Fall From Grace(51)

I gave him a disgusted look.

“Don’t do what that girl’s doing either,” he pointed to Shane’s date, who was rubbing him in a very private area through his jeans.  “Because a night with Shane for those girls always ends the same, a little while in the Bone Room and then maybe cab fare home.  Don’t turn yourself into one of them, you’re better than that.”

I burst out laughing.  I was so loud that Shane glanced up and caught my eye, which made me laugh even more.  His expression looked sad for the briefest of moments and then he quickly turned back to his friend.

“Oh God, Ethan, seriously?  I can’t believe you think you have to sit here and preach to me about him.  There is no way I’d ever let myself be abused like that.  Although,” I teased.  “I have to hear all about this Bone Room.”

As Ethan and I laughed about all the debauchery that occurred in the Bone Room, our small group seemed to peter out and go home; all complaining about getting up for work in a few hours.  By two in the morning, Ethan and I were the only two left at our table.  Shane and his date were still at the bar molesting each other.

“You should definitely come to Tucker’s winter place, though.  It’s crazy. You’ll love it.”  Ethan said blushing.

“Oh, will I?” I laughed.

“Would you like me to walk you home?  It’s two.”

“Thanks, Ethan, that’s sweet, but you don’t have to.  You live in the opposite direction.”

He blushed again.  “Yeah, but I really want to.”

I studied Ethan’s face.  Was he the one I’d been looking for?  I searched his features for something, anything.  His eyes were soft brown with little flecks of yellow mixed in, long platinum blond hair pulled back into a low pony tail; handsome sweet smile.  I wondered if he would try to kiss me and how I’d feel after.

I snatched up my coat and smiled at him.  “Sure, Ethan, I’d love that.”  We walked out of the bar without ever looking in Shane’s direction.

We walked home through the snow.  He asked me questions about my family and about Lea and me growing up.  The closer we got to my front door, the closer I came to realizing that he couldn’t be the one I’d been looking for.

Ethan walked me up the stairs and leaned in for a quick peck on my cheek.  He lingered for just a moment and stepped back smiling.

I let out the long breath that I hadn’t even realized I was holding and smiled at him gratefully.  “Ethan, I...”

He tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear and left his hand on my shoulder.  “As much as I would love to kiss you right now, I won’t.  I can tell you’re uncomfortable. Anyway, I don’t think I can start a relationship with my new guitarist without screwing it up somehow in the next few days,” he smirked.

I sighed.  “Ethan, I can’t do relationships either, I can’t even muster up a one night stand.  I’m sorta in love with someone, I just haven’t seen him for a long time.  Thank you for walking me home and making me feel special though.”

“Yeah, well you are.  Besides we all owe you big time for taking Alex’s place.  You blew us away today.  Even Shane and he never gets flustered over anything, especially a chick.”

“Yeah, well he seemed really ticked off at me for coming by and playing.  I didn’t mean to show off or anything. I just really missed playing like that.  It was...something,” I laughed.  I unlocked the door and said goodnight to Ethan again, knowing that he would be a nice friend to have around.