Page 50 of Enchanted

“I have a lot of friends.” I put my hands in my pockets to keep from touching him. “And I’d like to count you as one of them. If that’s something you’d be okay with.”

Ethan shifted on the spot. “What would that involve?”

My heart cracked a little. Just how long had it been since Ethan had experienced something as simple as true friendship? He’d had it once upon a time. That was what the photo of him, Lucky, Riley and Matty suggested, anyway. How had they let Ethan slip out of their lives?

I tilted to nudge my elbow against his shoulder. “I’m thinking some hangouts that don’t involve either of us working. We can hit a bar, an escape room, theatre, anything really. Or just chill here. Whatever you fancy.”

A slow breath rattled from Ethan’s lungs. “That sounds…fucking awesome. All of it.”

“Good.” I grinned broadly. “Can friendship also involve hugging? Because you look like you could use one.”

Being an angel, I’d never felt fire in my veins. But when Ethan’s head fell back and he laughed loudly, I knew what it must feel like. The sound rearranged everything I held dear until this man was at the centre.

“Sure.” He was still chuckling. “A hug would be great. No inappropriate touching though.”

“Boo.” I pouted. “Spoil my fun, why don’t you.”

Ethan stepped into my open arms and I slowly closed them around him. “I’m guessing friendship comes with a side of flirty banter.”

“It doesn’t have to,” I said, drawing him nearer. “I can behave.”

Ethan’s arms wrapped around my middle, his hands settling on either side of my spine. “No, you can’t. But it’s okay. I like you just as you are.”

I like you just as you are.

How was it possible to feel pure joy and pure anguish in the same moment?

My eyes drifted closed as his head rested against my chest. He was tucked under my chin, fitting in my arms like he’d been designed to.

Because he was.

“You’re right,” he murmured, leaning further into my embrace. “I really needed this.”

“I think I needed it too,” I rumbled, my thumbs stroking his sides. “Did you know, you need to have four hugs a day just to survive?”

“Really?”

“Apparently.” I hadn’t loosened my hold yet. I couldn’t bring myself to. Ethan didn’t appear to want to move either. “Then I think it’s eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth.”

“Well, fuck. There’s no hope for me. I must be at minus a thousand at this point.”

Another emotion decided to join the little party I had going on. Fury—one I was well familiar with. I wanted to find this Dave and wring his sodding neck for neglecting Ethan the way he had. “Guess I’ll just have to up your quota.”

“Guess you will,” Ethan said before pulling out of my arms. The sigh he gave as he did so went a little way to easing the loss. He didn’t want to leave my arms any more than I wanted to let him. “But I suppose we need to switch back to work mode now before Sam fires me.”

Hilarious. He could present Sam with stick version drawings of me and he’d still have a job. “Yeah. This chest isn’t going to oil itself.”

There was that laugh again. The one that gave me hope. Purpose. “I think you’ll find that’s exactly what’s going to happen, mister. There’ll be no oiling from me.”

“Maybe one day.” I nudged him with my elbow again. “Until then, I’ll just stare mournfully at you while slowly massaging it into my skin.”

He didn’t laugh that time. Instead, his eyes lingered on my chest as his cheeks heated.

“Ethan?”

He jolted, carding a hand through his hair. “Sorry, my mind wandered.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. I shouldn’t be encouraging Ethan’s attraction, not when he was with someone else. I couldn’t discourage it though. The odds of this man ever being mine were slim, but they weren’t none.