The One In Front of Me

Chapter | Six

"Don't you want to finish eating?"

"We can talk while we eat," I said with a mouth full of food.

"You can barely talk as it is."

I rolled my eyes and put my fork down. "You'll be doing most of the talking anyway. So, what happened?"

"Nothing happened, I promise." He said putting his hands up, palms facing me . "We had a few more drinks and talked a bit. I guess you don't remeber what we talked about, huh?"

"yeah... you're not wrong about that."

"Hmm.. You were already tipsy when I found you so it didn't take much to push you over the edge. Anyway, it wasn't easy, but I got you to tell me where your apartment was and I walked you home. Practically carried you, actually." He said with a grin.

"oh god..."

"I walked you up to your apartment."

"How did you get me up the stairs?!"

"That was the easy part."

"what was the hard part?"

"Well, I wrestled your keys away from you and you fell into me against the door. I actually hit my head."

"I'm so sorry.."

"Don't be. You put your hands on my chest and you looked up at me. So, I kissed you."

"oh... that was the hard part. I'm sorry..."

"You misunderstood me. Kissing you wasn't the hard part. The hard part was letting you go."

My face got red hot. I licked my lips, feeling my mouth suddenly go dry. I tried desperately to aviod eye contact with him. "What happened next?"

"I must have embarassed you because you demanded I open the door so you could get in. After I did that, I'm assuming, you disappeared into your room. So, I put the key on the hook, locked the door and left."

"I'm really sorry you had to deal with that. I wasn't planning on getting that drunk. Thank you for making sure I got home."

"Nikki, it wasn't a big deal at all. I'm glad I ran into you."

"Can I ask you another question..?"

"Of course."

I fiddled with my hand a bit before finally spitting it out. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"I thought that was obvious, Nikki."

"Maybe to you. I can't seem to figure it out."

"I want you."

"Don't lie to me." I motioned to everyone in the room, "all of these women wanted to kill me for being near you. Why do you want a fat girl from Florida?"

"I don't want any of them. I want you, Nikki."

"You're insane. This is a joke."

"I wish you had a little more confidence. I'm not joking and I'll make you believe me sooner or later."

"You don't know me though.. what is there to want."

"Don't you feel it?" he said, grabbing my hands in his. "The sparks when we touch?"

"I thought that was just me beacuse you're so goddamn gorgeous."

He licked his lips and smirked. "Gorgeous?"

"Stooooop." I tried to pull my hands away but he wouldn't let me go.

"You do feel it. I've felt it since you ran into on campus. It was undeniable."

"I can't do this right now." I said snatching my hands away. "Please take me to my car. I'll cashapp you for the food we didn't get to finish."

"Nikki, why are you fighting this?"

"Can I have your key fob, please?"

He handed me the fob and I stormed out. I climbed into his car and closed the door, realizing I may have made a mistake. His scent was overwhelming in there, I began to think about what it must have felt like to kiss him. I can't believe I don't remeber!

"Why did he have to kiss me while I was drunk?! Uuuugggghhhhhhh."

I threw myself back onto the seat and closed my eyes, cursing silently at myself. Ethan soon climbed into the driver's seat and started the car.

We rode in silence on the ride back to my car. I looked out the window and he didn't sneak glances at me the way he did before.

I whispered a quiet 'thank you' and quickly got out of the car. I don't think he looked at me, just stared ahead. I watched him drive off as I got into my car. 

"You idiot" I whispered to myself and rolled my eyes before turning on my car and driving home to my empty apartment.