Together Forever

Chapter 22

I check myself one last time before heading towards the door. With every step I take forward, I feel my

heartbeat increasing. As my hand touches the doorknob, I take one long breath and turn it around.

I glance up and my eyes fall on him, making me gasp inwardly.

His hair is gelled back and the brown hues are glistening, the light golden suit jacket that he is wearing

over the black full shoulder t-shirt couldn't make anyone more handsome than him. He has a wrist

watch matching with his jacket on his left hand which is shining and reflecting golden light.

Can he look bad just for once?

When I tear my eyes off of him, I see him looking down at me. He seems a little surprised but at the

same time his eyes roam over my body. Starting from the leg then slowly upwards then my face and

then again slowly downwards. Again upwards. Again downwards.

Am I looking bad?

He is making me self conscious now. It's not like I am feeling uneasy because he's watching me like

that. As I said before, his stare doesn't make me uneasy.

It's...it's so intense.

Like he is looking directly into my soul taking in everything off of me.

Has anyone ever looked at me like that?

No.

"Ethan?" I say slowly, a smile tugging on my lips and his gaze returns to my face. He immediately looks

down scratching his back with his fingers. The upside of his tan cheeks turn a flushed pink as he tries

to say something, clearly embarrassed.

I let out a soft giggle watching him all blushing. This Ethan is totally different from the one I see always.

This Ethan is so cute, boyish with no anger, no ferocity and I like this Ethan more.

"Will you stop blushing?" I chuckle which makes his eyes shoot up immediately.

"I...I am not blushing at all." He says as a cute frown appears on his face.

I nod, "Yeah, I can see that. Now come in, please." I grin and hold the door open for him to enter. His

lips curve slightly in a small smile as he gets in along with a fresh vanilla smell.

I close the door and when I turn around, I see Leah coming into the drawing room. She is wearing a

crimson red full sleeved satin gown that is hugging her body tightly reaching up to her knees. It has a

satin belt of the same color with a big love broach in a side full of glitters and white shiny pearls that's

clasping her waist. Her wavy brown hair is hanging loosely on her shoulder and she has matched her

lips with the same colored lipstick as her dress.

She looks gorgeous.

She approaches Ethan with a bright smile on her face and Ethan smiles back.

"Hey! Leah, right?" Ethan says as he holds his hand out for a handshake.

"Yeah." Leah's face turns a bright red as she raises her hand.

"I heard a lot about you. I'm so happy to meet you finally." She says, smiling shyly and they shake their

hands.

"Same here. You are looking gorgeous by the way." He says, showing his famous cocky smile and she

mutters a thanks.

She is looking gorgeous? Yes, she is. Am I really looking bad then? He told her right away but he didn't

say anything to me. I know I shouldn't be thinking about such a silly thing when it's true that Leah is

really so pretty and I am not but it's just... whatever.

Nick enters the room and we all look at him coming towards us.

It's going to be awkward.

He has a plain black shirt squeezing his body tightly showing his abs and his sleeves are rolled up to

his elbows where a big tribal tattoo is standing out proudly. His hair messy as always falling on his

forehead, he didn't feel the need to comb them even knowing Ethan was coming.

He shots a sly smirk towards my direction and walks towards Ethan who seems a bit confused about

the situation. The main reason for this gathering is to fix their stupid misunderstanding and I just wish

everything goes well now.

"Hey! Ethan." Nick greets casually as he stands in front of him.

"Hi! Mr..." Nick cuts him off with a sudden hug making us all surprised. Nick pats his shoulder in a

friendly way before saying,

"Call me Nick." He says and then whispers something in an excessively slow voice I can't hear.

He then pulls off and for the first time in these few days, Ethan really chuckles at him in amusement.

"Nick." Ethan says smiling and Nick grins sweetly before raising his hand for a high five.

"Yep, buddy." They high five each other and I stand there smiling at the scene in contentment.

Nick started the mess and he fixed it himself. I knew he would make things up between them somehow.

I can depend on him. I can believe him.

This is why I love him this much.

*************

We are now sitting at the table eating and talking about almost everything. Actually they are talking and

I am eating quietly. I am sitting with Ethan and Nick and Leah opposite of us. I don't know why but till

now, Ethan didn't even utter a word with me. He is simply ignoring me and I really don't know what I

have done wrong.

In the middle of our dinner, Leah excuses herself and goes to the washroom. Nick and Ethan keep

talking about a football match and all those things I don't pay any attention to. I quietly finish my food

and stand up.

"Hey guys, I am feeling tired. You talk, I am going to my room." I say and Nick nods hurriedly, not even

glancing at me.

I walk out of the kitchen and head to my bedroom quickly. The room is dark with a gloomy dim light

hanging above and the window is closed. Approaching my dressing table, I put down the bracelet I am

wearing and look for a hairband to tie my hair when a click sound catches my attention. I immediately

look back and see Ethan getting inside in the dark. He closes the door behind quietly and I just stand

there in surprise.

Why is he here?

Again my heartbeat starts increasing being alone in the room with him. I walk towards him with a frown

on my face but I think he doesn't notice it.

"What are you doing here? They will think something wrong if they see us." I say and try to pass him to

open the door when he blocks my way with a naughty smile spreading across his face.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"They are busy." He says casually.

"Busy doing what?"

He lets out a giggle at my question, "How could I say? I don't know."

"Whatever." I scoff.

He is really impossible to understand. One second, he is ignoring me and the next moment, talking to

me so sweet sweet. It's just getting on my nerves now. This time I am really angry.

"What did Nicki tell you there when you came?" I ask, curiously.

He smiles cockily at my question, "He told me that he didn't mug you from me. That's all."

Nick is really a badass!

I roll my eyes and try to walk past him but he again moves forward, our chests about to collide.

