Faking It For Real ✔

Ch 19

"But it wasn't my fault." I insisted, a laugh breaking out of me.

"Oh, really?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with amusement as he cocked an eyebrow. "Do tell, Ava. How'd that happen then?"

"Well," I began, my grin widening as I recalled the memory, "we were all playing truth or dare."

"And?"

"And, Derek dared me to try and seduce the bartender," I said, giggling, "So, I figured, why not? I mean, how hard could it be?"

"Not for you, huh?" He teased.

I slightly blushed but continued, "Not my fault he turned out to be gay. They chose the bartender." I laughed.

Ethan burst into laughter, shaking his head in amusement. "Oh, that's priceless," he said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "I can just imagine your face when you realized that your charms weren't going to work on him."

"It was pretty mortifying," I admitted, joining in on the laughter.

Our laughs soon subsided and we just sat there on the park bench, my head in his lap and his hands in my hair.

Ethan sighed contentedly, his fingers trailing lazily through my hair as the cool breeze ruffled the leaves around us. "You know," he said softly, breaking the comfortable silence, "I never thought I'd find someone like you."

I tilted my head to look up at him, my eyes meeting his. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled tenderly, his gaze filled with warmth. "I mean someone who's this amazing. Someone who makes me laugh, and is immune to my charm, and keeps me on my toes. Someone who makes my every day better."

My heart fluttered at his words, a surge of emotions washing over me as I reached up to touch his cheek. "You know," I said softly, "I never thought I'd find someone like you either."

Ethan leaned into my touch, his eyes closing for a brief moment.

We stayed like that for a couple more seconds.

Before I sat up straight and turned to face him, "You think I'm immune to your charms?"

A mischievous grin spread across Ethan's face as he met my gaze. "Well, you're certainly not as susceptible as some," he said.

"If I were you, I wouldn't say that." I wrapped my arms around his neck.

Ethan's grin widened as he placed his hands on my hips, pulling me closer. "Oh, really? And why's that?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.

I leaned in, my lips brushing against his ear as I whispered, "Because what if your charms have been working all along?"

Ethan's breath hitched in his throat, his grip tightening around my waist as he pulled me even closer. "I knew it," he whispered triumphantly, his lips brushing against my cheek. "You can't resist me, Ava."

I pulled back, a smirk playing at the corner of my mouth as I gazed into his eyes. "Maybe not," I admitted, my heart racing in my chest. "But you can't resist me either."

"I've had eyes only for you, darling. From the very beginning. You realized it today." Ethan's lips quirked up into a smile as he gazed back at me. "From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew I had to make you see me  and only me."

His gaze flicked to my mouth and then back up to my eyes as I did the same, slightly leaning in as our breath mingled in the warm of the day.

"Looks like your plan worked," I said, my voice barely above a whisper as I leaned in closer.