***I just wanted to add a special dedication to a special reader. Your spirit is as big as your heart. Keep shining bright skamaddict2 ❤️***

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I didn't know what this new friendship would entail. Honestly, I was too nervous to ask the night before as I quickly turned my phone off and curled up for a fitful night's sleep.

But, as life would have it, I was about to find out.

Sarah leaned into my door as I finished getting ready for my early Friday class. "Well, aren't you miss popular?"

I paused, "what do you mean?"

"Better question. Which one of your boyfriends is at our door right now?" she smirked.

"Oh my god. Don't mess with me Sarah, who is it?!"

"Well," she cocked her hip. "It's not the one who dropped you off last night."

I ran to the full length mirror by my bed, heart pounding. I was back to my normal attire, leggings and a baggy-ish sweatshirt that read, SHH... A MOMENT OF RESPECT, MY FAVORITE CHARACTER JUST DIED... something he had yet to see me in other than the fifteen minutes he'd acted as temporary professor... but he had avoided looking at me that day, so I don't think it counted.

Sarah was still standing in the doorway. "If he doesn't like you as you are, he doesn't deserve you."

"You're right," I nodded. My mom got me these crazy-literary-nerdy sweatshirts whenever she found them online. She said she loved my smile the first time I read a new one. "We're just friends by he way," I said as an afterthought.

"Uh huh," she winked. "And I like guys."

I rolled my eyes, grabbing my backpack and practically running downstairs to find Ethan standing just inside the door, hands in his pockets. "Morning friend."

"See Sarah!" I yelled and heard her chuckle from upstairs.

I looked hard at my unannounced guest. No matter how hard he tried with his pleasant, calm demeanor, the person in front of me would always look raw and untamed. As if he could hear my thoughts, Ethan smirked. A simple tug of lips in that Greek masterpiece of a face that had my lady parts standing at attention.

Down girl.

His eyes traveled down my shirt and he... laughed. It was deep and husky, but I don't think he had any other kind. "I feel like I'm meeting the real Eve for the first time."

I nodded, tucking my hair back.

"I like her." He said it honestly and I warmed.

"Well then." I closed the distance, holding my hand out. "Eve Bailey, pleased to meet you."

He just looked at my extended hand for a moment, an amused expression on his face before grabbing it with his warmer one. "Ethan York. The pleasure is all mine."

I took my hand back, rubbing the tingling sensation away. "So... what are you doing here?"

He paced away from me, glancing around the living room, picking up a photo of Sarah, Amy and I on my first night in the house. "I have to meet with my Ph.D advisor this morning and I thought I could give you a ride." He set the photo back down, trying not to smile at it, but a dimple in his right cheek jumped. "I texted you last night to let you know."

"My phone died." It was a tiny lie.

"Sure it did. You ready?"

"Umm... almost."He hadn't really given me an option about the ride, but I picked up my black boots anyway and took them to the chair. "By the way, how did you know I had a class this morning?"

He shrugged. "I may have used my school privileges for personal gain... But we're friends now, so you'll keep my secret," he mused.

"Hmm.." I put his leather jacket on. "We'll see."

***

I sunk into the leather seat of his black Volvo S-90. "Why is it that the best looking guys have the most beautiful cars? Seems a little unfair don't you think?"

"So, you think I'm good looking?"

Ha! "Your ego doesn't need any help. I was complementing the car."

"I'll tell her you said so. And you're right about life being unfair. I'll be sure to bring the topic up on Wednesday at our next class. I'll say, Eve thinks I'm insanely hot, and-"

I whacked his side. "Don't you dare!"

He chuckled. "I won't. I'm not a full time professor yet, and there's no specific rules about... friendships, but it's still frowned upon."

I nodded.

His face sobered a bit more. "About us, I have... rules."

"Rules?" I squirmed in my seat.

"I know we've already broken the friendship barrier - more than once - but no more, I want this to be a real friendship. No kissing, no inappropriate touching... no fucking-"

My face flushed instantly.

"-you get the point."

"O -ok." I don't think I'd ever even said the word fucking, yet he threw it around so casually. This friendship was going to be interesting to say the least. "Anymore rules?"

"Yeah," he said. "No Mason."

My head snapped up. "Are you kidding? I can't be friends with Mason if I'm friends with you? I hate to break it to you, but that rules not going to happen."

His grip tightened on the steering wheel, but not as much as his jaw as he weaved through traffic effortlessly. "For an assumingely timid girl, you sure are bullheaded you know that?"

That's all he said about the Mason subject, but I had a feeling this conversation was far from over.

Ten minutes later, he whipped the car into a faculty parking spot, cutting off professor Kaine who shook his head and continued through the lot to find another opening. I wonder if he knew this was Ethan's car. The windows were so tinted, there's no way he'd be able to see inside.

"You're kind of a dick aren't you." It wasn't actually a question.

He pushed the center of his black sunglasses, placing them more firmly on his face. "I do have a reputation to maintain."

**********

Woop! 1k reads! And I owe it all to you!Let's hope the number just keeps climbing!

My six year old daughter, who's already sponsored athlete (snowboard, hockey, downhill mountain bike) by sheshreds is currently filming me with her GoPro and asked why I have such a big smile on my face. I told her it was because my book friends are so amazing!!! So cheers to you guys... you know who you are.

On another note. Anyone else like/love this friendly, playful side of Ethan? I have to admit, I'm a huge fan. I've been super excited to get to this point and I couldn't be happier with him 😊😘🥰

Thank you again. With love,

xxxBre

(If you're enjoying the story, please take a half-second to click the star at the bottom and VOTE. It's like a form of payment for the time we put in writing. Thank you ⭐️)