Chapter 4 - Ethan -
1490 Words
He could feel the rage surging through him. The urge to hunt down her attacker and rip his head off was hard to fight back. This beautiful woman had been victimised by someone she should have been able to trust. No wonder her dad had been angry. He was still trying to process what she told him when he caught what she said.
Did he hear her right?
Did she think that he would want to leave; thought he wouldn’t want her?
Is that why she wouldn’t look at him?
“Serena, look at me,” he said softly. When she didn’t answer or move, he reached across, put a finger under her chin and lifted her head so her eyes locked on his. “I am not going anywhere.”
He watched her eyes widen and disbelief flit across her face.
Ethan got up slowly and moved around the table, slipping in the seat beside her and looked into her eyes again his nose almost touching hers.
“I am not going anywhere,” he repeated and placed a kiss on her forehead.
He felt her shudder of relief as it rushed through her as he held her.
“What happened after they found out?”
“My parents helped me tell the police. He was locked up for assault and r**e of a minor. I had counselling to help deal with it, but the fears still there that I’m damaged and not worth the time."
"That's ridiculous. You're worth all the time in the world." He rubbed her back gently. "What makes you think that?"
"The last time I told someone I was in college. I thought he cared for me but when I told him I wasn’t ready to sleep with him he got mad. I told him what happened to me. I hoped he would understand. I was wrong. He dumped me because he couldn’t deal with it. When Tina found out she went mad and punched him in the nose.”
“She may be a pixie, but I can so picture her doing that,” Ethan said with a soft chuckle.
“Pixie?” Serena asked turning her head to look up at him.
“Yeah, can’t you see Tina with pointy ears and fairy wings?” He grinned as he looked down at her.
She thought on it before laughing softly and nodding. “I see what you mean. I’ll have to tell her that one. She’ll hate it.”
“I understand now why you were so upset on that trip and after all that stuff with Chloe,” Ethan said gently, caressing her cheek. “I’m glad you told me. Although you have no idea how glad I am that i***t in college left and hurt you.” He saw the flash of hurt in her eyes at his words, so he smiled and added. “If he’d have stuck around – we might not have met.”
Her eyes softened and she leaned her head into his chest. They sat there quietly, while Ethan held her close. He didn’t want to let her go. He loved the feel of her tucked into his side. There was no doubt about it he would be taking her out again. He only moved when the waiter approached with their food. He moved around to his side of the table and was glad to see she was smiling again.
The rest of the evening they talked about anything and everything. He learnt her favourite colour was yellow, her favourite flowers were lilies. Her birthday was August twentieth, a week after his own. She wanted to go to Italy, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Australia and Thailand. He’d found a travel bug.
He told her more of his past; fishing with his dad, camping with his friends and his love of cooking. He told her all about his German Shepherd, Monster, who was a rescue pup. He explained how after his dad died, he had been in a dark place until he found Monster left in a box outside the station. He’d been attacked by a bigger dog which left a scar down his nose. He adopted him straight away.
She had been amused when he talked about the mischief he had gotten into as a child. The tricks he used to do in the park on his bike, the secret hideouts he would use when he’d sneak out without telling his parents.
He looked up when someone cleared their throat. It was the waiter.
“We are looking to close up soon.” He placed the bill on the table with a couple of fortune cookies on top and walked away.
As he glanced around, he noticed the place had emptied and they were the only ones left apart from the staff.
“We’ve been here nearly four hours. I didn’t even realise it was so late.” He said after he checked the time.
Serena gasped and then they both laughed.
They stood up together and Ethan left some notes to cover the bill and tip. He took the cookies and her hand, tucking it into his arm as they left the building.
“Here.” He held a handout for her to take one of the fortune cookies.
“Oh, I love these.” She picked one and cracked it open; a small piece of paper fell into her waiting hand. “Oh, it’s a nice one ‘A lifetime of happiness lies ahead of you.’ I hope that’s true.”
“I like the sound of that one. I hope I’m part of making that one come true.” He smiled when she looked at him in shock, the blush he enjoyed so much spread across her cheeks.
“Me too…” She said shyly and then cleared her throat. “What about you?”
He cracked open his cookie and read aloud. “It says, ‘Change is happening in your life, hold on tight.’ I’m keeping this one. I like it.” He pocketed the piece of paper and unlocked his car door to get Serena home.
It didn’t take long for him to get her there. He helped her out of the car again and walked her up to the door, holding her hand the whole way.
When she turned to face him, he smiled down at her, his eyes searched her face. “I had a really good time tonight Ethan.”
"Me too."
"And I'm glad I told you about what happened to me and that you didn't freak out. That meant a lot to me."
“I'm glad you told me.” Ethan brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and lifted her chin up a little. “I don't normally do this on a first date, but I would really, really like to kiss you goodnight. Would that be okay?”
He noticed the catch in her breathing and then she nodded.
He closed the distance and kissed her gently. Her lips were just as soft as he imagined, they were delicate like velvet and she tasted of strawberries and vanilla. His hand caressed her cheek and along her jawline. He pulled her closer when her arms went around his neck, one hand sliding down to the small of her back.
When she sighed and her mouth parted a little, he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth and dancing slowly with hers. If this was a cartoon, he would imagine fireworks would be going off all around them, stars sparkling and shooting into the sky around them. But it wasn't a cartoon and that didn't happen, but he felt all of that happen deep inside him.
He pulled away and pressed his forehead against hers.
“Can I take you out again?” he pleaded.
“Yes,” she replied breathlessly.
“When are you free?”
“Monday.”
“Perfect. I’ll pick you up about five.”
He kissed her one more time, lingering a little before pulling away completely and stepping back slightly.
He watched her unlock and go inside before heading back to his car. He watched her wave from the window and smiled, driving off home.
If she was the change the fortune cookie was talking about then he would hold on tight and he’d never let, go.
***
He sneered as he watched her date leave and the lights went out upstairs.
He made his way around the back and picked the lock.
He slipped into the kitchen and scanned the room.
He purposefully moved a few items around, knowing she might notice.
He smirked and made his way through the house.
He paused at the wall filled with photographs.
He remembered the conversation he overheard.
He knew something about her past scared her still.
He needed to find out what it was.
***
- Writer
