Save Me

Nine - Ethan

I returned to my room, my mind racing, Thea was hurting and by the sounds of it, she had been for some time. And where had I been? I was hiding away in New York like the Coward that I am. I ran from my feelings, thinking that it would solve all my problems, that I could protect her from the mess that is Ethan, and somehow, in the process, she ended up getting hurt. And maybe that had something to do with me, maybe it didn't. Maybe the world is just that f****d up that a sweet and innocent girl like Thea got hurt just because. I'm not sure my presence here could have helped, could have prevented whatever had Thea hurting like this, but at least I would have been present. At least I would have been in her life. But I wasn't. Well, f**k this s**t. I'm not f*****g hiding anymore. I'm going to win her trust back. Flint could suck lemons for all I f*****g care. And with that, I got up and showered for the day, before heading down for breakfast.

I took my place at the breakfast bench with a plate full of waffles and syrup, 

"Thanks, Mrs. James, this looks amazing." I smiled over at her. 

"Ethan, really." She raised a quizzical eyebrow at me as she sipped her coffee.

"Sorry, Mom," I smirked. Although I liked calling her Mom I always felt like I was overstepping. I mean yeah the woman literally raised me, and it was her choice to do so, but deep down I knew I wasn't good enough for this family. And yet here they all were, arms wide open. A stream of laughter interrupted my train of thought as the love bubble that was Flint and Isla burst into the Kitchen. "Morning Love Birds" I smirked again as they too filled their plates with food.

"Morning Sour Face." Flint retorted as he took his seat opposite me, with Isla sliding in next to him. 

"Sour Face?" I raised my eyebrow. 

"Yeah, just you wait. When you stop fooling around and find yourself head over heels for a girl, you'll be just a love-struck as I am. And no, I'm not too proud to admit that." He giggled as he draped his arm over Isla's shoulder, who suddenly went bright pink. I almost choked on the waffle I had been chewing. 

"I don't fool around Flint. I just haven't committed to anyone." I defended myself.

"Exactly bro! You have never once committed yourself to one girl. They have all been a means to an end."

"Flint there is nothing wrong with waiting to commit to someone. Especially if you know that you are not ready to commit just yet. Sometimes waiting is the right choice to make." Mom stepped in as she placed a large jug of juice on the breakfast table, giving me that reassuring smile of hers.

DAMN Mom. Sometimes I forget just how much she sees right through me. Even if she doesn't always make it obvious. I do love that woman. 

"Good Morning you wonderful people!" Thea's voice boomed across the kitchen as she glided to the Kitchen Island. All my thoughts turned to mush as I registered her standing there with her back to me as she grabbed at everything on the Island. Her tanned legs look too long for her short stature, That's when I realized that her ass was incased in these super tight denim hot pants that hugged at her peached shape behind. The twitching in my jeans had reality crashing back down around me. Fast. f**k Ethan. My gaze quickly reverted to my breakfast before I put my foot in it. Or my d**k. f**k! Ethan just f*****g stop! I felt the warmth of her body next to mine as she slides into the seat next to mine. STOP. Ethan just f*****g stop. Calm the f**k down. We ain't doing this. We ain't f*****g doing this. Breath. Just breath.

"Ew, Flint, Just Ew." Thea squirmed.

"Oh so you can flaunt your active s*x life in my face, but I can't do the same to you. Hypocrite." Flint retorted. 

For f**k sake Ethan. Did you have to zone in for this conversation?

"Actually Big Brother, I never actually said a thing about my s*x life. You drew your own conclusions, I simply neither confirmed nor denied your accusation..." 

To be fair she has a f*****g point. She never actually said anything. It was Flint and I's imagination that did all the accusing. 

"... because quite frankly, who I may or may not share a bed with, is none of your business."

DAMN, why did she have to say that. Now all I can see is her wrapped up in some random guy's arms. f**k!

"So Ethan..." my heart falters when she says my name. "...surely you are not too busy to hang out with your Little Ray of Sunshine?" Damn, those eyes. "Or do I need to go and see if Brody is free to entertain me?" f**k ME. It takes everything in me not to knock her phone out of her hand as she scrolls through for his number. Then I'd be screwed. 

"Actually, your mother has a shopping list of essentials for game day, that we need you to grab for us." Mr. James cuts in, saving my f*****g bacon. "Don't look at me like that Thea, you two can still go watch a movie or whatever you like, just as long as you bring these groceries home with you... No excuses. Your mother and I are too busy to go ourselves so this needs to be done. Understood?" 

"Yes, Daddy" grumbled Thea defeatedly.

"Not a problem Sir," I replied, elated to have a reason to spend the day with her, without it seeming weird. 

"Have fun guys!" Flint shouted as he and Isla left the house. 

Mr. and Mrs. James were deep in conversation behind the Kitchen Island and without thinking I placed my hand on her bare thigh, this firework-like sensation spreading through every inch of my hand where it met her leg. 

"Put your phone away Sunshine, Ill be your entertainment for the day," I whispered in this low silky smooth voice.

FUCK.