Page 98 of The Damaged Billionaire's Obsession
We laugh.
It’s a joke between Brooke and me, meaning she thinks Ethan is whipped.
I sure hope so. I know I am. I’m so into him, it’s embarrassing.
“Where’s Stella?” I ask.
“Probably getting into a catfight with Ryan. Those two need a mobile referee if they keep running into each other,” Brooke answers.
Brooke hands me my purse and cell phone. “Needless to say, Kevin is toast. I see that you’re not in any shape to continue your date with him.” She cocks her eyebrow at my make-up-free face and stained dress. “Will you tell him, or shall I? He’s still waiting for you.”
“Oh, would you, Brooke?” The last thing I want is to put up an act for Kevin while I’m horny as hell and covered in Ethan. “I’ll just take the elevator straight down and head out. I hope you don't mind?”
“Oh not at all, babe.”
“You’re the best.” I make to leave, but she stops me before I can.
“Hey, hold up, girl. Not so fast. So… Ethan? What’s the deal? I thought you couldn’t stand him?”
“Well, I sure can stand him now.” I laugh.
“Do you like him back, or are you just playing with him? Because, I can tell you after what I’ve seen tonight, that he likes you. A lot. Xavier had sworn it since our wedding, yapping on about the way he looks at you, but I’d kept assuring him that he was seeing things.”
“Where is he?” I ask.
“He’s left, babe. He went home right after he spoke to Xavier.”
I see. Looks like I’ll have to track him down if I want to see him again tonight.
“So?” Brooke persists.
I sigh. “I don’t know. He’s intense and overwhelming, Brooke. He’s just too much. I’m so terrified he’ll hurt me,” I admit in a small voice.
Brooke looks incredulous. “Bonnie,” she says softly. I’m not sure I like the look in her eyes. “I didn’t realize. Wow. You’re… falling for him.”
“I’m so not,” I scoff.I am.
“Babe, it’s not the end of the world if you’re falling in love with Ethan.”
“I’m not in—can you stop saying that please? I’m not in love, okay? I just don’t hate him anymore. And listen, Brooke, no one can know. Especially Sabrina. That way, if it all blows up between him and me, we can keep things contained.”
“Bonnie, how do you not know that if it comes down to choosing, Sabrina will have your back, and so will Stella and I?”
I know my friends wish I shared with them more. I just wish I knew how to do it. Not just with them but with Ethan too. The reason we’ve even come this far at all is because Ethan somehow sees the things I don’t say. My friends unfortunately don’t have the same ability.
“Bonnie?” She prompts.
“Um, please just keep this to yourself okay, things are still quite delicate with him.”
She sighs. “Okay, I won’t say a word.”
“Thanks, Brooke.” I give her a quick hug and leave.
I take a cab straight to the jerk’s home.
There’s no point going home and stewing if the source of my angst is sitting somewhere in Connecticut, enjoying a nice, postcoital nap. If he thought he’d leave me high and dry aftergetting his rocks massively off, then he’s got another thing coming.
It’s just before midnight when I get there, and it’s the same voice I hear when I press the intercom outside the gates.