, Grace. I know I shouldn't have gone behind your back like that but I was desperate."
"Bebe, it's okay. Really, it is."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I understand why you did it."
"Wait, back to Ethan! So, he said he'll help you?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah. He said he doesn't understand why Luke is acting this way and that he should let me go because I'm finally happy and he failed to give me the happiness I'm getting from Caleb."
"He really said that?" I clarified.
"Yes. He told me not to worry. He'll take care of it."
"Okay. I change my mind. Grace, you should sleep with him."
"Lucy!" Donna and I cried out.
"What? I heard he's really good in bed. Apparently he made Jessica come three times just in one round! Three times!"
"Can we stop talking about Ethan's hook ups?!" I bursted out.
"Sorry. You're right. You're so, so right. But think about it! What a way to lose your virginity. I bet you'd come like ten times in one round."
"Lucy, you're gross."
Had the thought of being intimate with Ethan ever cross my mind? A few times, yes. But I wasn't planning on acting on it!
The following morning at school, I ran up to Ethan in the corridors. We hugged and headed out to the field to talk. It was quieter there.
"Hey, you," I smiled.
"Buttercup. You good?"
"Yes. I wanted to ask you in person and not over the phone."
"Okay. I'm listening."
"First, why didn't you tell me Bebe came to speak to you?"
"I wanted to, Buttercup but I wasn't sure if I should. It honestly wasn't my place to. I did ask her to tell you though."
"Oh, okay. Wow."
"What is it? Are you mad at me?"
"No! Not at all. I'm actually impressed. You never cease to amaze me. You're so..."
I pulled him in closer to me for a kiss. He kissed me back. My entire body felt his kiss. A quiet heat seeped into me and saturated me with a tingling sensation. I pulled away, running my fingers up and down the back of his neck. Gazing into his eyes, I smiled and he smiled back.
"I also wanted to invite you over to my house tonight. My sister and her boyfriend are having a date and they asked me to join. I was wondering if you'd join with me?"
"Like a double date?"
"Mm-hmm."
"So, this is where we are now? Doing dates?" He blushed.
"I mean, yeah. Too soon?"
"Not at all, Buttercup. It's the perfect timing."
We kissed again and sat out by the field together, talking until the bell rang for class.