15-Like old times

I mentally slap myself when I realize what I am doing, as a series of flurry memories begin to haunt my thoughts upon the contact with the lips of the man in front of me, but I hasten to tear myself away from Jack's mouth when he is on the point of doing something else, asking for access in my mouth.

I won't let him make fun of me again and I don't know how I kissed this worm just to make Ethan understand that the world doesn't revolve around him and that he can't address me in that tone.

I can do what I want without asking anyone's permission, even if I don't understand why he wants to take me home, like he wants to protect me from Jack.

I understand that this is not the case when I return with my heels on the ground and I dare to raise my head to look at his expression, realizing that his features are relaxed and his grimace is the same as a little while ago.

Indifferent and careless, that's what he looks like right now, as if he didn't care at all about the kiss I just gave Jack, as Jack brings a hand back to my back again, making me stop myself from slapping his arm instantly.

"Are you finished?" - he raises an eyebrow again with a low and cold tone, making me press my lips together for the inexplicable anger I feel at this moment.

I don't understand why Jack doesn't react to Ethan's words.

Apparently they know each other, or maybe they are even friends enough to avoid fighting for a woman.

"Your father is waiting for us." - Ethan continues to avoid crossing my eyes, moving his full lips slowly, while I feel Jack spinning his head in my direction and I can imagine his confused expression.

My heart stops at his words.

My father is at my house, while I was planning to spend the evening with Jack!

He must surely have known something! He will have spied on me!

I give Ethan a dirty look, hoping he hasn't said anything to my dad and that he thinks I'm still working at this hour, even though the dress I'm wearing says it all.

I move my eyes to Jack, this time with a softer grimace, almost frightened by his possible reaction, but I am blown away when he raises the corners of his mouth upwards and just approaches my cheek as I hold back from taking a step backards:

«Like old times , Valerie.» - he says with an amused tone, and then leaves a light kiss on my cheek.

Like old times.

When he submitted to my father's demands, even if he tried to ruin our dates and he broke in when he shouldn't, like Ethan right now.

I cross my arms over my chest to hide the goosebumps from his sweet and short gesture, but I mentally thank him for not insisting on knowing more or forcing me to stay with him, even if I didn't expect it.

"I'm sorry I spoiled your evening." - Ethan catches the attention of both of us, but the raised corner of his mouth suggests that he is lying shamelessly, but before I even raise my index finger against his chest and insulte him, like if he hadn't just saved me, Jack anticipates me in a calm and almost defiant tone:

"Keep calm, bro ..." - he replies with a false smile, while his eyes say something else, forcing Ethan to take a serious expression again:

"There will be other occasions." - he continues and raises his chin in greeting, to then bring his attention back to me and wink at me, before turning his back and not thinking twice before leaving me alone in the company of Ethan, without even wondering why me and his friend know each other.

I breathe a sigh of relief and follow him with my eyes away until he disappears behind the door of the disco, and then reminds me of Ethan's presence in front of me.

He hasn't bothered to look me in the face since he showed up forcefully earlier, so I raise my head in his direction again with a frown, parting my lips in amazement when I notice that his eyes are already fixed on mine and trying to study the expression on my face.

Only now do I notice the cigarette that he squeezes between his index and middle fingers, while he blows the smoke from his red lips without stopping to look at me with his indifferent grimace.

Good. If he wants me to understand that he's only here for my father, then I don't want to give any importance to his presence either, although I should thank him for saving me from an unpleasant evening.

I harden my expression and hurry to turn away from him to reach my car a few steps away.

I try to chase his gaze from my head, starting to think about what to invent in front of my father's stern expression: to clear my mind I decide to roll down the window and let the wind mess my hair along the way.

The only solution that comes to my mind right now is to lie to him and tell him I've been to a business dinner. Maybe he would fall for it, as this is not the first time I go out with my colleagues, although I'm sure he will complain about my vulgar dress.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that Ethan is also parking his car next to mine in the garden, but I look confused when I realize that the lights inside the villa are all off, as if no one is awake yet.

"Where is my father's car?" - I ask aloud, addressing Ethan as soon as I get out of the car and see him do the same, while he doesn't listen to me and starts walking towards the door of the villa, carrying the cigarette between his lips.

I close my eyes at his attitude, following him at a soft pace but without insisting with my questions, while the idea that he lied shamelessly to me becomes clear, just to get me back home.

I decide not to freak out and hold back until I step inside my house, noticing that the living room is empty and that there is no trace of my father.

I open my mouth looking around in the darkness of the room, then bring my eyes back to Ethan's shoulders, which twitch as he moves towards his bedroom, but I don't give him time to disappear behind the door that I hurry to stop him first that he closes himself in his room.

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