"What's wrong princess? Are you angry?" He says, smirking.

Princess? It's been a long time since he called me that. Whatever, I am not gonna budge so easily this

time.

"No!" I try to speak confidently, "Is there anything that I should be angry about?"

"Hmm." He hums coming even closer, that smirk not leaving his face as if he's enjoying this too much.

"Then... umm...are you jealous?" He raises his cocky brow, his lips moving upwards in a devilishly

handsome way.

I shake my head, "Why in the world would I be jealous?" I say and try to walk away.

Yes, I am. Because you told Leah gorgeous but didn't say anything to me and also ignored me.

But before I can take a step forward, his hand grabs mine and I slump back, colliding with his hard

chest. On instinct, I place my hand on his chest making a bit of distance between our faces as his hand

finds its way to the back of my waist, pulling me closer.

He smiles down at me, "I know you are and I know the reason too." He says and I just look away.

He slowly places his hand on my cheek and runs his thumb so softly on it, making me shiver. I clutch

his jacket at that soothing touch and try hard not to make any sound that's coming out of me.

"Couldn't you understand I was teasing you?" He asks, making me look at him with questioning eyes.

"Do I even need to say how beautiful you are? You are beautiful when you are happy. You are even

more gorgeous when you are angry. Heck, you are the prettiest when you are jealous right now. Trust

me I have never seen someone so beautiful like you and this is the only truth. Are you still angry?" He

says in a breath smiling and I just stare at him in awe.

I scrutinize his face with an open mouth, not finding anything to say.

"I...I mean..." I begin to speak but he cuts me off.

"Don't."

"Huh?"

"Don't say anything."

His eyes darken as his both hands cup my face. In the dim light, I see a soft smile on his face and he

slowly moves closer. Before I can stop him, I feel his lips on my cheek. His face softly brushes against

mine as his lips slowly move downwards. An unwanted gasp leaves my mouth when I feel his wet lips

make contact with my skin, trailing slow kisses from my chin downwards to my neck. My clutch on his

jacket tightens as an unknown feeling overwhelms me that I never felt ever.

God, stop me... Why can't I stop him ever.

Gathering all my strength, I push him away and run towards the window, opening it quickly. I grasp

some air and normalize my quick breathing. Various colors of light from the street enter the room

washing the darkness away, making it look mysteriously beautiful.

"Is it getting too hot in here?" He asks standing beside me and without looking at his face, I know he's

smirking.

His cockiness knows no bounds!

He rests his hands on the window wall and looks down at the street.

"Ok, let's talk about something else. Why did you ask me to come here today? Is there any particular

reason?" He says normally and I just roll my eyes.

He is behaving like nothing happened a moment ago? Here I am running out of oxygen and he is fully

normal. Great!

"Will you answer me?" He asks impatiently this time.

"I...I wanted to fix the misunderstanding between you and Nick. They will leave for Texas tomorrow. So

before he leaves..."

"Why are they leaving?" He questions as he seems confused.

"Leah's parents want her to go there and live some days with them. Leah is leaving and Nick is going

with her."

"That means you will live alone here?"

"No." I answer, "I will shift to Manhattan tomorrow. How can I live alone? I can't cook." I say,

embarrassed as he laughs out.

"This is the only reason?" He asks, grinning at me.

"Yes." I shot him a glare and he just shrugs. "But I don't want to go there. That house is so huge and

full of guards and maids what I don't like. Plus they inform my dad everything I do. What I am doing,

where I am going, everything. It's so disgusting."

"Hmm." He seems to think something as he leans against the window. I look at him by the corner of my

eyes. The wavering lights are falling on some places of his face when the remaining seems dark. Due

to leaning forward, some strands of hair fall on his forehead shading his face slightly.

He is godly.

"I got an idea." He says suddenly and looks at me with excitement.

I squint, "What idea?"

"How about if you shift to my apartment for some days? I live alone so there's no problem. You will

come back here before they come."

"What?" I shout as I try to understand if he's kidding. But his face seems serious. That means he is

asking me to live with him seriously?

"Are you kidding me? Why would I do that? What will they think? Moreover, when my home is here,

why would I shift to your place?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

He seems disheartened at my answer but I remain my face still. No way I am doing that.

"What's the problem?" He asks me, anger taking over the hurt. "You said you don't want to go there.

Then what's wrong if you come to my house? Nobody will know if you don't want anyone to." He

shrugs.

"No. It's not possible." I reply slowly looking away.

"Possible." He says in an angry tone shooting me his challenging eyes.

He grabs my waist and pulls me towards him. I hit his chest with much more force than before as he

puts his other hand on my face.

"Either agree or..." He whispers smirking, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes.

"Or?"

"Or... I will kiss you." He mutters with confidence in his voice, making me widen my eyes.

What the hell?

"What the..."

"I promise I will." He smiles a devilish smile. And by his face, I can say he could definitely do it. I don't

believe him. Nope.

I try to unwrap his hands but he makes his hold tighter.

"One... " He slowly moves his face towards me and I feel like I am hypnotized again. I just stare at him

in shock as I see his lips slowly come closer.

"Two..."

Oh my God!

"Three."

"Stop." I shout closing my eyes, "I will go."

All the sounds stop except our quick breathing. I remain my eyes closed for some time and when I

don't feel anything, I slowly open them to see the culprit grinning at me like a devil.

Ugh! I hate him so much!

"I knew it would work." He shows me his proud smile as he lets me go finally. He stuffs his hands into

his pockets, eyes glistening in amusement.

"Ok then. It's final. I will come to pick you up tomorrow." He announces before heading towards the

door leaving me totally shocked.

"You are evil." I shout as he approaches the door.

"I know." He shouts back and turns around before shooting me a smile.

"See you soon princess."