He had a small smile on his face that made me feel a bit jittery. How could someone be so cute and not realize how much they affect others?
“You look peaceful when you sleep,” he said. “I just can’t get enough of looking at you.”
A blush spread across my face, and I raised my hand to cover it, feeling crimson red from his simple compliment.
“Come here,” he said, stretching out his hand. “Let’s go join the others.”
I nodded and took his hand. With my bag in my other arm, we walked together toward the party.
As we walked toward the party, I wondered if I could allow myself to feel this sense of peace more often. Ethan seemed to offer a security I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I hoped this party might be a step toward finding some normalcy and joy, even if just for tonight.
“You made it!” Zoey said as Ethan and I approached the backyard where the party was in full swing.
“Let me get you something to drink,” Ethan said, heading off as Zoey came into view.
“I see you came with Ethan,” Zoey said with a smile.
I chuckled nervously. “Mason was supposed to pick me up, but I’m surprised to see Ethan here instead. So, here I am.”
Zoey giggled. “Ethan had it planned from the start. I think he noticed the bond between you and Mason.”
And I could sense a bit of jealousy when I saw him instead of Mason.
Ethan’s plan had been pretty obvious, and Zoey’s comment confirmed it.
As I looked around at the lively party, I tried to shake off the awkwardness.
I knew I had to be careful not to let old emotions and complications cloud my judgment tonight. I decided to make the most of the party and see where the evening would lead.
Suddenly, Ethan walked over with a bottle of beer, which he handed to me.
Seeing the beer, I realized I shouldn’t drink it because of my condition. I slowly shook my head and said, “I’m sorry, I can’t take that. I’d prefer a soft drink.”
Ethan looked from me to Zoey, probably wondering why I refused the beer. I needed to come up with a reason that wouldn’t reveal too much.
“I’m on a strict prescription not to drink beer,” I said. It wasn’t completely honest, but it had a bit of truth to it.
“Okay,” Ethan said, drawing out the word. He looked apologetic. “I’ll go get you a soft drink instead.”
As Ethan walked away I watched as the party guests mingled.
Zoey’s presence was comforting. She had a way of making things feel a bit more relaxed.
Then I saw Mason approaching. “Sorry I had to send Ethan to pick you up,” he said, looking apologetic. “I got caught up with the party preparations and lost track of time.”
“It’s all good, Mason,” I replied. “I’m here now, and that’s what matters.”
“What about our discussion?” Mason asked, scratching the back of his head. Ethan had returned with my soft drink, and he and Zoey looked between Mason and me, clearly curious.
I noticed Ethan’s protective instinct kicking in as he moved closer to me.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned in his voice.
“Chill, big man, I’m fine,” I reassured him.
Ethan then asked, “What discussion do you and Mason have?”
“That discussion is between me and Mason,” I said with a glint in my eyes.
As I looked at Mason and Ethan, I felt a silent conversation between them.
“Oh, I see,” Ethan said, he understood the reason, so handing me a bottle of soft drink.
“Thank you,” I muttered, taking the drink and glancing around the mansion. It was big, spacious, and beautiful.
I took a sip of my soft drink and admired the surroundings, hoping to blend in and not draw too much attention to myself.
“Nice place you’ve got here,” I said to them.
“It belongs to our parents,” Mason replied.
“Food is ready!” Mason called out, drawing everyone’s attention as they started moving toward the table piled with delicious-looking cookout food. My mouth watered at the sight.
Everyone grabbed a plate to serve themselves.
Ethan handed me a plate and said, “Nadine, try this seafood pesto pasta with walnuts and Parmesan cheese. It’s to die for. Mason has a secret recipe he won’t tell anyone about.”
I smiled, taking in the display of food. They had gone all out for this party. I wondered if everyone present had contributed in some way to its success.
Once my plate was full, I followed Zoey to where others were sitting, and we started enjoying our food.
As I took a bite of the seafood pesto pasta, the rich flavors danced on my tongue. It was delicious, just as Ethan had promised. I found myself relaxing a bit more, enjoying the food.
I looked around at the guests mingling and laughing, but I felt a pair of eyes staring at me.
My heart raced as I tried to find the source of the gaze. When I looked around, I caught Ethan’s eyes on me.
It felt like our eyes were locked as if no one else mattered. I was lost in his dreamy blue eyes, feeling like the world had faded away.
I quickly looked away from Ethan, trying to refocus on the moment. Zoey nudged me lightly, breaking the spell I was under.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
I slowly turned to face her. Her question made me uncomfortable, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“You like Ethan, Nadine. So what’s keeping you away from him?” Zoey asked, noticing the moment between us.
Zoey’s question snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at her, trying to find the right words.
I wanted to explain but struggled to find the right words. “It’s not that simple,” I said quietly.
“I’m dealing with things that are hard to explain. It’s not just about liking someone; there are complications in my life that make it difficult.”
Zoey’s expression softened. “But you know you can trust Ethan; he will handle things well.”
I turned to her, curious. “How well do you know them? You talk so highly of them.”
She smiled warmly. “They are like family to me. They took me in when I had nowhere to go and helped me through college. I don’t know where I would be without their support.”
Her story touched me, and I looked at Ethan, admiring him. I saw that his eyes were still focused on me, making me feel even more connected.
I wondered if I could ever find that kind of trust and support again. My past had made me cautious, but maybe there was a chance to start fresh.
For now, I decided to enjoy the moment and let myself be present, even if just for a little while.
An elderly man walked up to Ethan. He was a few meters away from me but looked in my direction.
He then said, “I can’t believe I’ll see the day when you have a girlfriend.”