The song ended and the look in Ethan’s eyes was pulling me to him. I wanted him to kiss me and that thought shook me back to reality. I jerked out of his arms and folded my own across my chest, taking deep breaths. Ethan looked at me, puzzled, and took a step toward me. I held up a hand, stopping him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, confused.
I shook my head. I couldn’t do this. Ethan was my friend, only my friend. I needed to get out of there, to have some space between us. I couldn’t use him to get over Paul and I was convinced these feelings were just that.
“I’m sorry, Ethan, but I really want to go home now. I will call a cab so you can stay here with Trisha.” I turned around to walk back to the table when he stopped me, pulling on my wrist.
“What’s going on? What happened?”
I looked at his face and saw the pain, the confusion. He knew we’d had a moment and I was breaking it, breaking him. I hated to see what I was doing, but I needed to be away from him to clear my head, to get things back to how they used to be.
“Nothing happened. I just need to go home now. I’m exhausted.”
He shook his head. “Fine, I’ll still take you.”
“No, I mean it. Stay here, with Trisha. You need to pay more attention to her tonight as it is. I think she’s feeling upset and neglected. I’ll get a cab.”
He looked at me, thinking. “I’ll just have her come with us, is that better?”
I wasn’t expecting that, but said it was okay with me, telling myself I needed to see them together. I needed to see them dating and to force these feelings for Ethan out of my head. I nodded my head, agreeing to his idea.
“Okay, stay here. I’ll go get her.” I watched him walk off and I almost called him back, telling him what was really going on, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t right. These feelings would wear off and then our friendship would be destroyed. I just had to get over Paul and stop using Ethan as a temporary fix.
“Well, if it isn’t Aly Chase,” I heard someone sneer in my ear. I turned around and saw Casey leaning against a table with a drink in her hand, glaring at me.
“Yep, it’s me,” I told her in a bored tone. This was the last thing I needed and it took all I had to remain passive when all I wanted to do was knock her teeth out.
She took a gulp of the dark liquid in her glass and laughed. “You make me sick. You are so disgusting and I’m tired of it. You and I both know we hate each other so let’s skip the pretenses.”
I looked at her surprised. She’d never been this direct before. She also had another drink in her hand so I figured she was drunk, which would help make her stupid enough to talk to me like this. Suddenly, the memories of hearing her screaming Paul’s name came roaring back and I forced down the bile that was rising in my throat.
“If that’s the case, then why are you even talking to me?”
She took a step closer to me, lifting a shaky finger and punching it to my chest. “Because I know something’s going on between you and Paul and I’m here to tell you to stop,” she said, her eyes glazed over. “He won’t ever leave me and you’re pathetic to think he would. I have too much power and could destroy him. He’s just using you for his own selfish reasons. I’m not stupid and have known for a while, bitch.”
I lifted her finger off of my chest and tossed her hand aside. “First of all, don’t ever touch me. Second of all, you’re wrong. Nothing is going on between your playboy boyfriend and me. I can barely stand to be around him, quite honestly. As for you and your power, it’s pretty sad that’s what you have to use to hold onto your boyfriend, bitch.”
She gave a little gasp at that, and then tossed the rest of her drink in my face. “You bitch! Don’t you ever talk that way to me again!” she screamed.
I stood there stunned, her drink dripping down my face. I wiped my eyes and face as best I could, then lunged. Before I could get to her, I felt arms wrap around my waist, preventing me. I struggled to break free.
“Aly, no!” I heard Ethan shout, as he struggled to keep me from attacking Casey. I went limp in his arms, and sunk back against him. Hearing his voice made me lose the fight in me and all I wanted was for him to hold me and take me home.
He turned me around and pulled me into him, hugging me. He ran his hand up and down my hair, in a soothing gesture. I felt his lips press against my head as he calmed me down.
My body went rigid when I heard Paul.
“What the hell is going on?”
I tried to turn around, but Ethan’s arms held me tighter, refusing to let me.
“It looks as though your girlfriend threw her drink in Aly’s face, Pierce,” Ethan said with a growl.
Casey piped up then. “You should have heard what she said to me, baby. I won’t put up with people talking shit to me.”
I heard Paul approach and felt Ethan stiffen and hold me even tighter.
“Are you okay, Aly?” Paul asked me.
“She’s fine. Stay away from her,” Ethan responded.
“I wasn’t asking you, Baker. I’m asking her. Again, are you okay, Aly?” Paul asked.
Casey freaked. “Why are you asking her if she’s okay, you bastard? I’m your girlfriend! You should be taking care of me!”
Paul ignored her. “Aly?”
I nodded my head against Ethan’s chest as he was still holding me so tight. “I’m fine. Just get her away from me.”
I heard him sigh. “Okay. I’m so sorry she attacked you. I’ll take care of her.” I didn’t say anything as I heard him walk away.
I looked up at Ethan and felt him loosen his hold on me. I took advantage and stepped out of his arms. I accepted the napkins Trisha was handing to me. Most of the drink had ended up on Ethan’s shirt from when he pushed my head so close to his chest; I still had enough to wipe off.
“Are you okay, Aly?” Ethan asked, still looking at me with concern.
I nodded. “I’m fine. I just really want to go home now.”
