handle | dolan

8 - may 4th

Tara Rayes

"Ethan," I sigh, looking over to him from my place on a bar stool.

"Yes, Tara?"

"It's only the fourth day and I'm bored." I spin around on the stool and frown. How am I supposed to stay here entertained all the time?

"Because you're not doing anything," he easily states and looks over to me. I stop spinning and glare at him.

"Don't you dare suggest me to read," I say and refer to the book that's placed in his hands. I don't even know what book it is, I just don't care. Books have never interested me, I mean, reading is just so boring. Whyever, Ethan was reading a lot.

No. Then I'm rather bored and spin on a stool.

He quietly chuckles to himself and I practically swoon. His beauty is too much to handle.

"Actually, I wanted to suggest to go swimming." He closes his book and turns to me. "You up for that?"

"Yes!" Immediately I jump up from my seat. "But ... where?"

Once more he chuckles and answers, "You'll see. Go change and meet me here when you're ready."

I smile and rush upstairs. Swimming! I've always loved swimming, it's just so fun. But I really wonder where we would go? I haven't seen a pool anywhere ...

After changing into a bathing suit that I luckily brought with me and putting my hair in a bun, I go downstairs and see Ethan in only his swimming trunks. How he'd put them on so quickly is a miracle ...

but nothing important to wonder about when my eyes scan his body.

Holy lord. Save me.

My eyes widen and remain on his abs. I've seen his biceps before but ... this is a whole other issue.

Then he looks up from his phone and catches my stare. I could bet that I've never blushed so hard.

"I - I'm ready," I choke out and force myself to look outside. Clearing my head in seconds I ask again, "Where do we swim, again?"

A smile is plastered on his face and he just motions me to follow him. We go outside and around the house to a ladder that is directly on the frontage. The air is warm for may and once again I have to remind myself that we're on the west coast.

I nervously look up at the building and then at him, "You expect me to go up there?"

"Yup," he just shrugs, "Should I go first?"

I carefully examine the ladder and let out a shaky breath. "No, I'm good."

My hands grip the cold metal and I take one step after another. My whole body trembles but I ignore it. Stupid acrophobia.

"We're almost there," I hear his encouraging words but only focus on my stone hard grip to make sure I won't fall. And if I fall, I hope I'll take stupid Ethan with me and fall onto him.

... Well, not in this way ... Um ... Yeah.

The point is that I want him to get hurt for making me go up this unsafe ladder.

"Come on, your last step." Carefully but as quickly as possible I leave the ladder and stand on the roof.

And almost drool about this view.

From the bedrooms the view is spectacular but from up here ... It's breathtaking.

"Wow," I quietly rave and make a turn around myself.

"Amazing, right?" He is now beside me as I stare off into the distance. A couple of seconds we just stand there as we take in the gigantic trees, far in the distance, and the hills.