The heartbeats

Chapter 25

>Abbie

I came home early today do I could help Ethan get dressed and give him some advice. I don't know if I was being disrespectful telling Ian to mind his own business or not. We haven't talked yet. I don't know why I'm running away, it's not that hard. I'm waiting for Ethan to come back from his date and Ian and his fiancé just enter the living room yelling and arguing. I don't know what's going on between them but the tension is high. She goes upstairs and my gaze meets Ian's again but I look back at my book.

It's 1 am and I'm still waiting for Ethan. I'm sitting with James on the terrace.
"Did you talk to Ian?"
He asks me as he looks at the sky and the stars.
I nod, "you?" I ask back.
He nods too.
"Oh my god, the best night of my life" Ethan shouts as he joins us on the terrace.
He throws his jacket on the floor and throws himself on the couch laughing.
"Come on, tell us" James orders.
Ethan turns around.
"I don't know where to start man. Her brainy hair reminds you of the forest in the middle of autumn. Her lips. Oh God, her pink lips. How I could help myself from not kissing her, I don't know. Her smile makes you forget your problems. Her red dress that covers her skin makes her even more beautiful. She's magnificently perfect" he finishes with a smile on his face.
"You're in love man, I assure you" Ian says as he leaves.
"I know, I know" Ethan replies.
Without realizing the movements of my eyes, I find myself looking Ian up and down. He is wearing gray sweatpants with a t-shirt that is too small on him that we can see his abs. He sits under Ethan's legs, placing them in his knees. James shakes me slowly which allows me to come to my senses and look elsewhere. I loop up at the stars again.
"I want to see her again" Ethan informs us as he straightens up.
"I want to see her again" he repeats.
"Wait at least a few days" James suggests.
"Did you get her number?" Ian asks and Ethan nods. "Then you can call her" I add which catches Ian's attention.
"You're right" Ethan confirms enthusiastically.
"But wait until tomorrow, she might have fallen asleep" James says.
"Okays" Ethan replies with despair in his voice and we all laugh.

It's 10 am and I don't want to get up. They forced to stay here, they didn't accept that I go home at 2 am. I wait half an hour before getting up. I change and go downstairs to join those who are awake. Ian is on the kitchen with a man and a woman I've never seen before.
"Good morning" I greet them before opening the fridge.
"Good morning" Ian says.
The other two people present with us ignore me.
"So son, we heard the bad news".
Son? Are these his parents? The woman adds,
"Kira's parents told us about your fight yesterday".
I close the fridge and turn around. Ian's gaze finds mine before he lowers his head. He crosses his arms under his chest.
"What are you doing here ? Can't you call me ?" They ask them.
He didn't know they were coming, that's strange. He never told me about his parents, he didn't even mention them.
"We found out about the contract you didn't sign yesterday" his father replies.
He's disappointed and angry.
"Why didn't you sign it?" His mother asks.
"I'll leave you alo–" I inform them but Ian interrupts me, "no".
He stares at me before looking at his mother,
"ask her, she'll know how to answer you since it's her fault" he orders his mother.
His parents both exhale, his mother rolls her eyes and both leaves the kitchen. I put a fake, nice and sweet smile on my face before approaching the counter,
"are you okay?" I ask and frankly I'm worried.
He doesn't feel good.
"Yes, I'm fine thank you" he answers and I know hems lying by his tone and the way he answered.
I put the same smile on my face before heading towards the door but he grabs me by the forearm and pulls me towards him. His muscular body touches mine.
"We need to talk" he orders me in a low voice.
His eyes go from my eyes to my mouth. I put my hands on his chest and pull against him so I can get free. I ignore him and walk out of the kitchen. I don't want to talk to him right now despite my questions and my curiosity to know.

His parents, Kira and him have been talking alone on the terrace for a while now. His father forbade us from joining them. We invited them to dinner here, in fact it was Ethan who convinced them, they don't really like me it seems. I'm with Jasper on the balcony of my room.
"What's he doing here" Jasper asks me looking at Ian.
"He has contracts to sign" I answer by putting my back against the railing and crossing my arms under my chest.
"Have you spoken to him?" He asks a new question. "Is this an interrogation?" I asl instead of answering him with a serious tone.
"Abbie" he exhales tilting his head a little to the right.
I take a deep breath then I decide to answer his questions, "no, I haven't spoken to him, yet".
He raises an eyebrow,
"yet? So you're going to talk to hi–" I interrupt him, "yes Jasper, I planned to talk to him but I don't know when" I inform him before Ethan joins us.
"It's dinner time" he announces and we nod.
Jasper heads to the dinning table and I head to the kitchen. Ian's mother has called a chef to cook tonight.
"Do you need help?" I offer but she nods, "no".
I give her a fake smile before grabbing a bottle of wine and joining the others as she brings us the food. Kira sits next to Ian and I sit between Jasper and Ethan. Ian stare at me as his mother taps me on the shoulder and says or rather orders me,
"get up and get the remaining food" in a serious voice, as If I were on of her employees.
Ian slams his hand on the table, "mother" he says in a deep voice but his mother ignores him.
I nod, smile and stand up. I don't want to cause him any more trouble. I grab two dishes then come back for the others. As I go to sit down, she orders me, again, "bring another bottle of red wine".
And politeness?
"Mother" Ian shouts then continues "sit down Abbie. I'll get them".
"No it's okay" I answer then turn my back to bring that fucking bottle.

Dinner went well in the end; no one talked, no one looked at each other, no one did anything except eat. Ian's parent left about an hour ago and everyone is in their own room. I'm sitting on the swing, on the terrace. It's a full moon and I can't sleep.
"Sorry about my mother, I can't stand her either" Ian says quietly as he joins me.
"No it's okay don't worry, and I didn't say I can't stand her" I answer but he tilts his head to the right and raises an eyebrow.
I make room for him to sit down.
"Listen Abbie, I'm sorry about the last two years–" I interrupt him,
"I don't want your apologies, I just explanations" I inform him while looking at him.
I've missed him. So much.
"I know" he breathes out then falls silent.

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