Head Over Leather #Wattys2017

XIII. Knowing Ethan

As the group settles into the living room, I maneuver my way to the kitchen, only to be met by Ethan who's pouring himself a glass of water. I fold my arms across my chest, eyeing him in suspicion.

"Hey babe." He doesn't bother to look up from his task, which makes my irritation spike. I slowly saunter over to him, leaning my hip against the counter and watch him with a raised eyebrow.

Ethan catches me off guard when he stops pouring, placing the clear water jug on the counter, before leaning over and brushing his soft lips against mine in a chaste kiss. My hand finds its way to his neck, gripping it softly, as his fingers tap against my leg. He moves his other hand up, catching loose strands of my hair between his fingers, twirling it aimlessly. He pulls away much too quickly, an unreadable emotion pooling in his eyes.

"So, you guys get any work done? Talk about anything?" Ethan questions, hand burying itself in the back of my hair. I bite my lip uncertainly, wondering if I should tell him about what Derek told me. Maybe he already knew.

"I mean, my ex and my best friend are sleeping together so I was hoping he gave you some information."

Or maybe not.

"No, we mainly talked about Jess. Y'know, best friend duties." I lie easily, swallowing as I study his face. His expression morphs into a satisfied one, before he leans down, nudging his nose against mine. I let out a giggle, my hands trailing down to rest on his chest.

"Do you wanna come over to my house?"

"You just got here."

"I only came for you."

"You're incredibly cheesy, it worries me."

"Cheesy in the streets, freaky in the sheets."

I roll my eyes at his innuendo, pushing him off me to go into the living room. He follows after me, taking a seat on the floor beside the coffee table and pats the place beside him.

"I'll stand, thanks."

"It's good to see you guys, but we were actually getting work done." Derek explains, his eyes mainly focused on Eva and Jess who are sat beside each other. His gaze flits to me momentarily and I nod in agreement, stuffing my hands into my jean pockets.

"Funny. Is this how you and Eva got together too?" Ethan rolls his eyes, as Derek holds up his hands in surrender.

"Ethan." He tears his gaze away from Derek at the sound of my voice and I shake my head wearily, willing him not to start anything. While I understand how hurt he was, I didn't want him to make this awkward for everyone. And I didn't want him embarrassing himself.

"We're gonna go. Obviously Ethan needs to cool down his macho alpha male shit." I announce, watching as Mia snorts along with Ryder and Eva. Derek nods slowly, eyes trained on Ethan as he scoffs.

I turn around, heading for the stairs to grab my stuff. Can't believe I've gotten myself involved in a triangle that's far from over.

***

"We're here." My head snaps in Ethan's direction, as he parks the car in his driveway. It was the first thing that was said since we left Derek's and I'm starting to wonder if this counts as a fight.

I nod, slipping out of the car and following him into the large house, eyes flitting to take it all in. It wasn't like a mansion, but it came pretty damn close. It was elegant, decorated with pastel colors and totally unlike Ethan.

As I climb the stairs, I can't help but notice all the family pictures lined along the walls and the tables that seem to only go up to when Ethan was a pre-teen. A little girl is also present grinning with a few missing teeth and I assume it's his sister.

"It's a little messy." I hear Ethan mutter, once I stop in the doorway of his room. The walls are painted blue with various posters plastered on them, while his kingsize bed sits pushed against one wall. A black desk is placed directly against the wall in front of his wall and a medium sized bulletin board is hung above it, carrying a bunch of photos varying in size.

"Did you take these?" I ask, as I walk towards the area with Ethan lingering by his bed.

"Yeah. It's all random, nothing really worthwhile." Ethan chuckles, coming up behind me, his gaze trained on my face which is probably staring in awe at his photographs.

"They're beautiful." I breathe out, reaching out to trace one of a lake on a somewhat gloomy day. I'm snapped out of my trance when a click sounds beside me and I turn only to be met by Ethan holding the camera up to eye level, snapping another picture.

"Ethan!" I reach out to grab the camera, but he holds it high much to my height's dismay.

"Every artist has a muse."

"How cliche. First the bad boy persona, now a hidden talent that ends up with me being your muse."

"Or ends up with you in bed. Or in love with me. Whichever comes first."

"I'm a virgin." Ethan's eyes widen at the revelation, as he sets his camera down and watches me for a moment.

"How come you're so comfortable with us then?" He blurts out, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

"What?"

"Well you know..we touch and stuff. Very sexually sometimes." I let out a laugh at his response, shaking my head at him.

"Babe, just because I'm a virgin doesn't automatically mean I'm afraid of intimacy."

"Huh. Interesting."

A silence settles over us and I briefly wonder if the thought of my being a virgin scares him. I knew that he wasn't obviously, but it shouldn't effect the way he sees me.

"Are you hungry?" Ethan asks suddenly and I find myself nodding, before he holds out his hand. I take it and he leads me down the stairs, into the kitchen.

A short old woman with a bundle of curls stopping just above her ears is in the middle of unpacking groceries when we enter and she glances up, placing a hand on her hip.

"Ethan, how do you have a girl here and you don't let me feed her?" The woman scolds Ethan, to which he responds with a laugh and releases my hand to peck her cheek.

"Sit." Ethan instructs, patting the marble countertop and I raise my eyebrow in offense. He rolls his eyes, hands moving to my hips and lifting me to sit on it. He slips off his jacket afterwards, resting it on a stool, before turning to help the woman.

"I'm Maya." I introduce myself to the woman who offers me a sweet smile and places a hand over her chest.

"Rosa. The housekeeper."

"Oh, you're like a mom to me, Rosa! Give yourself some credit." Ethan grins, setting out the ingredients for god knows what.

"I'm gonna woo you."

"Like in the sims?"

Ethan stops his task, giving me a side glance, but I can see a smirk is playing on his lips. I didn't even know he could cook, so I lean back on my hands and take this as an opportunity to delve into his world.