oxygen (e.d.)

chapter sixteen

<ethan>

"i'm sorry. i really am. i just had to drop someone off." i reason with rowen, reaching for her hands across the table.

"who was it?" she asks, sipping her milkshake.

"an old friend."

"she was a girl." she states.

"yes," i roll my eyes, "but that means nothing."

"ethan," she leans across the table, "tell me something? and don't lie."

"anything."

"do you like me?"

"obviously?"

"good," she smiles, "good."

"why? do you not like me?"

"oh, ethan," she laughs, "you're funny. of course i do."

i breathe a sigh of relief and she side eyes me, twirling the cherry stem between her lips.

i watch her as she sinks her front teeth in the cherry, and the juice dribbles down her lip. theres something about her eyes.

i can't figure it out.

"we should do something," she pouts, breaking the sexual tension.

"what?"

"i don't know..." she sighs, "wanna go swimming or something?"

"eh," i shrug, "been to the beach a lot these past few weeks."

"okay, well, we could go mini golfing? i know a place near here. by the boardwalk."

"okay," i smile, "that sounds fun."

i drive to the outdoor mini golfing course as she gives directions.

"you been here before?" the bored looking guy asks behind the counter.

"nope," rowen smiles, "first time."

"pick out the size of the clubs you need and a ball." the guy yawns.

i get a club slightly taller than rowen's. she picks out a pink ball, and i get yellow.

but then i put it back.

yellow was riley's color.

i grab a red ball instead and toss it up in my hands.

"ready?" she grins.

i nod and we walk over the the first hole. i let her go first, and she lines the ball and the putting club up. rowen taps it lightly and it rolls maybe two feet, but i make sure to be excited at how "good" she's doing.

mine goes a bit farther, landing only a few inches from the hole.

"rowen!"

we both turn around to the voice, and rowen's face gets the color of a white sheet.

"yes?" she asks a guy walking towards us.

"back again?" he smiles.

i shoot her a "what?" glance, but she doesn't notice.

"i don't know what you mean?" she questions uncomfortably.

"you came in about 2 weeks ago... with a guy who-"

"i think you have the wrong person." rowen cuts in, shooting me a nervous glance.

"no, i would remember the hair. anyway, who's-"

"ethan, next hole." rowen sashays off.

the guy blinks and purses his lips.

"um, okay." he nods.

i look at rowen and then back at the guy.

i open my mouth to say something, but she cuts me off.

"ethan. let's go."