Midnight

18. Star Gazing

I listened my hardest for the hum of the engine or the roll of the tires but nothing. The Bentley was insanely quiet. I knew Ethan was upset. He hardly looked at me. He strode in and headed towards the kitchen. I headed out to the terrace and sat on one of the couches around the pit to steady my over processing thoughts. I used the remote to turn the fire on, which warmed my skin instantly. The sky was lit with the stars, galaxies, and planets. The night sky had always been my refuge.

"Want some?" Ethan joined me with a mason jar filled with dessert of some sort. I opened my mouth for him to plop a spoon full onto my tongue. My taste buds were surprised yet grateful. What was the delectable concoction in this jar? Caramel definitely but more. I held my legs up for him to sit with me as I happily bounced the deliciousness to my tummy. "Beautiful night," he leaned to kiss me chastely as I studied his properly bandaged hands.

"I would have cleaned them for you."

His eyes followed mine, "I had it, no problem."

"Do they hurt?"

"No, looks worse than it is." He rotated his bandaged hands admiring his handy work of the ace. I cringed at the thought of Carlton's face being pounded until Ethan's fist swelled. He must be in critical condition. Everything has to be broken up.

"How'd you know to come? I said I would call you." I turned into him allowing him to have my full attention. He was there considerably early if he was waiting to pick me up.

He allowed the spoon to hang from out his mouth, then removed his phone from his pocket.

"I'm good with computers of all kinds," he stated bluntly then looked up into the stars. I already knew he was good with computers. He has a fortune five hundred company based off them.

"How good?" I needed more than simply good, it's something he's not telling me. I knew he can manipulate my phone, but to what extent? He took the spoon from out his mouth and placed it down in front of us alongside the jar of good good.

"I can hack into anything, even security cameras in a club." he kept his eyes up to the sky. "Look right there, that's Jupiter" he pointed to the shiny star below the moon.

I looked up following his hand.

"I'm aware."

"Yea?" he was surprised. I wasn't offended though."That's Jupiter and the star in front of it is Mercury," he continued. The moon was seemingly shy tonight.--only giving me half its truth. Ethan returned his moons to me. He smiled playfully. His beauty was unfair.

"You're some sort of genius..." I stroked his ego and he shrugged arrogantly. "At changing the subject!"

"Aahhh," he laughed, "Alright," he gave in.

"You were watching me?" I shot my brows up accusingly at him.

"I was." he admitted.

"Why... Why do you think that's ok?"

"I fucked up, I messed around and started caring for you."

"What!?" I retaliated, behooved by his smug remark. Repositioning my body so that my feet were on the floor.

"Cala, I care for you...a lot."

My angry expression softened. "I lose it when we're not together. I worry that something will happen to you if I'm not there." he sat up and looked ahead. "I check on you from time to time."

"Ethan--"

"Let me finish...You're someone who I want to keep around. Tonight I saw your ex speaking to you at the bar." he scoffed at his thoughts "Once I saw that... I hopped in the car. I took the audio from your phones and heard you all arguing. That's why when I showed up I didn't ask questions."