The one man I can't have

Ethan Bennett

“You have no idea how much your life is about to change,

I had no idea what Lily meant by that, it was the last thing she said before leaving.

Nighttime came so fast and I barely felt hungry because the events that happened during the day, left me with no appetite.

I couldn't sleep,

I spent the entire night staring at the ceiling and wondering how my life had managed to crumble in less than twenty-four hours.

Every time I closed my eyes, something new came back to haunt me.

It was either the call from Derek, or the email about the apartment or my terminated contract.

For a moment I missed mum, only if she was alive ,she would make me my favorite soup and rub my head and tell me everything would be okay but it seems it was just me now.

By morning, I was running entirely on caffeine and sugar ,

The strongest combination known to mankind, unforunately, neither could save me from Lily Bennett.

She arrived at eight sharp, like she had an early appointment with me and one good look at her could tell you she was on a mission.

“Are you ready,miss?

Lily asked with a wide smile on her face as she stormed into my apartment

"No and I'm not even sure about this Lily , I replied folding my hands because I was feeling hesitant

"Perfect.", she said and immediately grabbed one of my boxes ,completely ignoring the stern look I was giving her, and made her way to the staircase heading downstairs.

I couldn't even get mad because it was our old friendship tradition of helping each other even if one of us wasn't really ready, Lily started it and I had no choice

Three hours later, most of my belongings were packed into the back of her SUV, she moved them faster than any moving company.

I stood in the middle of my apartment, it looked different now.,It was Smaller, and emptier

For a moment, a lump formed in my throat, this place wasn't really much but it has been mine and was my first real apartment, my first real independence,but right now it was just another thing I was losing.

“I'll miss this place, I said heading for the door closing it behind me and made my way to the stairs.

I was finally downstairs and Lily noticed I was looking moody

"You okay friend?she asked

"Yes, I replied and laughed despite the sad feeling on my chest.

Lily made her way to the driver's seat on the suv and I climbed into the passenger seat.

The drive across the city felt quiet, at least on my side.

But Lily spent most of it talking, you couldn't hang out with Lily and she won't have anything to say.

She spoke about her internship and how terrible the hospital coffee was and then about a resident she wanted to throw through a window.

I appreciated the fact she was trying to get my mind off the bad things I had experienced in the last 24 hours, but my mind was elsewhere.

I was wondering how awkward this living arrangement was about to become.

I had met Lily's family before,just never like this, never like carrying my entire life in cardboard boxes and depending on their kindness. The benett’s were nice people but the thought of moving in with them made my stomach twist.

Twenty minutes later, the city began changing.

The buildings grew larger, the neighborhoods were more quiet.

The more we moved the more expensive the houses looked.

Then the gate of the Bennett mansion appeared,

I sat up straight

"Oh."

Lily smirked,

And the gates slowly opened,

suddenly I remembered exactly how rich the Bennetts were.

The driveway seemed to go on forever, it was a perfect landscaping with perfect gardens , everything seemed so perfect.

Meanwhile I currently owned thirty-seven dollars and a loyalty card for free coffee.

Life was really funny

The mansion finally came into view, it made my jaw drop,I had seen it before years ago as a child but as an adult it was truly impressive and looked even bigger now.

"You're staring girl, Lily finally cut in

"I'm judging, not staring I replied

"You love it, she said again,

"I absolutely do, I said before we both laughed it off

The car rolled to a stop and for some seconds, I didn't move.

My new reality stood in front of me, it was huge and elegant and it was my new home and for some reason,I wasn't entirely convinced.

"Come on , Lily said and climbed out of the suv

and I followed her.

The front doors opened before we reached them, and the housekeeper stepped outside with a warm smile.

"Welcome back, Miss Bennett."

"Thanks, Maria."

Lily pointed at me,

"This is Ava."and she'll be staying with us like I told you yesterday and please get her stuffs from the car.

Maria's smile widened immediately.

"Welcome, miss

The kindness almost made me emotional which was embarrassing for me ,so I quickly looked away.

We stepped inside the house and the interior, it looked exactly how rich people homes looked in movies, and it looked different from the last time I was here.

The mansion had tall ceilings, crystal chandeliers and Marble floors., the complete opposite of my apartment

Everything looked expensive enough to make me afraid of touching it.

I carefully set my bag down and Lily disappeared upstairs.

"Stay here," she said ,

“ I'll be right back , I need to grab something."

Before I could ask what, she vanished, leaving me all alone

I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked around, the house felt quiet, and now I understood why Lily said it needed more people in it.

Sunlight streamed through the massive windows and dust floated lazily through the air.

Everything seemed so peaceful,

Until I heard footsteps echoing from somewhere deeper inside the house, it was slow and steady.

I turned immediately and the sound grew closer.

Then a figure appeared at the end of the hallway,

He was tall with broad shoulders and a dark suit,

He had a phone pressed to one ear and was speaking quietly.

He was too far away for me to even hear the words.

But there was something about him,something that immediately commanded attention.

The man stopped walking and lifted his gaze which landed directly on me.

It felt like everything else disappeared, including the hallway and the house . My legs felt like they were melting and neither of us moved.

Then he lowered the phone, but was still watching me and my heart did something odd and it was annoying and completely unnecessary.

Suddenly I became aware that I was wearing old jeans and a wrinkled T-shirt.,what a wonderful time for self-consciousness.

The man at the end of the hallway walked towards me and his gaze moved from me to my luggage and then back to me again, it felt like he was recognizing me but in a controlled way and he looked hot while doing it

"You must be Ava.", he finally spoke as he approached me and his voice was deeper than I expected. It was calm and confident and dangerously so smooth.

I swallowed.

"Uh... yes."

He lifted a corner of his mouth like he was about to smile,

"I'm Ethan Bennett."

My brain stopped working, how could a man in his forties, look this good. His chest looked ripped like he was a gym bro and and the suit did no justice to his figure. I was drooling and not just for any man , for Lily's father,my best friend's father!

The recently divorced father Lily rarely talked about and I had only seen this man years ago from a distance, I only knew Lily's mom Mrs Anna she always spoke nicely to me but I barely knew Ethan and he had no right looking this good.

I remember in high school when we were playing smash or pass and Lily almost broke the nose of one of the girls who said she'll smash Lily's dad and right now I didn't blame the girl.

There was a little bit of silence and none of us seemed in a hurry to break it.

Then a door slammed from upstairs,and the sound snapped the silence.

Ethan glanced toward the staircase and back to me, and he made an expression which was unreadable before he spoke,

"Welcome to the Bennett house, Ava."

The way he said my name sent an unexpected shiver down my spine, and judging by the slight narrowing of his eyes, he noticed.

Then Lily's voice echoed from upstairs.

"Ava!"

I turned towards the stairs immediately and I was really grateful for the interruption.

When I looked back again,

Ethan was still standing there and staring at

me for reasons I couldn't explain. It made my pulse jump all over the place before Lily spoke again, this time she was coming down the stairs.

“Daddy you're back?