Ella's Twisted Senior Year(20)
“Well, I’m happy for you,” I say, shifting until I’m sitting cross-legged on the couch. I turn to face him and try to search for those little bits of him that are the same Ethan I remember. “You managed to climb up out of the loser realm and become a famous jock.”
Maybe it’s the vodka, but my hand acts on its own, reaching out and squeezing his bicep. “You went from a skinny nobody to a hot, desirable athlete.” I lean back and nod. “Good job.”
He shakes his head, fidgeting until his arm slides across the back of the couch, his fingers just a few inches from my shoulder. He stares at the muscle I’d just grabbed. “It’s not like that. I’m still the same person.”
“No, I’m still the same person.” I point to my body and then to his to compare the two. “I’m a loser nobody. Your girlfriend sure had a lot to say about that.”
Tension rises up around us and I shrug it off. “It’s no big deal though. I’m fine with who I am.”
“You should be,” he says, drumming his fingers on the couch. “You’re a cool chick now. You do what you want, and not what people might want you to do, and that’s respectable.”
Oh my god. Ugh.
“Yeah, I can’t do this right now.” I throw up my arms and stand, needing to be away from him, from this. I don’t need his stupid pity or his false compliments. “I’m gonna go downstairs,” I say, turning to the right even though my vision is suddenly spinning every which way. I go to take a step forward and trip over the stupid fuzzy rug.
“Whoa,” Ethan says as I tumble forward, right into his arms. “Maybe you should sit for a minute,” he says, setting me back into the couch, only now I’m just a few inches away from him. The leather is cold and Ethan’s face is gorgeous and I am intensely aware that two shots of vodka are not a good thing when you’re in a room with your enemy.
“It’s not fair that you got so hot,” I mutter as I stare into his dark eyes. “It makes it really hard to hate you.”
His lips slide up in a half-smile and his hand is warm on my arm, leaving a trail of tingles as he lifts it to my neck and then my cheek.
We are so close. Too close. Alarms go off in my head, dulled by the alcohol and somehow even more enhanced at the same time.
“You were always hot,” he says, his eyes lowering to my lips. “You killed me that summer.”
That doesn’t make any sense but the tingling in my toes takes over my body and nothing logical matters at all. I can smell his cinnamon gum, mixed with vodka and the scent of his body wash makes me want to snuggle into his chest and never leave. I lean forward, thinking solely about the fact that he just called me hot.
I part my lips as Ethan’s strong hand pulls me closer to him. I close my eyes and melt into his kiss.
This is a really bad idea.
But I can regret it later.
Chapter 12
Ella’s green apple shampoo overwhelms my senses as I slide my fingers through her hair, kissing her like it might never happen again. Her lips are soft and gentle and it drives me insane. This is nothing like making out with other girls. Kissing Ella is like winning a prize. How can my life have changed so much in the last few days? What did I do to deserve having such a wonderful girl in my arms?
Her knees straddle mine as she leans over me on the couch. I let my hands wander slightly, not wanting to push any boundaries that might scare her away. Finally, I settle with one hand on her hip, the other one holding her face while we kiss.
Her grip on my shoulder tightens. Her lips tremble against mine I pull back slightly, trying to see if I should stop. Her eyes are closed and she looks so freaking adorable.
I grin and she opens her eyes, frowning. “Why’d you stop?” she whispers.
“I was—” I exhale, shaking my head. There’s no time to talk, no time to explain. I need her lips on mine. She slides a hand down my chest and my body reacts, lighting up under her small hand. I wrap my arms around her waist, tugging until she’s sitting on my lap. We slide down the length of the couch and she settles on top of me as if she were made to fit right here. My hands slip into her back pockets and hers tangle up in my hair while we make out.
Although I’d be really happy with more of this girl, I could die happily with just her kisses as my last waking moment. My heart thumps so hard I’m afraid it might launch her off the couch, sending her flying into the wall. But I hold her tighter than I’ve ever held anyone and we kiss like we’ve been waiting four years to do this.
And I guess I have been—she’s the one who finally changed her mind.
Ella’s tongue runs across my bottom lip and I shudder. She grins and I lean over and press my lips against her neck, trailing kisses back to her beautiful face.
She squirms. “That tickles,” she breathes.
“What, this?” I murmur against her lips as I slide my thumbs down her neck while I hold her head above my own.
She grins and squeezes her eyes tight. Goose bumps rise across her neck and can’t help but feel incredibly proud of myself for getting her so turned on.
Her eyes open slowly and she leans up on her elbows. The fog around us seems to lift as clarity returns while we stare at each other. Her eyes go wide and she pushes off of me, scrambling to her feet.