16
“Uncle Ethan!”
I opened my eyes immediately, recognizing that adorable voice.
“Wake up!” Becky cried.
Ethan moaned then rolled over, blocking me from sight with his body. He kept the blanket up to his chin. “Hmm?”
“French toast!”
“French toast what?”
“I want French toast!”
“Well, that’s not how you ask for it.”
She sighed. “Fine. Uncle Ethan, will you please make me French toast for breakfast?”
“No.”
“Hey! I asked nicely.”
“I have to work.”
“Uncle Ethan!” she whined.
“Is your mother awake?”
“No.”
He sighed. “Give me a minute.”
“Yay!” She left and walked down the hall. Ethan leaned over and closed the door behind her.
“That was too cute,” I whispered. I kissed him on the lips then the neck.
He smiled. “After a few years, it’s just annoying.”
“You’re amazing, Ethan.”
“Thanks, baby.”
I crawled on top of him and straddled him. “We have time?”
He moaned. “No, she’ll be back.”
I leaned over him and inserted him inside me. “I’ll make it quick.”
He moaned and leaned back. “Okay.”
I rocked him from above and shoved him deep inside me. Ethan tried to stay quiet but his breathing had increased. My hands rested on his chest as I rocked into him. He sat up then guided my hips with his hands.
“Baby, I’m going to come.”
“Me first.”
“Come on.”
I bit my lips as the feeling rocked through me. “Ethan,” I whispered.
“Yeah, baby.” He moved into me harder as he had his moment. “Yeah.”
It was the quickest round of sex we ever had. I just wanted to get off and so did he. It was a great way to start the morning.
“Baby, you’re so fine.”
I smiled. “So are you.”
“Uncle Ethan!”
Ethan sighed. “Damn.” He rose from the bed then dressed himself. “Get ready. I’ll be back then I have to get to work.”
“Okay.”
Ethan left the bedroom and walked into the kitchen. He was gone for a while before he returned.
“So, did she like it?”
“She better.”
“You are so cute.”
He smiled. “
So, kids turn you on?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Uh
, no.”
“I mean, men with kids turn you on.”
I shrugged. “I guess. I just think that I admire you for being such a great brother and man. That’s a really big turn on.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Ethan?”
“Hmm?” he asked as
he fixed his tie.
“Why haven’t you ever been in a relationship before?”
He was quiet for a moment. “I didn’t want to settle down and have a family. I’ve been living with one for three years.”
I felt my heart stop. “
Does that mean you want one now?”
He stopped and looked at me. “I thought that was obvious, Sadie. I’ve stopped sleeping around, cut booty calls out of my life, introduced you to my
family—I think I’ve made my feelings and intentions very clear.”
I smiled. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, baby.”
So he did love me. Clearly, he did. I just couldn’t bring myself to ask.
He looked at his watch. “I have to get to work.”
I grabbed my bag then fixed my hair in his mirror. “Okay.”
He opened the door for me and we walked out. I stared at his ass as he walked in front of me. I loved that thing. He looked so handsome in a suit. When we reached the front door, Elisa emerged from her room with Tommy in her arms.
“Going to work?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Thanks for making Becky breakfast. I’m sorry she woke you.”
“I’m used to it.”
She
patted his shoulder. “Have a good day.”
“You too.”
She hugged me. “I’ll see you later, Sadie.”
“Bye.”
We left the townhouse then walked to the street.
“I’ll see you later,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“I have to go back to the apartment and you have to go to work.”
“I’m taking you home first.”
“It’s daytime. I’ll be fine.”
His eyes narrowed at me. “I will take you to home then to work. Don’t argue with me.”
“Ethan, I’ll be fine.”
He grabbed my arm then waved down a cab. When we were inside, he held my hand.
“I don’t want you to be late.”
“I won’t. And don’t worry about me.”
I decided to drop it. He couldn’t be argued with.
When we came to the apartment, I checked on Koku then waved down another cab. When we finally arrived at the bookstore, Ethan walked me to the door.
“Have a good day, baby.”
“You too.”
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
“Okay.”
He kissed me.
“I’ll see you tonight.” He turned away then walked up the sidewalk. He disappeared from the street then I walked inside.
I had a huge smile on my face when I approached the counter.
My dad looked at me. “I’m glad you two worked everything out.”
“
Yeah, we’re good.”
He nodded. “Do you have plans tonight?”
“Well, Ethan and I were going to dinner.”
“Oh
, nevermind, then.”
“We can all go.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I knew Ethan wouldn’t be happy about
it, but I felt bad. I knew my dad was lonely even if he would never admit it. Jared spent time with him, watching sports and action movies, but I knew my brother couldn’t be with him all the time.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”
“No, you’re always welcome, Dad.”
“Okay.
Where are we going?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t decided yet.”
“So, have you told your mother about him?”
“Uh
, no.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just not ready to.”
“How is she doing?” My dad tried to act cool, but I knew he was still in love with my mom. It was odd. My mother was completely indifferent to him, but my dad was obsessed with her. I really couldn’t figure out why.
