Page 99 of Run
He lunges at Fonz, who tries to pull away but is no match for Ethan’s brute strength, and Ethan tackles him on the couch, putting him in a headlock and kissing his forehead and cheeks.
“Oh, come on, man!” Fonz shrieks. “Just because I like dudes doesn’t mean I like you. You’re all sweaty and stinky right now!”
I curl over in laughter as two of my most favorite people in the world have a moment. I watch as Ethan crawls off and Fonzwipes away spit from his face, and something crosses my mind. “Wait, does Sophie know?”
Fonz’s hands fly up as if he’s declaring his innocence. “OK, she asked me point-blank like the third time we ever met.”
“What?! All this time she’s known?”
“Don’t be mad at her. You know Soph—she would never tell someone else’s secret.”
I shake my head. “I’m not mad. The opposite, actually. I’m glad you had someone to confide in. And you’re right, she’s a good friend. I should have figured she would just come right out and ask you.”
Ethan stretches back against the couch, propping his feet up on the coffee table once more and slinging an arm around my back. “So, are you and Matt athing, or just messing around?”
“What?” Fonz shrieks. “How do you know?”
“Wait?” I sit up. “The bartender?”
“I told you.” Ethan says from beside me. “Pay up, Red.” I turn toward him and glare.
“You placed bets?” Fonz asks from my other side.
I swivel my head back in his direction and shrug sympathetically. “Ethan said he knew you two were into each other and I said he was reading too much into it, and then we put twenty bucks on it.”
Fonz stands. “You guys are terrible friends.”
Ethan turns on me and pokes his finger into my ribs. “Did you not hear me, woman? I said it’s time to pay up.”
“Clearly I don’t have my wallet.”
“I take other forms of payment.” He sneaks a hand up my neck and pulls my face toward his.
“Please, no boning on the couch!” Fonz yells as he leaves the living room and heads down the hallway. “I’d still like to be able to watch TV out there without thinking of your sex juices on it.”
Ignoring him, Ethan kisses me sweetly, then rubs his thumb over my lips where his just were. “You do need a break. I was a bit greedy last night, wasn’t I?”
“You think?” I widen my eyes at him in mock horror, and he looks almost bashful.
“Sorry.” He winces. “How do you feel this morning?”
“I feel …” I look off into the distance as I try to think about my answer. Then I bring my eyes back to his. “Happy. I feel happy.”
Ethan’s head pulls back the tiniest bit and he smashes his lips together, but I can see the sides trying to curl up. “You do?” I force my own lips together to try to stop from smiling as I nod. “And just to be clear, that’s because of me, right?”
“No, it’s because of your giant penis.”
Ethan laughs as he shuffles around until he’s resting his head on my lap, facing me. I scrape my fingernails over his buzzed hair and scalp, and his eyes roll. Tipping my head back and closing my eyes, I almost drift off when I hear keys and footsteps. “Oh, you guys are just gross now.” Fonz declares before he heads out of the house. “This is going to get old real fast.”
The door slams with force.
Oh, I certainly hope not.
CHAPTER 33
ETHAN
Ipull in the driveway of my mom’s house, behind her car. She lives just outside the city but close enough that the houses are all packed pretty tightly together. It’s not exactly city living, but it ain’t the suburbs, either.
