“I hope so, babe.” Turning me in his arms, he lets out a laugh. “I feel like you know my dirty laundry. Please tell me you have a crazy ex storytoo.”
That’s one topic I haven’t shared this summer, but it’s probably not fair that I know so much about his life, and he doesn’t know this huge thing that happened to me lastyear.
“I do. In fact, I could probably top yourcrazy.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yeah.” I nibble on my lip, hating this subject but wanting to have this conversation out of the way. “I dated someone my last year at UT. I guess I thought we were getting serious only to find out the guy lied the entire time we dated. Pretended to be devoted. Pretended he cared. Made all kinds of promises. Until the day I found out the bastard wasmarried.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Ethan’s whole body stiffens, and he shifts us so he can see my face. “What happened? Please tell me his wife caught his sorryass.”
Shame washes over me, and I sit up, pulling the sheet up and tucking it around me. “Not exactly.” Part of me hates that I never ratted him out to hiswife.
Leaning up, he pulls me to his chest. “I’m so sorry he hurt you,baby.”
“That was the reason I didn’t want to work for you. After Jamie, I didn’t date anyone for over a year, until I moved in with you. I felt like I couldn’t trust my judgment anymore because he had me so fooled. When I interviewed with you, I think I was such a bitch that day because you scaredme.”
“I scaredyou?”
I nod, glad he can’t see the heat traveling up my face. “There you were, this really handsome, intense guy.” Closing my eyes, I can see him that day. The way those stormy blue eyes pierced through me. The way our chemistry pulsed in the air like a live current. “You were dripping wet from washing off in the kitchen sink, flashing those abs and tattoos. A girl would have to be dead, dumb, or decapitated not to be attracted toyou.”
His quiet chuckle makes me shift around to facehim.
“You think this is funny? That I thought you were so hot, I probably subconsciously sabotaged the interview because I didn’t want to work for someone I was into? That, deep down, Ilikedthe fact that you were pissed off that day? That I couldn’t decide if I wanted to slap you silly or ride you next to your commercial rangeoven?”
He groans. “Option number two,please.”
“Shut up. You made me break my man diet.” I laugh and smack his arm, but he catches my wrist and pulls me down until I’m resting on his chest. “Do I win? Does my ex’s crazy trumpAllison’s?”
“You definitelywin.”
The way he kisses me makes me grateful I couldn’t stay away fromhim.
Maybe the worst is behind me and the best is yet to come.If Ethan is a part of my life, I’m becoming more optimistic about thoseodds.
44
Tori
I’m foldinga green jumper embroidered with tiny frogs when my Aunt Imelda sits primly next to me and folds herhands.
“Isn’t this a lovely shower?” she asks, her intention as obvious as the gun-toting, hooded thief who screams,This is arobbery!
“Yes,tía. It’s perfect.” No dildo cakes. No mis-gifted sex toys. No embarrassing games. My mother must be delighted. Although… my cousin Natalia melted chocolate candies in diapers and made everyone sniff them to guess the candy. That’s gross,right?
Forcing myself to smile, I try to be grateful.My sister got a beautiful shower. She was happy, and that’s all that matters. I won’t retaliate with laundryhijinks.
My feelings are still a wee bit hurt, but I’m an adult. I can be mature. Isn’t this what people call a “learning experience”? And today, I’ve learned you have to get to the front of the line for the cake because that shit goesfast.
Aunt Imelda elbows me while her unibrow wiggles like an angry caterpillar. “So when are you going to settle down and marry a good man? You’re not getting any younger.” She points to the corners of my eyes like I’m an oldhag.
Jeeesus.“As soon as I pay off my attorney bill from that time I almost got afelony.”
My mom chokes on her sparklingsoda.
What? If I give Imelda a civilized answer, I’m giving her positive reinforcement to be anasshole.
I don’t think my mom hears my internal dialogue because she gives me scary eyes, the ones that make me grateful I’m out ofreach.
