Dear Ethan: A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 29: Quarantine Buddies

[I Found You - Alabama Shakes] 

*Jodie*

Ethan gave me my pick of guest rooms but we decided to turn one of them into my closet after he saw all the clothes I brought over. He looked at all the boxes with a look of disbelief.

"I'm a girl. We like to have options." I said defensively after he raised his eyebrows at the eighth box labeled clothes. But instead of complaining he just shot me an amused look and brought everything in. No questions asked.

When I told Sam about what was happening on the phone she squealed in shock before asking a million questions. But her tone slowly deflated when I couldn't answer them.

Were we an item? Were we boyfriend and girlfriend? 

No, and no. Just friends. She seemed confused. 

We're just two friends quarantining together. Just friends, she echoed, sounding uncertain.

"I would say you guys are a lot more than that." 

"Sam don't," I said firmly. I didn't want to make this situation weird. 

All those feelings I had for Ethan in high school were eons ago. We could start over and just be friends. The hatchet was buried. She went quiet. "As long as you're happy."

"I am."

Another lie.

Yes, I was happy to be spending more time with Ethan. But I also felt a little apprehensive. What if we got on each other's nerves? He was home all the time now and what if I couldn't handle someone in my personal space? I hadn't lived with anyone since college. And I have definitely never lived with a boy.

Could Ethan still be referred to as a boy? I was very aware of the way my body responded whenever I saw Ethan. Possible scenarios flashed through my mind. Ethan getting out of the shower in nothing but a towel around his waist, Ethan drenched in sweat as he lifted weights, his biceps straining. I groaned inwardly.

Oh my god, what was I thinking? This was a bad, bad idea. I was going to jump his bones. I wouldn't last 48 hours with him.

But then he would come in carrying a box plopping it into the guestroom and give me a sweet smile that eased all my nerves. He had this way of making me feel centered even if my heart was galloping away.

One day at a time.

-

I learned more about Ethan during the first week living together than I had in the past year.

I learned that Ethan has a meticulous schedule that he swears by even on weekends. He goes for a run early in the morning and then trains in the pool house in the afternoons. After we watch a few shows on Netflix after dinner and fold some laundry he usually ducked out to the gym again for another workout before bed.

I sat on the couch and watched him go, dressed in a sleeveless black tank and shorts before the lights automatically turned on in the pool house and I could see his silhouette getting on the treadmill, putting on his headphones.

I curled up into the blankets and binge watched reality shows, trying not to let my gaze wander over to the back doors. One about divorced couples finding love again. Another about dating contestants revealing secrets about their past. An hour passed before I knew it and the back doors opened before clicking shut.

"Which show is this one?" Ethan asked as he came back inside while I was half asleep. I murmured out the synopsis but it sounded more like incomprehensible garble and he laughed softly before stepping closer to tuck me in and headed up the stairs.