Connected To Him (ManxMan) ✔️

Part 1: Chapter 22

Chapter 22: So . . . Dating?

"Do you want to get something to drink?" Chris asked kindly. His left hand was still holding Ethan's and it was beginning to get a bit moist. Ethan swallowed, noting how parched he actually was.

"Uh, yes actually." Ethan chuckled, looking down at the floor bashfully. Chris chuckled as well and pulled Ethan to stand up.

"Come on. I think we just bought some things last night." Chris told Ethan as he pulled him out of the room. Ethan was dragged by his hand down the stairs and into the house's large kitchen. Chris let go of Ethan's hand then, but only to look around the kitchen to locate the drinks.

"Ah, here it is." Chris said loudly. He had to yell because he was out of sight, standing in the pantry. Ethan noted that it must have been pretty large due to the echo of Chris' voice. "Do you want coke, sprite, or Nestea?"

"Nestea."

Chris walked out of the pantry with two cans of tea, a smirk on his lips.

"Nice choice."

They say down at the bar stools placed in front of the kitchen island and simultaneously cracked open their drinks. Chris and Ethan were silent for a moment, quietly sipping their drinks side by side. Ethan continued to look around the kitchen. Its white and silver scheme made it incredibly bright and seem super clean. Almost sterile.

That eerily clean quality was reflected in much of the house as well. Impeccably designed but a bit impersonal. The only thing you could deduce about this family was that they did not want you to know them. They kept you at a distance, even in their decor.

Ethan wondered briefly if Chris would do the same to him.

"So, your parents aren't here right now." Ethan began, looking over at Chris through his lashes.

"Yeah . . . " Chris turned to Ethan curiously. He wondered why Ethan was bringing this up.
Was he bolder than Chris originally thought?

"Will I meet them the next time I come over?" He finally asked, anxious eyes trained on the island counter. "I just want to be prepared, you know?"

Chris scoffed, chuckling quietly to himself.

"I'm hoping to not hang out here in the future."

"Why not?" Ethan frowned a confused pout on his lips. Chris was sliding his can back and forth across the counter, staring at the motion with a mirthful smile. It was as if this was funny to him. Chris shrugged, the motion further confusing Ethan.

"I just don't want you guys to meet."

Ethan let his words sink in for a moment, coming to his final conclusion.

"You don't want them to know about me." He said simply. It wasn't a question, but a statement. A part of Ethan hoped Chris would deny it, assuring Ethan that he was wrong. You're wrong. I'm not ashamed of you, Ethan. That was not what Chris said.

"Not if I can help it."

Ethan couldn't look at Chris and instead just stared at his can. He saw a glimpse of the dark liquid moving inside and tried to calm himself. So Chris liked him back but was ashamed of him at the same time.

Chris, oblivious to the inner turmoil Ethan was experiencing downed another gulp of tea.

"But anyway, let's not talk about them." Chris stated, swallowing back the rest of his drink. "Let's talk about something else."

"Like what?" Ethan asked, thoroughly disheartened from their last conversation. He looked up to find Chris' eyes after hearing only silence. Chris was staring right at him, a searing look in his dark eyes. Chris dropped his right hand on Ethan's left one, slipping his fingers into Ethan's. Chris didn't have to say anything else. Let's talk about us.