ELLIE
The drive to Ethan’s parents’ house in Irvington took just over thirty minutes. The property, nestled in a suburban area, was surrounded by lush, natural landscapes. The house wasn’t just enormous, it was luxurious.
Despite all the money they seemed to have, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were simply delightful.
They seemed so loving toward their two sons that it made the atmosphere warm and welcoming. It quickly put me at ease.
Zoe and Bennett had arrived before us. It seemed they planned to stay the night. After a pleasant chat in the living room, we all finally gathered at the table for lunch.
I could tell Ethan was a little upset, even though he answered his parents lovingly throughout the conversation.
Mary and Henry asked a few questions about how we met. It appeared Ethan wasn’t one to share much about his love life with his parents.
But, considering his past, maybe it was because he didn’t really have one. In fact, he actively avoided anything beyond casual sex.
It made me reflect on how far we’d come, despite the obstacles. When I met him, he abhorred any type of relationship beyond sex. But here we were, officially together, in his parents’ home.
We had overcome a lot, but his trauma seemed far more complex than mine. I had managed to get over the abandonment and completely forget Todd, but moving past the betrayal of someone you were about to marry seemed a million times harder.
I was proud of him for fighting to get us here. The thought made me rest my hand on his at the table, squeezing it lightly, which made him look at me with a bit of confusion.
“It’s funny how fate works, isn’t it?” Ethan’s mother said. “You two could have met much earlier if my son had attended his brother’s wedding.”
“I suppose so,” I agreed with a smile.
“Fair point,” Bennett teased from across the table. “You missed my wedding and ended up missing out on the girl.”
“I’m not sure if that would’ve made any difference,” Ethan shrugged. “You would’ve just told me to stay away from her, like you did when I met her.”
“You know I had my reasons,” Bennett replied.
“Sure, you were just playing the protective role with poor Miss Brown, like everyone else,” Ethan retorted, dripping with sarcasm.
I shot Ethan a disapproving look before smiling at Bennett.
“Thank you for that,” I said.
“Are you sure you’re thanking the right person?” Zoe chimed in.
“Do you expect me to thank you for being nosy?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“It seems there’s a lot we still don’t know, darling,” Ethan’s father added with amusement.
I’d seen him at the wedding, but I hadn’t realized how much he resembled his son. Bennett was practically a younger version of him—maybe less charming and a bit more grumpy, but just as handsome. His dark hair and strong jawline made him almost a carbon copy of Henry.
Ethan, on the other hand, had his mother’s dark blond hair, though his features leaned more toward Henry’s. Some of his traits were a bit more refined than Bennett’s, which might have been what made him so attractive.
“But I’m sure my son would’ve noticed a girl like you,” Henry finally said.
“No doubt about it,” Ethan agreed with a mischievous smile, placing his hand on my thigh. “She had the most important thing,” he teased, making me remember what he’d said the other day.
*Bastard*. I pinched his hand under the table, and he chuckled.
“A big heart,” he concluded, trying to hold back a laugh as he looked at me.
I glared at him, trying to push his hand away, to no avail.
“I’m still mad at you,” his eyes burning with possessiveness as he tried to mask it with a fake smile.
“Is that why you’re being such an idiot?” I shot back, forcing a fake smile of my own.
His fingers tightened possessively around my thigh.
“You’re lucky we’re at this table right now,” he murmured, almost inaudibly.
“Or what?” I challenged.
“You’ll see, my beautiful, annoying little thing,” he muttered through gritted teeth, removing his hand from my thigh and gripping my chin instead.
His tone not only irritated me, but also made me crave him to follow through on his threat.
The conversation around the table continued, and I listened to a few more stories about Ethan and Bennett’s childhood and teenage years. Zoe seemed completely at home. After all, she was already part of the family.
At some point, just before dessert, she suddenly stood up, excusing herself to go to the bathroom. I found it odd when Bennett followed shortly after.
“Do you think this is, like, a couple thing?” I asked Ethan teasingly before taking a sip of my juice.
“It’s just an excuse to fuck in one of the bathrooms,” he whispered, and I nearly choked on my drink.
I stared at him wide-eyed.
“You’re kidding.”
“Why the surprise?”
Oh God, it wasn’t a joke—he was actually serious. Were they really going to do that with his parents here?
“Do you want to go to the bathroom too?” he asked loud enough for his parents to hear.
“I’m fine,” I said, surprised by his skill at deception.
He smiled, pleased with himself for making me flustered.
✽
An hour later, we decided it was time to leave. I said goodbye to Henry, while Ethan did the same with his mother. Then we switched.
Mrs. Morgan approached me with a smile and hugged me warmly.
“You have no idea how happy I am to have you here,” she said, her eyes shining before she pulled back. “Not only is this the first time he’s brought someone here, but we also know how much this means after everything he’s been through. That’s why I’m sure you’re very special. So, thank you.”
Her words touched me; she was clearly emotional.
“I love him,” I admitted. “Thank you for having me.”
“I hope it won’t be long before you visit again.”
“Of course.”
“Shall we?” Ethan asked, joining us.”
I nodded.
“Thanks, Mom. Everything was wonderful,” he said, placing a hand on my back and guiding me to the door.
His mother followed us.
“Come back soon,” she said before closing the door behind us.
.
“So, I’m the first girl you’ve ever brought home to meet your parents?” I asked as we walked to the car.
“What do you want me to say? You know my history.”
“Your history of abominating anything beyond casual sex?” I teased.
“Speaking of sex…” he said, opening the car door for me. “Let’s go home.”
“I actually need to stop by my place to grab your present and take a shower.”
“Fine,” he sighed. “I can wait.”
“I thought you had dinner to prepare.”
“Right now, I’m hungry for something else.”
“Great. Save it for after dinner,” I replied with a smile, leaning in to kiss his cheek before getting into the car.
✽
After dropping me off at home, Ethan left, looking even more impatient and irritated. I planned to put that energy to good use later.
Once I’d taken a shower, I spent some time getting ready, butterflies fluttering in my stomach and heat pooling between my legs as I imagined the night ahead.
I truly missed him, craving the feel of his hands all over my body. Wearing nothing but a long coat over Ethan’s gift, I grabbed my keys and drove to his apartment, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.
When I arrived and stopped in front of his door, I was ridiculously nervous. It reminded me of the first night I came to him. The memory made me smile and also turned me on.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked, adrenaline rushing through my veins and my heart pounding in my chest.
Seconds passed, and when the door finally opened, my jaw dropped.
Ethan stood before me, wearing nothing but a Santa hat and a white apron.