Chapter 19: Too CloseEthan got the message while he was brushing his teeth. He had woken up late, it was summer vacation so why not? It was odd for him to have his phone with him but he'd just felt like it this morning. This was a situation where it worked in his favour. As he was brushing his tongue, the most unflattering position to be in, he got the text. Ethan, wonderful multitasker read while still brushing his teeth. Then, he choked. Literally. The surprise of the message made him push his brush back too far, so he reread the message while recovering.
Chris
Hey, could I come over today?
I was hoping you could deal with my computerEthan cursed. A few days earlier Chris had offhandedly mentioned that his computer was annoying him. When Ethan asked why, he explained that it was glitching with a couple things. Ethan, a computer enthusiast who had fixed his own devices by hand a dozen times, offered his help if Chris wanted it. Chris said that wasn't necessary but Ethan insisted that "my door is always open."
That was before he saw Chris and Courtney flirting for hours on end. If Ethan had known that was going to happen, he would have given Chris a list of shops to turn to instead. But now, while still hacking up bits of misplaced toothpaste, Ethan didn't have the heart (or excuse) to turn Chris away. So, he finished up, washed his hands, and sent a singular message back.
You
OkChris didn't specify when he'd show up. So, Ethan spent hours lagonizing over when Chris would finally come and knock on his door. He tried to wait for Chris at first, eating a quick, light breakfast and sitting up straight as he waited in the living room. But, after 1 o' clock came and went, Ethan realized he should get to his original plans. Those plans weren't anything special. He first took a shower, which he should have done from the start, and spent some time cleaning up his room.
Chris eventually showed up, and by that time Ethan was reading a comic in the living room with his mom while his dad manned the kitchen. He had knocked on the door, as Ethan predicted. Immediately after, he heard his father yelling.
"Oh, who's that. Did you invite someone over, honey? Or did Ethan? I want to go great with them, I'll be back."
His mother, the 'honey' he was referring to, shook her head with a sigh.
"No, Barnett. You will not be moving from that stove." She ordered. Ethan thought it was funny how stern she could sound with such a soft tone. But, it worked. His father's footsteps moving for the door stopped in a second. "Do you remember the last time you left your food while cooking? Ethan can get the door. Just focus on your food."
As Ethan went for the door, he heard the intangible grumble from his father before he said begrudgingly "Okay."
Ethan was quietly snickering as he opened the door. Ethan found himself looking at Chris' blanc expression for a second before a wide smile grew on his face. Ethan, forgetting about everything else in the world, smiled back earnestly.
Moments later, Chris was entering his home. Ethan, now sporting some heart for Chris, forgot why Chris was there for a bit. Ethan had started brainstorming things for them to do while Chris was here when his mom entered the room.
"Oh, Chris, good to see you again." She smiled warmly.
"Good to see you too, uh, Mrs. Sterling."
His mother shook her head, her smile slipping a tad.
"Call me Loretta, please." She told him. "I like to think of myself as more than my husband's wife."
"Got it Loretta."
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Connected To Him (ManxMan) ✔️
RomancePart 1: Ethan Sterling can't stop staring at the cute guy sitting in his history class. Chris Davis is tall, dark, and certainly the most handsome guy in any room. So when he starts to call Ethan a friend, Ethan has to decide if staring is enough. ...