Winter [Completed]

NINE

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December 16th
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"Life is about choices. Some we regret. Some we're proud of. Some will haunt us forever. The message: we are what we choose to be."

—Graham Brown

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Imani's POV

"You do kind of look like Rob Lowe." I laugh, showing Ethan a picture of the guy as we pull into the driveway.

Ethan grins. "The man is kind of cute."

I roll my eyes and unbuckle my seatbelt as Ethan turns off the car. Before I open the door, he stops me, placing a hand on my thigh. "Mani, are you sure you're up for this?" he asks, furrowing his eyebrows in concern. It's as if he's peering directly into my mind, and the way he looks at me almost makes me second guess my choice to come back. "It's not too late to back out. We could always find another place to stay if this is too uncomfortable for you—"

I place my hand on his and smile. "Ethan, you're sweet, but I'm sure I'll be fine. I can last a couple days with your family."

I can't tell if the words are true, but hopefully they will be enough to convince him.

Ethan presses his lips into a firm line and studies my wary eyes for an uncomfortably long time. I struggle to resist fidgeting under his stare.

"Alright then," he finally says, blowing out a puff of air before unbuckling and opening his door. "Let's go."

I linger in the car for a moment longer, closing my eyes and falling back against the seat as I let out a small sigh. When I open the door, the crisp cool breeze hits my face, instantly refreshing me. I close the car door just as Ethan's finished unloading our suitcases from the trunk.

"Ready?" he asks, and I nod.

I sure hope I am.

I'm filled with a flurry of emotions as we walk up the pathway to the front door. When we finally get there, I kind of just stare at the doorbell until Ethan reaches over and rings it himself.

He gives me an odd look at the same moment the front door swings open.

Cheryl stands behind the heavy oak door wearing an apron and a smile. Her greying brown hair is braided into an intricate style that rests comfortably on her shoulder. "Ethan, Imani-" Her eyes crinkle as she smiles. "-you've made it! Come in! Come in!" She steps aside and waves us in excitedly.

Ethan brings in our luggage while I follow Cheryl into the kitchen.

"You're just in time, dear," she says as she takes off her apron and drapes it across one of the bar stools. "We're just about to start dinner." She takes the lid off of the skillet and immediately the scent of ground beef wafts through the kitchen.

"Oh, smells good," I comment at the same time that Ethan enters the kitchen.

He comes up behind me and places a hand on my shoulder, taking in the aroma. "Sloppy Joe night?"

She nods.

Ethan kisses my cheek before whispering in my ear. "I put our luggage in my room. I thought we could stay together since we're official now."

I smile, glancing over my shoulder at him. "I like the sound of that."

"You two are so adorable it's repulsive," Kelly says, smirking as she leans against the door frame.