Who would have thought?

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Everest's POV

"Ev!" Ethan called out. I stared out into the parking lot, until I found him. He was leaning against the hood of his truck talking to Mason, Mark, and Cole.

"Hey," I replied trying my best to sound nonchalant. Every time I heard his voice, I wanted to squeal and jump. 

"I'm taking you home," he tells me when I reach his truck. I just nod. 

I'm more than okay with that.

I lean against the the hood, beside him. Continuing to talk about basketball season with the rest of the boys, he snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. 

My eyes widen, and I feel my body go stiff, before I fully relax in his arms. I feel so safe when I'm with him. 

The boys quiet down and all glance at his hand resting on my waist. 

"So Ev, you and Ethan, huh?" Mason asks dryly. 

I almost nod, but hesitate. Technically, we're not a thing. 

Instead, I shrug. I glance at Ethan, and his face shows a pained expression but it's gone before I can look more into it.

"We all saw it coming! Cole, you owe me twenty," Mason says as he extend his hand out towards Cole. 

Cole rolls his eyes but listens. He reaches into his pocket and hands Mason a crumbled twenty dollar bill.

Mason fist pumps the air. 

Mark stays silent and stares at the ground.

"Mark?" I ask.

He looks up from the ground and raises his eyebrows.

"You okay?" I question. He nods.

"Congrats on you two," he says with fake happiness. He waves goodbye, and walks away to his car. 

"What's gotten into him?" I ask the guys. 

They immediately shift positions and glance at each other weirdly. 

"I should go, now," says Cole as he points his thumb behind him. 

"Yeah, me too," agrees Mason as he nods vigorously.

"Bye," they say at the same time. 

I turn to face Ethan. He pulls me to stand directly in front of him. His facial features change from concerned to relaxed.

He moves his hand away from my waist, and to my hair.

I watch as he lets strands of my dark brown hair fall through his fingers.

"I like you so much," he whispers.

"I bet I like you more," I say.

He smiles and pulls me against him. I look up into his eyes and he leans down. I force my hand between us and stop him.

His grip loosens and with slumped shoulders, he leans against the hood of the truck.

I look down.

"Not here," I tell him. "Take me home."

He gives me a quizzical look before finally understanding the message I'm trying to put out.

---

We make it to my house in no more than fifteen minutes.

Ethan steps out of the vehicle and lightly jogs around the front. He opens the door for me, and places his hand on the small of my back.

He leads me to the front door as if I had no clue how to get there.