Second String (In Too Deep #3) (18 page)

Chapter 23

Emily

I didn't know what to feel, let alone think or say when Ethan text me and told me he was having my car fixed. Something inside snapped, and I knew right then and there I had to make some changes.

I had to break up with Jeremy. (Not that I had to do it in order to be with Ethan, because that would likely not work out for a whole different set of reasons.) But, something about a guy who's not your boyfriend helping you have your car fixed makes you wonder about your real boyfriend and whether or not things are going to work out between you. Plus, Jeremy wasn't really nice to Sal, and that should have been a red flag from the beginning. It crossed my mind that my parents would be disappointed when they learned I broke up with Jeremy. I chose not to let that guilt influence me.

Ethan followed up his car repair announcement with an invitation for a date on Saturday.
I was feeling just crazy enough to not only accept, but to also lead him to believe I was open to messing around. Regardless of whether or not our relationship was destined for failure, messing around with Ethan was quickly becoming my new favorite hobby. His body knew the right things to do to make my body feel good, and I was counting down the minutes till Saturday when I knew I'd be feeling like that again.

Ethan's car text came on Tuesday afternoon, and I was planning on breaking up with Jeremy over
FaceTime later that night. We had plans to talk at ten o'clock, and I called at ten on the dot. I held my iPhone at arm's length so he could see my face. I hated to do this over video chat, but I figured it was better than sending a text. That would have been so much easier, but I'd feel bad about doing it that way. 

"Hey baby
," he said, as the connection registered and our faces appeared on each other's screen. I bit the inside of my lip nervously at the sound of the pet name. This was already going to be hard. I told myself to just go ahead and do it before he had the chance to get sweet on me.

" Hey J," I said.
"We need to talk."

"
Jesus, babe, please tell me you're not getting all dramatic about the distance. I told you it's only for a little while."

The image of him was slightly jerky since his
internet connection was a little dicey.

"I'm not getting dramatic, Jeremy. I just don't think things are going to work out between us."

Jeremy laughed as if to say I must surely be joking since everything was
obviously
working out. "What's wrong, babe, you missing me? I thought you were looking for a plane ticket. That'll give us some time together."

"It's not that, Jeremy."

"Well what the hell is it, then Em? You seriously breaking up with me right now?" He paused, but I was silent so he continued, "We've been together all our lives, you and me."

I could tell he was staring at my face on the screen, and it made me feel a wave of sadness. To think I'd spent the better part of my life obsessing over this guy, and now here I was, sitting in
the living room, ending our relationship over video chat.
Me
ending things with
Jeremy
… go figure.

"I don’t want you to quit the Lakers, but if you feel like we need to see more of each other, we can
change that. I can pitch in on plane tickets… or better yet, I can just help you get your car done. Then you can just drive down here whenever you want." He was smiling as if he had no doubt I'd be on board with that plan, like it was the best plan ever. The screen kept freezing, fixed on his big grin.

"J, it isn't about us not spending enough time together. I just think we've both changed a lot over the years, and—"

Jeremy's grin faded, and I trailed off, figuring he got the idea. Breaking up with Jeremy was almost impossible. I stared at hi
s handsome face on the screen… the face I'd fantasized about for so many years. It felt entirely unnatural to be ending things with him. The only thing that convinced me I was doing the right thing was that the thought of not being with Ethan felt even more unnatural. Jeremy's face was a twisted mask of sadness, my stomach was in knots, and I so desperately wanted to say, "I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. Never mind about what I just said."

I glanced at the little silver figurine of a swimmer on his starting block
that was siting near a lamp on my nightstand. I had to do it. Being with Ethan in whatever capacity he'd have me was worth this dreaded task of ending things with Jeremy.

"So you're breaking up with me?" Jeremy asked.
His expression changed to one of disbelief and anger.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What do you mean,
you guess so
? Yes or no."

"Yes."

"Bye Emily."

He reached toward the camera, and a split second later, there was only black where his face had been.
My eyes widened, and I gasped a little at the way he'd ended the call. My heart felt like it fell out of my chest and hit the floor. Not just because I broke up with the love of my life (or so I thought), but also because I was sad he was so angry with me. I hated confrontation, and having someone mad at me hurt. I had to remind myself that it was a break up, and I knew going in that things would get ugly.

****

It had been three days since I broke up with Jeremy, and I had no regrets whatsoever. The mechanics Ethan hired did an amazing job on my car and it was so much easier to drive. Hallelujah, I could finally go more than forty miles an hour. I seriously had a new lease on life with that car being fixed. It felt so good.

I had been in to
uch with Ethan a little bit that week, mostly to give him updates on the progress of my car and tell him how much I appreciated it when it was all done. I didn't tell him I broke up with Jeremy. I didn't want him to think I did it just for him. Guys like Ethan feel trapped easily, and I knew he would get antsy if he thought I needed something more serious.

I thought it would never get here, but it was finally Saturday, and
Ethan said he'd be pulling into town at around 4PM. He told me he wanted to hang out at my place for a while before we went anywhere. I'd seen Gretchen earlier in the day, and she said she and Joel would be around, and that we should come by their place on the way out to have a drink. I text Ethan to run the idea past him and he said it sounded fun.

