Working Love

6

We drove in silence the whole way. Normally I would tell a man to suck it up and move on, but I can't do that to Ethan. He's not like most guys, he's innocent. So I let him cry, even when we were parked outside his mansion. I let him cry.

"I'm sorry Carter." I saw him wipe under his eye, his head still down.

"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything." I laid my head back, but kept my eyes on him. He's twenty-two. Two years younger than me, but still so innocent.

"I'm sorry you had to see all of that. Do I know how to pick them or what?" He looked up at me and tried to smile, but his red rimmed eyes told the truth. He was hurting, but the idiot was trying to make me feel better. I pulled out a tissue from my clove compartment and wiped under his eyes. I would never do this for anyone, even a girl. But Ethan looked broken enough as it is. And James' words rang in my ears, be nice.

"He's the idiot Ethan, not you. If he wasn't willing to wait until you were ready, then he wasn't meant for you." Oh great, am I turning into a freaking girl now. I have never said anything so freaking sappy before.

"Thank you Carter." He took the tissue from my hand, and finished wiping under his eyes. "Would you like to come inside for a while?" I looked at the time, it was almost midnight.

"Sure, why not." I turned off my car and followed behind him. He pulled out a set of keys and opened the door. The inside was still as amazing as the last time I saw it.

"Would you like some coffee?" He was heading towards, what I am assuming, is the kitchen.

"Sure." I followed behind him and entered the kitchen. It was a pretty big, modernized kitchen. But it still had some old school equipment.

"How do you take it?" He started boiling the water, and hand grinding the beans. Instant would have worked just fine, but I wasn't gonna tell him.

"Black." He stopped grinding and looked at me. He gave me a funny look before going back to doings the coffee. "What was that look for?"

"Nothing, sorry. It's just, you really don't like sweet things do you?" He started adding the hot water to the coffee grounds.

"How could you tell?" I don't Remember mentioning that to him.

"The first time I met you, we were having honey roasted ham, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and sweet rolls. You took one bite out of the ham, and that was it. At the coffee shop, your coffee smelled strong. And right now you have a hint of vodka. Nothing sweet." He placed the coffee in front of me, and a strong aroma hit me. I took a sip, and was surprised at how delicious it was.

"Impressive. And this coffee is really good by the way."

"Thank you." His smile was back, and we drank our coffee in silence. "Carter?"

"Yes?" I placed my coffee down and looked at him. He seemed hesitant to ask me something. "Go ahead, I don't bite. Well, unless I am asked to." I flashed him a cocky grin, and was surprised when his cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

"Right. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions. It would feel strange if I was to marry you without at the very least knowing something about you, other than you don't like sweets." I thought about this, and he did have a point. Besides, what's the harm in him knowing something about me.

"Alright, but I get to ask you some questions as well. It wouldn't be fair for you to know things about me, but me know nothing about you."

"Deal." His smile grew even bigger. For a grown man, he still reminds me of an innocent boy.

"Alright, you first." And that's how we spent the next two hours. Each of us asking the other questions, and learning more about the other. Turns out, that while we are polar opposites, we do like some of the same things.

"So let me get this straight. You have never even kissed anyone?" I couldn't help but laugh at the red tint on his cheeks. The low light from the oven light couldn't hide his blush.

"Don't laugh, it's not funny!" He sounded like a little kid pouting. It made him that much more innocent.

"Sorry, it's just strange to me is all. Not many guys now a days can say that. I respect you for it." And I mean that. Here I am, sleeping with woman after woman, while this innocent pure soul is waiting. I feel so dirty compared to him. "I wish I would have done things differently sometimes."

"Hm." I looked at him and saw him rubbing his eyes. It's past two in the morning, the guy must be tired.

"Why don't you go to sleep, you seem dead on your feet." He stood up, but he seemed to already be dead. He leaned to the right, and almost fell over. "Careful! Why are you so tired?"

"Sorry. I normally, go to sleep, before." He didn't even finish. He was passed out in my arms.

"Oh for fucks sake." I lifted him up, and was surprised at how light he was. Does this guy ever eat? "Ethan, come on man wake up." I didn't get a response. I had no choice, I lifted him up in my arms bridal style and carried him up the stairs.

It's a good thing he's so light, because it took me almost twenty minutes to figure out which room was his. I placed him on his bed, and straightened my back. I looked around his room and noticed how neat everything was. He seemed to also be very clean.

"Pure, innocent, and a clean freak. This guy can't be real." I turned back to face him, and saw he was still fast asleep. I will admit, he was a good looking guy. He's the type girls now a day dream about. With his short hair, gray eyes, tall lean figure. He was a really good looking guy. I found my eyes trailing back to his pink lips. He's words from earlier playing in my head. I've never kissed anyone. I don't know why, but the idea of someone else kissing him, was pissing me off. Maybe it's because he goes out with people like that Jackson guy.

I don't know what possessed me to do it. But I walked up and sat next to him on his bed. The soft glow of the moon light brightening up his face. I touched his cheek, and felt his warmth on my touch. Not even Katherina has made my body feel this warm. I leaned forward, and felt his warm breath on my lips. Before I could stop myself, I closed the gap between us. His lips were so soft, and warm. It sent a spark running all through my spine. I pulled back and saw he was still asleep. I don't know why, but the kiss didn't gross me out like I thought. Instead, I wanted to do it again. "What the fuck am I doing?!" I quickly walked out of his room and out his front door. I started my car and drove at full speed all the way home. Whatever Ethan is doing to me, I don't know if I want it stop or not. I am so freaking confused.