Connected To Him (ManxMan) ✔️

Part 1: Chapter 21

Chapter 21: I <3 U

Ethan shifted in his seat, trying to become comfortable on the felt and metal that made up the bus chair. He'd used the transit plenty of times before, that was normal in Toronto, but suddenly the familiar seat was uncomfortable to him. Ten minutes through his trip, he realized it was because he was anxious. Or better yet, excited.

Chris had invited him over the previous day. He and Chris hung out quite often, so this shouldn't have been any different. But, it was what happened before the invitation that kept Ethan on edge.

The previous day, Scarlett had taken them to a private beach. Most of their afternoon and evening was spent eating, drinking, playing dumb circle games and talking to one another. Ethan had gotten there before Chris and for a while sparked up conversation with the girls over random topics. He had been hyper aware of Courtney, knowing the two of them were interested in the exact same thing.

Chris.

That realization made it a lot harder for Ethan to act normally with her again. Ethan, Courtney, Rachel and Meaghan were discussing some reality TV show when Chris first arrived. Of course he came over and hugged everyone but then began a conversation with Aaron and Aiden.

Ethan being extra aware of Chris was normal, as if his body had become attuned to anything Chris did. So, when he felt a stare sizzling against his back, he knew it was Chris. Ethan tried his hardest to ignore it and ignore Chris for a while, but Courtney suddenly started giggling.

A sultry smile was on her gloss coloured lips, the deep red seeming to match a dark fire in her eyes as she looked at Chris.

"What are you giggling about?" Rachel asked, giving Courtney a weary look.

"Don't look, but Chris is totally checking me out right now." She grinned, batting her lashes as she looked between him and the group. Ethan froze, a pang of uncertainty wedging its way into his chest. Suddenly that constant sizzling against his back was brought into question. Was he simply imagining it?

So, going against Courtney's words, Ethan turned around, finding Chris' dark brown eyes boring right into him. That sizzling in his back now spread all over his body, growing hotter when Chris sent him a smile. Such a simple expression felt weighted, speaking to a million promises that Ethan was scared to interpret. But, even without speaking the exact language, he got the gist. Ethan cheeks lit up red and he turned back around in an instant.

Courtney scowled at Ethan the moment his back was facing Chris again.

"I told you not to turn around. Now he knows I'm talking about him!" She complained through a whine, her glossy lips highlighting her pout. Ethan, still shaken by the interaction, tried to come up with something to say. Luckily for him, Meaghan shouldered the responsibility instead.

"Courtney, relax." Meaghan told her, placing her hand on the other girl's wrist with a smile. "I'm sure Chris won't think too much into it. He's a chill guy."

"With a hot body." Courtney threw back, giving Chris eyes again.

Rachel's lips curled up as she mouthed 'ew' silently. Ethan nodded in her direction because yeah, ew, he did not want to hear Courtney talking about Chris like that. However, he didn't mention that he had the exact same thoughts.

Courtney had no idea that Chris wasn't staring at her but instead at him. And Chris' gaze had not been so innocent. To avoid dealing with his problems, Ethan had taken the liberty of erasing that short but heated moment in his room with Chris. Pretending that it had never happened was far easier than trying to figure out why it had happened because he wasn't sure if he would like the answer. But looking into Chris eyes and seeing such blatant want Ethan wondered if he'd been too quick to assume.