Ethan looked to Trisha and motioned toward the exit. She nodded and started walking. Ethan took my hand and led me out the door. The warm night air did nothing to help my mood as Ethan opened the car door. Trisha started to climb in the backseat to which I immediately protested.
“No way, Trisha. I’ll get in the back. You’re with Ethan.”
Trisha looked at Ethan, clearly conflicted. It dawned on me that he must have told her to sit in the back and for some reason that really annoyed me. I gave him a look.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing. I’m just going to sit in the back,” I said as I opened the back passenger door. I heard him sigh as he got in the car, but I didn’t say anything. I sat there with my seat belt fastened and my arms crossed, ready to end this horrible night.
Trisha got in the front hesitantly and didn’t say much. The whole ride back to my apartment was filled with tension and silence. I could not wait to take that bath I’d wanted earlier in the evening, before this whole mess of a night even started.
We finally arrived at the entrance to my building and I couldn’t get out of the vehicle fast enough. “Thanks for bringing me home, Ethan and Trisha. Sorry the night turned out the way it did. Thank you both for helping me.” I shut the door to the car and turned to walk inside.
“Aly, wait!” Ethan called out.
I froze, but was in no mood to talk, especially to him right now. He was making me feel things for him that I never had before and it freaked me out. I needed space, and I needed it now.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked when he reached my side.
I nodded. “I’m fine. All I want to do is just get out of these clothes and sit in a nice hot bath.”
He touched my shoulder. “Okay, but are you sure things are okay, between us?”
I groaned inwardly. I couldn’t have this conversation right now. “Yes, things are fine. I’ve just had it. Between seeing Paul and then what happened with Casey...I promise things are fine, Ethan,” I lied, just a little bit.
He swiped some of my hair behind my ear, sending shivers down my body. “Okay, you’ve just seemed off since we danced. We’re friends, close friends. Nothing will ever change that.” He bent over and kissed my cheek and it was all I could do not to visibly shudder in front of him.
I looked up at him. “Thank you, and I know. You’re the best.” I turned and entered my building, not turning around to see him. I knew I was acting strange, but I had to get rid of these feelings for him that had recently formed. There was no way Ethan and I could ever be more.
I finally reached my apartment, tossed my clutch on the sofa and slammed the door. I reeked of alcohol, so I whipped my dress off in no time flat and kicked my boots off. Walking into my bathroom and filling my tub with the hottest water I could stand, I lowered myself in slowly and luxuriated at the feeling the warm bath provided me. I needed to get the whole night off of my body and out of my system and a bath always helped me feel a little better.
The events of the evening ran through my head, as did these strange new feelings for Ethan. When I pictured him, my heart raced a bit and I couldn’t stop the small smile that came to my face. Things seemed to be changing and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. I was convinced that these new feelings were the result of Paul’s betrayal and I refused to use Ethan to get over it.
And Paul. Thinking of him sent tingles through me as well. Even though he’d hurt me badly, I still loved him. Feelings like that don’t just go away instantly. Thinking about him made me groan with desire, remembering the amazing experience of being with him and how he made me feel. Damn Casey for showing up when she did and damn Paul for doing what he did.
Knowing I wouldn’t resolve anything tonight, I held my breath and lowered my head under the water. I continued to relax in the bath then washed myself clean, scrubbing extra hard on the places Casey had thrown her drink on me. When the water got too cold for me to ignore, I pulled the plug and let the tub drain.
I wrapped myself in my cushy soft bathrobe and wandered out to the kitchen. I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge then went to sit down on the couch. My phone vibrated from inside my clutch and I debated even looking to see who had texted, but giving into the curiosity, I pulled my phone out and looked on the screen.
Paul.
I blew out a breath and didn’t open the text. I was still so upset with his girlfriend that I didn’t think anything he said would appease me.
When I felt my phone vibrate a second time and saw that it was Paul again, I gave in and opened the text. Apparently he wasn’t giving up easily, so I decided dealing with it sooner than later would be best. The man was stubborn, to say the least. I started reading his texts and felt my stomach do flip-flops.
Aly, I am so sorry for what happened tonight. I had nothing to do with it. She has been insecure and it’s driving me crazy. I need to talk to you. I can’t stop thinking about you and what happened between us the other day. I am so sorry for what happened after and I want you to know I am breaking up with Casey soon.
I opened his second text.
Please let me know if you’re okay. I want you to know that I told Casey I would not stand for her behavior. I miss you. <3
I sat back on the couch, my mind completely jumbled by his texts. When I pictured him in my mind, and how he looked tonight, it made me burn with desire. He was so obnoxiously hot that just seeing him in my mind made me groan out loud. I wanted nothing more than to text him to rush over here, to be with me, but I wouldn’t do that. Instead, I just typed out a short text and sent it.
I’m okay. Thanks for checking. I’ll talk to you later.
I knew that wasn’t the warmest text, but it would do. I wasn’t ready to deal with him and what he told me tonight. I wasn’t ready to deal with anything. I couldn’t help but wonder how my life turned into this. I used to live carefree with no drama and no heartache, but in a matter of a few days, all that has completely changed. My heart was a mess and my mind was no better. Looking at the water bottle on the coffee table, I realized I needed something stronger and headed back to the kitchen to get it.