A Family

Just Friends

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  After meeting up with the rest of your group in the other group's vehicles, you've been travelling together for weeks. The two groups have combined into one, with Ethan leading you. Jason has become like his second, the two working well together. Everyone is happy with the arrangement. You were hesitant in the beginning but when you got to know them it got a lot better.

  "We're gonna head to bed." You tell Ethan when it's getting late and others have gone to sleep too.

  "I'll be there in a bit." He nods and Parker gives him a good night hug.

  "You have a beautiful family, man." Jason tells him.

  "Thanks."

  "So, what's your story?"

  "Story?"

  "Yeah, like, your love story. When did you meet and fell in love with Yn? When did Parker come into the picture?"

  Ethan clears his throat and stare at the bonfire. "We're not, uh.. together like that."

  Jason raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, like, we're not, uh, in love or anything."

  Jason scoffs a laugh. "That's bull, you are madly in love with your girlfriend."

  "She's not my girlfriend."

  Jason stays silent for long moment, until it sinks. "What!?"

  Ethan hush him angrily. "You're gonna wake them. If Parker wakes up, it takes him forever to fall asleep again." He says, glancing at your car. He turns back to Jason's, who's gaping at him.

  "What do you mean? You're not her boyfriend?"

  "No." Ethan says.

  "She's not your girlfriend?"

  "Nope."

  "I'm saying 'girlfriend', not girl.. friend."

  "Yeah, I hear you. Are you done?"

  "So you two haven't.. you know." Jason asks and gestures with his hands suggestively.

  Ethan pinches the bridge of his nose with an annoyed sigh. "No."

  "Why?" Jason asks and Ethan sighs.

  "Why?.. I'm much older than her."

  "Oh, come on. It can't be that many years and even if there is, these are different times." He shrugs. "And the way you said that, it sounded more like an excuse than the real reason. What's really holding you back?"

  Ethan sighs deeply and stay silent for a long moment. "What we have now.. It works, alright? It's good. It's perfect.. I'm not gonna risk that, just to get laid. I'm not desperate for that. She doesn't seem to be either."

  "Ethan, it's not about sex." Jason tells him. "Well, of course it is, but, it's much more than that, and you know it. I can see that you feel it with her."

  "We're just focusing on Parker. He's what's important."

  "What does Parker think you two are?"

  "His guardians, I guess." Ethan shrugs.

  "Nah, dude. He's not far from starting to call you guys Mom and Dad."

  Ethan thinks about how much he would love to be that for Parker, though he already is a father figure and he won't gonna expect to be called Dad if Parker doesn't want that.

  "Do you know what she wants?" Jason then asks.

  "No.. But what I do know, is that Parker is what's most important to her."

  "Correction: Parker and you are what's most important to her."

  "Sure, I'm a father figure for Parker and he's dependent on me as much as he is on her." He says, Jason rolls his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh.

  "You should tell her how you feel, man." Jason says and Ethan is about to speak when he interrupts him. "And don't even try to deny it." He tells him.

  Ethan sighs and looks unsure down at his cup. Then he stands up to get to your car and sleep, and Jason addresses him one more time before heading to sleep himself.

  "Just.. Whatever you do.. do not screw it up, alright? What you have there is gold. Do not take it for granted." Jason tells him, gesturing to your car where you and Parker is sleeping.

  "I know. I won't."

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