Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Ethan says his father is only trying to toughen him up, but I disagree. Though, I’m here to listen, not to tell Ethan what to do. That’s why our arrangement works so well. He talks about hockey, school, and his parents without any judgment from me. The only topic we never discuss is girls, and I prefer to keep it that way for my sanity. I would go crazy knowing if my crush has any interest in girls who are not me.
I get up from the crouched position in front of Ethan and sit on the swing next to him. “I’m here if you want to talk about anything.”
He turns his head, so our eyes meet, and a hint of a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “I’d rather hear about your day. Tell me something good.”
Ethan starts all of our conversations the same way. No matter how bad of a night he’s having, he always wants to know more about me. I love that he puts me first. In fact, I love everything about Ethan. But he’s off-limits. My brother would never understand our relationship, and my parents would have a fit given our three-year age difference.
On occasion, my mom makes comments about the way I look at Ethan. She’s even more concerned about the way he looks at me as if I’m the only person in the entire room. School used to suck, and so did the catty girls who tormented me daily until Ethan took care of them for me.
The first time we hung out was an accident. I was crying on the swing set when Ethan came rushing outside in a fit of anger. He’d had another fight with his dad, who was piss drunk and yelling obscenities out the door. Ethan heard me sniffling back tears and wanted to know what made me cry.
He was so sweet and nothing like the rough and tough hockey player when he pulled me into his arms and let me cry against his chest. I confessed the trouble I was having with the girls at school, who never bothered me again after that night. Ethan wasn’t my older brother’s best friend anymore. No, he became so much more to me.
When I don’t respond right away, he repeats, “Tell me something good.”
“Other than being here with you?”
I blush ten shades of red from my cheeks to my chest.
What’s wrong with me? I’m never this forward. The words fell from my lips before I could stop myself from saying them aloud.
Ethan gives me one of his boyish grins that cause my heart to skip a beat. “Just so you know, Mia, I like talking to you, too. Sometimes, I feel like you’re the only person who gets me.”
I grab hold of the metal ropes, the nerves bubbling up in my chest. “What about my brother? Don’t you talk to him?”
“I don’t know. Will says stupid shit that doesn’t help the situation anytime I try to talk to him about my parents. And you know how he acts when it comes to hockey.”
“Like he’s too good for everyone.” I make it sound like a joke, though I mean it.
The right corner of his mouth curls up as he winks at me. “Yep. He’s such a cocky bastard.”
“You’re better than him, E. But don’t tell him I said so.”
What had started out with writing M + E in my notebook soon became his nickname. Ethan never corrects me when I call him E. Sometimes he calls me his little lamb because he compares himself to a wolf, though I don’t find him the least bit scary. I love having this special connection with him.
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “You think so?”
I bob my head. “I know so, and I’m not just saying that because I like you and my brother gives me a hard time. I’ve watched all of your games over the past year and some of your practices. You and my brother will go pro together. I don’t doubt it.”
Ethan sighs. “I’ll miss you, Mia.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Why, because he’s going to college in the fall with my brother? Strickland University is only thirty minutes from my house. Upset by the thought of not seeing him every night, I choose to ignore his comment. Whatever time we have left is precious.
Ethan grabs my hand and holds it tight. “I’m leaving after graduation.”
My heart plummets into my chest when I do the math. We only have four more days together. I can’t breathe, the sickness rising from the back of my throat, choking me. He can’t do this to me.
No. Please. Don’t leave me.
I want to say all of this to Ethan, but the words never come out.
Ethan squeezes my hand once more and smiles. “Tell me about your day. I want to hear all about it. Give me the worst and best moments.”