“She’s good. Busy.”
“Your mother was always on the go.”
“Yeah. She’s crazy.”
“No. She’s just passionate.”
“Same difference.” I opened the register and started to count the money from the day before.
The bell over the door went off and I looked up. My heart fell when Alex walked in. This seriously couldn’t be happening.
He raised his hands in the air before I could speak. “Just hear me out.”
My dad raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on here?”
Alex only had eyes for me. “I’m sorry about everything. Please just hear me out.”
I felt my anger explode. I just wanted Alex to leave me alone. After everything he did to me, I was livid.
“Get the fuck out!”
My dad stared at me in shock. “Sadie, I better not hear you talk like that again.”
“Shut up, Dad!”
He stepped back, startled.
I marched to Alex and pushed him. “I love Ethan, not you. Please leave me alone. I want nothing to do with you. Jared accepts him, so you need to get over this, Alex. Nothing will ever happen between us. Get out of my life and stay there.”
He sighed. “Sadie—”
“Leave!”
“Sadie—”
“Do you want me to call Ethan?”
“He’s a
t work.”
Damn. I could
n’t call him when he was at work. I knew exactly what he would do. He would leave work to come kick Alex’s ass. Since Ethan needed his job to support his family, I couldn’t bother him. It wasn’t worth it. “So you decided to come now because you knew he couldn’t protect me?”
“Protect you? I’m not trying to hurt you, Sadie.”
“Fuck you, Alex.”
“Please give me another chance—to be your friend. Please.”
“You don’t deserve another chance after what you did—three times.”
“I had your best interest at heart.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are so selfish and you know it.”
“I won’t bring it up again, okay? Please don’t cut me out of your life. Your brother has been my friend since I can remember. Please don’t ostracize me from everyone that I’m close to.”
“You can see Jared on your own time.”
“Sadie, please don’t be cold.”
“Even if I wanted to forgive you, there’s nothing I can do. Ethan doesn’t like you and he has a very good reason not to. I won’t be able to change his mind.”
“I promise I’
ll never pursue you again.”
My dad
looked uncomfortable. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
I glared at him. “Dad—stay.”
He flinched. “Okay.”
I looked at Alex. “I want you to leave.”
“Please,” he begged. “I don’t want to lose your friendship.”
I sighed. “Alex, I just need some space right now. You keep coming after me, apologizing to me, but it just makes me just as angry. It pisses off Ethan too. Give me some time and we’ll talk about it again. Your obsessive behavior just makes me trust you even less.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t be like this.”
I shook my head.
“Just go, Alex.”
“No.”
I felt my frustration erupt like a volcano. I looked at my dad. “Please ask Alex to leave.”
“What? Alex is like a son to me.”
“And I’m like a daughter to you. He tried to break up me and Ethan because he wanted to be with me, and now he won’t give me the space I ask for.”
My dad shrugged. “P
eople do crazy things when they are in love. I can’t blame a guy for trying.”
I glared at him. “I thought you liked Ethan.”
“Of course I do.”
“Well
, Alex was very disrespectful toward him.”
My dad stepped closer to us. “Sadie, this is your problem.”
“How can you say that? You’re my father. You’re supposed to protect me.”
“And I always will,” he said. “But is Alex trying to hurt you?” I didn’t say anything.
“It looks like he’s trying to work out your differences, and he’s willing to do anything to prove that he’s sorry. So, no, I don’t think there’s anything I can do for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Worthless.”
“What was that?” he snapped.
“Nothing,” I said quickly.
Alex looked at me. “Sadie, please?”
I shook my head. “Just give me some space, Alex. I’ll think about it.”
“What if I talk to Ethan?”
I shook my head vigorously. “Stay away from him, Alex. If you think I’m being unreasonable, then you won’t want to face him.”
Alex ran his fingers through his hair. “Well…okay then. I guess I’ll talk to you later…hopefully.”
I crossed my arms over my chest.
“For what it’s worth, I really am sorry.”
I said nothing
for a moment. “I know.”
He turned around and left the store.
My dad stared at me for a long moment. “Ever since Ethan came into your life, a lot of drama has happened.”
“It’s just bad timing.”
“It sounds like a lot of work.”
“He’s worth it.”
“Sadie—”
“Not you too,” I said with a sigh. I knew what he was going to say.
“Just be careful. Your mother and I were the same way.”
I narrowed my eyes. He never talked about his relationship with my mom. “What do you mean?”
“She and I—we were passionate. It’s a good thing but it also made our relationship extremely volatile. Like it would combust at any moment.”
“I’m not worried about it.”
He shrugged. “I’m just letting you know.”
“Well, Ethan and I are wonderful together. We’ve just had some trouble along the way.”
“It’s pretty early to experience trouble.”
“Dad, what are you trying to say?”
He was quiet for a moment. “Nothing.”
I sighed. “You’ll see at dinner,
Daddy.”