Dear Ethan: A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 20: Mall Date

"Are you stalking me?"

It had been a week since I had seen Ethan. Ever since he saved the day. Our quinceañera clients were so happy with the cake that they wrote us a glowing review online.

I had taken an Uber to the mall and of course, just as I was about to head to the entrance Ethan got out of his black SUV, reversing easily into a spot. He smiled over at me before locking his car.

 "No, but it's definitely a pleasant surprise."

"This is Jodie's off day." My solo mall dates were sacred.

 It meant a day full of Starbucks and then browsing through my favorite stores. Even Sam knew not to disturb me on these days. 

He laughed, flashing his teeth. He had a really nice smile. God, how could someone look that good wearing grey sweatpants?

"Since when did Jodie start referring to herself in the third person?" He wondered, smiling down at me. He had on a pair of expensive-looking sunglasses.

"Since today," I shot back. I was not going to let him get to me. Never again.

"Reminds me of someone else we used to know..." He drawled catching up with me easily and stepped ahead to pull the door open. I ignored him and got in line, glancing up at the Starbucks menu. He's not here. He's not here. You are in your happy place. Wait, who?

I whipped around, eyeing him, hating how I had to look right up to see his face. He looked back at me, his mouth curving up into a half smile, amused. If he said Amber's name I might kill him right here in front of the barista.

"Who?" I said through gritted teeth. I hated that I took the bait.

"Remember Cody? He loved talking in the third person." Ethan gestured for me to move forward as the woman in front of us finished making a highly specific order to the wide-eyed barista.

Cody and I had stayed in touch during our first year in college but the messages eventually fizzled out. It was funny how so many relationships faded out whenever you were no longer in close proximity with each other.

But the connection I felt with Ethan never did. It was palpable between us. The way his presence would immediately draw me in and send my stomach fluttering.

He looked the same but different. Bigger. Taller. His muscles were more defined, a little more confident than before but without the typical arrogance that comes with being a famous pro athlete. He was just Ethan. My Ethan. No, not my Ethan. Just Ethan.

God, my brain was literally turning into mush around him.

I walked up briskly to put in my order about to swipe my phone to use up my free points.

"Here," said Ethan, tapping his card against the machine before I could protest. And what's the name? Asked the barista holding up a cup.

"Jodie." We both said at the same time before he glanced over at me smiling. My breath caught in my throat. I hated the way he said my name. It did things to my insides that made me feel all panicky inside.

I muttered a thanks and glared into my phone as the barista busied herself. Ethan stood next to me, his eyes sweeping across the menu like he didn't have a care in the world.

The barista added some whipped cream and then plopped down the drink in front of us and beamed. "One grande vanilla frappe for Yodie!" She said the last part like she was yodeling. I almost choked on my own spit.

"Don't you dare say anything," I said to Ethan in warning before he could speak. He grinned back at me, trying not to laugh as we walked out. "I didn't say anything, Yodie." Before his hand reached over and tugged the tail end of my ponytail.