Page 86 of Ethan & Grace

“Yes, nothing actually happened.”

He gave a sigh of relief and scanned my body again, as if to make sure I really hadn’t been hurt. Then he looked around. “Did you see the guy following you?”

“No, it was dark and I was too panicked to look closely.” I always felt uneasy when men I didn’t know walked behind me at night. It was normal for women, sadly. But this time had felt different, more menacing. “It was probably nothing,” I said, trying to calm myself down. “I shouldn’t have called you.”

“I’m glad you did.”

Ethan held the passenger door of the Bentley open for me. Inside the car, it was warm and cosy. I fastened my seat belt and sank deep into the seat while Ethan walked around to the driver’s side. Only then did I notice that he was dressed casually and wearing his glasses rather than his usual contact lenses.

“Were you spending the night at home?” I asked as he started the engine. I knew he had been watching the anime earlier, but I’d assumed he had plans afterwards. It was term break, after all.

“No, I was at Logan’s with Henry.”

My eyes widened. Ethan hadn’t told me much about his middle brother, but he’d shared enough for me to know what a big deal it was that he’d seen him. “Why didn’t you say? I would have called someone else.”

“Like I said, I’m glad you called me.”

“Didn’t you have a nice time at Logan’s?”

“Yes, but I like being there for you.” He reached across the centre console for my hand, interlacing his fingers with mine. “Besides, Logan and I hardly know each other, and I think a dinner is enough to start with.”

I squeezed his hand. “Will you be seeing him more often?”

“I hope so,” he replied, stopping at a red light. He glanced at me. “Shall I drive you home, or do you want to come back to the hotel with me?”

I didn’t need to think long. “To the hotel.”

Shortly after, Ethan parked Henry’s Bentley in The Darlington’s underground car park and texted Henry to take a taxi home. We walked to the lifts holding hands and rode up to the private floor.

Ethan’s penthouse was pitch-black. He activated his smart-home system, and several lights instantly came on, bathing his flat in a warm glow. The TV also switched on—it was paused, but I immediately recognised the still from Sk8 the Infinity and couldn’t help smiling. It was sweet that Ethan had taken the time to watch one of my favourite anime shows.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked, slipping off his shoes. “Or if you’re hungry, I can call down to the kitchen.”

“No, thanks. I just want to go to bed.”

Now that my tension had drained from me, I mostly felt exhausted. Partly because of the man who may or may not have been following me, and partly because of my fight with Rose.

Ethan led me to his bedroom and pulled one of his T-shirts from the walk-in wardrobe. “This will be more comfortable to sleep in.”

“Thanks. Can I use your bathroom?”

He frowned, as if unsure where the question had come from. And to be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure myself. I had used his bathroom plenty of times before. I felt out of sorts, but he was kind enough to not make a big deal of it. “Sure, make yourself at home. Spare toothbrushes are under the sink.”

I clutched his T-shirt to my chest and flitted to the en suite bathroom, where I laid it on the lowered toilet seat. I pulled my phone from my pocket to message my parents so they wouldn’t worry. Then I stripped down to my underwear and slipped into Ethan’s T-shirt, before removing my makeup with water and his cleanser.

When I emerged from the bathroom, my teeth freshly brushed, Ethan was sitting on the edge of his bed. He looked up, his eyes lingering on my bare legs. His T-shirt came just short of my thighs, and when I moved, a flash of my underwear was on show.

He swallowed. “Are you done?”

“Yeah, it’s all yours.”

He got up and came over. I stepped aside to let him pass, but he stopped right next to me. His eyes, which had been fixed on my legs, were now on my face. “My T-shirt really suits you.”

I stroked the soft fabric. “It’s a nice shirt.”

“It’s not the shirt I’m into,” he replied and gave me a lingering kiss, before disappearing into the bathroom.

I got into bed and pulled the duvet up to my nose, burrowing in. It was soft and cosy, and the bed linen smelled fresh.