Page 119 of Run
I turn and look at him. “Yeah?”
He points at my bed. “What is that?”
I turn and see he’s pointing at the packet of birth control laying on my comforter. “Oh! Thank God you saw that. That’s what I came back here to get.” I scoop it up and put it in the bag.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Ethan darts out and grips my arm. “You’re on the pill?”
“Yeah.” I hike my shoulders and nod. “I know most women opt for the IUD these days but that creeps me out.”
“You’re on birth control?”
“Um, yes?”
“You’re on birth control!”
I look to either side and then back at him, and nod slowly. “What’s with the yelling?”
“Why the hell have I been wearing condoms?” he shrieks, not in anger, but as if he’s completely baffled. “If you’re on the pill we should be raw doggin’ it. Goin’ bareback.”
“Ugh!” I throw my hands in the air. “What is it with men? It’s like you’re all cavemen. And by the way, that is so vulgar.”
“Yes!” Ethan asserts, hands on his hips. “I wish to be vulgar with you. Right freaking now. Let’s go!” He starts to unzip his jacket and make like he’s going to kick his shoes off.
“Alright, alright!” I stop him mid-zip. “I get the point. Enough of the drama.”
Ethan steps up to me. “Seriously, Ari, what gives?”
“Honestly?”
“Honesty would be nice.”
I slide my tongue along the front of my teeth behind my lips, looking to the side. “Sean never wore protection. He made sure I was on the pill, but he was never careful. And neither were, you know, his friends. I got chlamydia more than once. I know I’m free and clear of anything now because after the accident they ran blood tests for everything. But it never felt right to be with you without protection in case there was a risk … for you.”
Ethan bends his knees and dips down until he’s eye level with me. “First, do you have any idea what it feels like to hear you say you’re protecting me? Because it does something, right here.” He waves a hand over his chest. “And it’s a weird feeling. I like it, but I’m not used to it.”
I roll my eyes.
“Second, you’re not the only one who’s ever had an STD.”
He stares at me as I let that sink in. “You mean you …”
“Yep. That cheating bitch gave me syphilis. It was freaking magical, let me tell you.”
I laugh, and he reaches out and gives my hand a squeeze. “OK, well, that does make me feel a little better.”
“Good.”
I nod. “Actually, it makes me feel a lot better, to know you’re just as dirty as I am.”
“Filthy, actually.”
“OK, great. Well, in that case, let’s go back to your house and have some disease-infested, dirty sex.”
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Ethan cheers as he smacks my ass and takes my bag from me.
As he leads me out of the apartment, Ethan pipes up again. “Oh, and third, I’m gonna murder that piece of shit Sean if I ever see him.”
“He’s in jail,” I blurt out. “Or at least, that’s what Fonz overheard through the rumor mill. Some drug-related offense.”