He told me
to wear something I wouldn't mind being the center of attention in, but something I was comfortable enough to dance in. I ended up putting on a fitted khaki jumpsuit. It came across a little sexy and dressy, but it was also really comfortable, and I'd have no trouble dancing in it. I put on jewelry and accessories and just enough makeup to make me not feel like a baggy eyed, grease-ball. Ethan pulled into the driveway at a quarter to four—on a freaking motorcycle! The name brand on it read Triumph. It had a vintage feel to it, but I could tell it was a new bike. It was the coolest looking thing I'd ever seen. I absolutely couldn't wait to get on it and go for a ride. I was standing only a few feet from him by the time he'd taken his helmet off, and my stomach did a flip at the sight of his bright smile.

"Were you waiting outside or what?" he asked.

That smile, good Lord.
I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as a result of looking at it.

"Maybe I was. So what?
" I asked, shrugging.

"I like that little outfit, baby girl," he said
. He crooked his finger and I obeyed, moving close enough to him for him to bend over and put a kiss on my cheek. He smiled at me before going back to the task of parking his bike. He put down the kickstand, and hung the helmet from the handlebar. "I didn't know how you'd feel about riding on the back, so figured we could take your car if you didn't like the idea."

"I already told you every girl dreams about being picked up on a bike," I said.

He bowed as if to imply making dreams come true was all in a day's work.

"Where
are you taking me?" I asked.

"
Dancing," he said, "but not until later." He put his arm around my waist as we started walking to my place. "We can hang at Gretchen and Joel's for a little while, but I have reservations for dinner at seven." He was being a little tentative with how he touched me, and I remembered he didn't know I wasn't with Jeremy. I didn't know when I'd tell him that piece of information… I wasn't trying to hide it from him necessarily, but up until then I didn't feel like I had a good opportunity.

"Reservations? That sounds fancy. Are you sure this is okay?" I looked down at my jumpsuit.

"It's perfect," he said, without hesitation. "You look amazing." He opened a small compartment on the motorcycle, from which he took his wallet and a big green toothbrush bone. "Where's my boy?" he asked. 

"I made him wait in the house," I sai
d. "He was being a spaz earlier." 

"
I know better. Sal's never a spaz," he said. "You were probably just so excited to see me that you forgot to bring him out here."

That wa
s
exactly
what happened. I was so nervous and excited to see Ethan tonight that I was literally shaking. My hands always got a little bit of the shakes when I was in Ethan's presence, but usually I could hide it. Tonight, however, I was shaking especially bad. I was looking forward to having a drink at Gretchen's… I thought that might calm my nerves a little. "You totally caught me, I just forgot to bring him outside," I said. "But what makes you think it's because I'm so excited to see you?"

"Your little wings are shaking,
" he said, reaching out to brush the backside of one of my hands. I pushed at him for calling me out, but deep down I really didn't care. I
was
so excited to see him. 

"Well you're right about both things. I'm excited to see you, and I'm a terrible dog owner."

"I wouldn't say
terrible
," he said. "Maybe just negligent… or better yet, distractible."

We
were laughing as we walked into my little guesthouse. Ethan greeted Sal and gave him the treat that was now a tradition. We hung out there for a few minutes before walking over to Joel and Gretchen's for a drink.

Gretchen
made sure to remind me to bring Sal. She said he could stay in the main house with them while Ethan and I went out. I assured her he didn't need a babysitter, and that he'd be fine in his kennel, but she insisted, saying she and Joel were just hanging out tonight and would love to have him around for the evening. I told her to leave the kitchen door open, and I'd come by and sneak Sal out when we got back.

We left, headed for some dinner and dancing. Sal was up to his elbows in belly-rubs
with Joel and Gretchen, and I was totally stoked to do some dancing with Ethan. Now that my vision wasn't being clouded by the thought of Jeremy, I realized how much I really wanted Ethan. I knew the feeling would only intensify as the evening went on.

Nothing did it for me like a guy who could dance, and Ethan could
freaking bloody-well move on the dance floor. I knew this because he danced to a whole flipping song one time while I did nothing but sit there and watch. That was something I'd pay good money to see again. I had no idea what kind of dancing he was taking me to do, but I was sure he'd be good at it. You could just tell when someone knew how to move their body, and Ethan was one of those people.

We had dinner at a wonderful little funky restaurant where every dish was made with care using fresh, quality ingredients. It was tiny, and totally packed, hence the need for a reservation.
After dinner, Ethan brought me to a gelato place that Collin and Rachel always talked about. Neither of us had ever been, but it totally lived up to the hype. The owner made new flavors everyday, based on his mood, and there were some refreshingly weird ones to choose from. We traded bites, just like a real couple would do. 

The evening only got better as the hours went by. He brought me to a swing dance with a live ja
zz band, and a room full of people, most dressed to fit the part. Something about dancing makes you laugh, and we did so much of that my face hurt. The music and the atmosphere were both amazing. We danced until we were sweaty. The sun had set during the time we'd been in the dance hall, and we remarked on it as we walked to his bike.

We killed some time with a
smoothie and a ride up the coast before we went to one of the biggest clubs in L.A., a place called The Yard. I was using one of my friend's driver's licenses to get in since I'd only recently turned twenty. Ethan quizzed me on her birthday and other things the bouncer might ask while we were eating gelato earlier, and I knew the card like the back of my hand.

The bouncer turned out to be a Lakers fan, and
was in a good enough mood to take me at my word when I said I worked for them. He barely even glanced at the driver's license when I held it out for his inspection. It helped that Ethan was tall and striking like a basketball player. We looked like we could have just stepped off the court together.

Ethan and I danced
in that club for two hours straight, only stopping a few times… once to use the restroom and twice to take a drink of water. He was such a good dancer, and the pulse of the music combined with his hard body rubbing up against mine, had me all worked up long before we left for home.