Page 33 of Lovestrung

She laughed and shook her head. “That’s a crazy idea, but I love it.”

I grinned at her and took another sip of wine.

“I know.”

It was crazy but it was perfect.

As the hours passed, I made sure to collect as many memories as I could. I took photos of my family, we laughed, danced and probably drank too much, but it was perfect.

Mama and Dad were the least to leave. Well, almost.

Ethan was staying the night again. Since my parents now lived in Richmond, and he was based in Blacksburg for the time being, no one would be able to drive him home. When they’d first told me about my going away party, I’d been quick to text him and to offer him a bed for the night just like he’d had before. I wanted to show him that I was determined to keep him as my friend, and that I was willing to work for it.

I doubted my subconscious had already gotten the wild idea that had popped into my head a few hours ago, but as it turned out, it couldn’t be better. What I was about to do would either end up yet another embarrassing moment in my life – or the best I’d ever experienced.

Nervous, I went to knock on his door after I’d made sure Gramps was settled for the night. I wasn’t drunk, but there was no denying the fact that I was tipsy.

Still, I knew what I was doing.

My blood buzzed in my veins when it wasn’t the door to his bedroom that opened at my knock. Instead, it was the one to the bathroom, and my lips parted at my second look at Ethan half naked in my house.

Shit.

My memory hadn’t done him any justice at all. Drops of water clung to his smooth chest again, making me feel parched, dying to lick them off and soothe my parched throat, but I wasn’t that drunk that I had the guts to actually go ahead and do it.

Oh, but how I wished I was.

“Pippa?” he asked, a light frown on his forehead.

This was it.

“Do you have a minute?” I waved my hand at his bedroom door. “It won’t take long.”

“Sure.” He grinned at me. “But can I at least put on some clothes first?”

I rolled my eyes and stepped away from his room.

“Fine,” I sighed. “Let me know when it’s safe to come inside.”

“Just give me a minute.” Quickly, he shuffled through the door and shut it behind him.

As I leaned against the wall, my heart started to pound against my ribs. I refused to listen to my head screaming at me to not even attempt this, and focused on my heartbeat instead.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I counted twenty before the door opened again.

“It’s safe,” Ethan smiled at me as he stepped back to let me inside. He’d put on faded black jeans and a white T-shirt – his feet were bare – and his damp hair was pushed away from his face.

“Thanks.”

“What do you want to talk about?” he asked and shut the door behind me. “Still having doubts about your trip?”

I shook my head and turned around when I’d reached the end of his bed. The only light in the room came from the outdated lamp on the bedside. The softness of the low glow made me feel braver than I was.

“No. You were right about what you said earlier.” I smiled softly. “I need to go. I have to follow my dream.”

He put his hands in his back pockets as he came closer and I lost my train of thought as I zeroed in on the way his biceps flexed slightly.