It seems like only yesterday that everyone was wishing each other a happy new year, but now posters of happy Valentines can be found everywhere. I can't believe January is almost over and February is already around the corner. It's been three weeks since Ethan and I started seeing each other. I don't know if I should say we are dating because we have been on a lot of dates, but Ethan has not asked me to be his girlfriend. Surprisingly I am dying for him to ask me to be his girlfriend. My feelings for him have grown in these three weeks that we have shared.

Ethan has been an angel throughout these three weeks. He had kept his promise and had done everything he could to avoid touching me. Ethan has not touched me since the last time we kissed. I am happy he kept his promise, but I am also sad because I can't believe I am saying this, but my body craves his touch. I don't know how it started, but I know anytime I see him, I want to feel him close to me. I am also careful not to touch him, even though my body craves it. I wish he would ask me to be his girlfriend because I really want to be his girlfriend.

I am at Wal-Mart shopping for groceries for both Ethan and myself. Grace is not feeling too good, so she asked Ethan to buy his groceries. I told him I was coming to Wal-Mart, so he asked me to please help him buy his groceries too.

I leave Wal-Mart and drive to Ethan's house to deliver his groceries. I arrive at his building after a few minutes of driving. I use the elevator up to the 5th floor, where his apartment is. I step out of the elevator and walk to his door. I ring the bell and wait for him to open it.

"Hey," Ethan says once he opens the door for me.

"Hi, please can you help me with some of the bags? They are really heavy," I say, while I struggle to hold them.

"Yeah, sure," Ethan says, taking the heavy ones from my hands while walking to the kitchen.

"Thank you and how is Grace feeling today?" I say following behind him.

"She is feeling better, and hopefully, she will be able to come to work tomorrow."

"Alhamdulillah, I wish her a quick recovery," I say and drop the shopping bags in my hands on the kitchen worktop.

"Me too, and what does that word mean," Ethan says, curiously asking about what I said in Arabic while he drops the shopping bags on the worktop.

"It means Praise be to Allah."

"Oh, that's nice; and babe, could you please do me a favour?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"The guys are coming over, and Grace usually makes small snacks for us, so I was hoping you could do the same."

"Sure, I can, right after I say my prayers," I say, and the bell goes off at the door.

"Thank you, you are the best, and they should be the ones at the door," Ethan says and walks to the door. True to his words, his friends were the ones at the door. Three of them walk in, whom I have come to know since Ethan and I started seeing each other.

"Hey, Adina," William and James say, walking towards the living room.

"As salamu alaykum, Adina," Abdul greets me as he enters the living room.

"Wa alaykumu salam Abdul and hello guys," I say with a friendly smile.

"I will be in the living room if you need me. See you later," Ethan says before he also disappears into the living room.

I walk into the guest room to pray Dhuhr. I do my ablutions in the bathroom and then walk out to say my prayers. After I finish praying, I walk back to the kitchen to make some snacks for the guys. On my way to the kitchen, I hear someone say my name from the living room, and my ears perk up with curiosity as to what they are saying. I know it's wrong, but curiosity is getting the best of me right now.

"Hey, Ethan, is Adina your girl?" James says.

"Yes, and why are you asking?" Ethan says, with a lot of confidence.

"You have a good one, man, she is sexy," James says, and the next thing that happens leaves me stunned. Ethan throws a pillow at James's face.

"If you look at her one more time with those eyes of yours, I won't be sorry if you don't leave here with them," Ethan says, threatening his friends. It brings a smile to my face because I know he will always protect me from lustful eyes. He is so amazing.

"I was only joking, man," James says, chuckling while lifting his hands in surrender.

"Good, perché è la mia (Because she is mine)" Ethan says, smirking, and turns back to look at me. His beautiful deep grey eyes lock with my dark brown eyes. I see a lot of admiration in his eyes for me. I can't believe these are the same eyes that raged against me a year ago. He winks at me before I avert my glance and walk to the kitchen with a blush on my face.

School started a few weeks ago, and I am happy about it, and I am not. I am glad because I am going to be graduating from university this year, and I couldn't be happier. I am not excited because school means work and work means stress and I don't like stress, but that's life for you. I am on my way to class when a masculine perfume I am starting to get familiar with and addicted to, fills my nostrils.

"Ehi Bella (Hey beautiful)" Ethan says whispering in my ears, causing shivers to run down my spine. How he causes these effects on me is still a mystery to me.

"Hey Ethan," I say in a dull tone.

"What's wrong?" Ethan asks, concerned.

"Nothing serious, other than the fact that I have this test on Friday and the course is not one of my favourites," I say feeling very comfortable sharing my little problems with Ethan.

"Oh, it's Oracle database, isn't it?"

"Yes, and I don't know what I am going to do. I can't fail the test. It is going to affect my final score at the end of the semester if I do. "

"Then I will make sure you don't fail it."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I will tutor you," Ethan says, surprising me. If there is anything Ethan does not like, it is tutoring someone. He says he is not patient enough to help someone understand something they don't know while he does.

"You despise tutoring people," I am, surprised that he would volunteer to do something he despised.

"I do hate it, but for you, I will do it in a heartbeat," Ethan says, smiling.

"Thank you, Ethan," I say, smiling.

"Anything for you, and I was wondering if you were available this Saturday?"

"Yes, I am. Why are you asking?" I say, feeling curious if he wants to ask me out on another date. It's been a little while since we went on a date, and I wouldn't mind going on one any time soon.

"I am having a family dinner this weekend, and I want you to come with me."

"Family dinner," I think to myself, wondering if it's appropriate for me to attend. I have met Ethan's family twice, and both times they were lovely people, but I don't know if now would be the same. We were not seeing each other during those times, and we are now. I am kind of scared to go. I don't know if they will be keen on Ethan and me dating.

"Yes"

"Maybe you should go without me," I say, not feeling too prepared to meet Ethan's family yet, with our new relationship.

"No, I want you to come with me. "It would mean a lot if my father met you," Ethan begs. As the realization sinks in, it feels like ice-cold water has been poured over me.

The two times I met Ethan's family, his dad was not around. I am guessing he travelled or something, but that is not the problem. Ethan's dad, Mr. Federico Mantone, is my brother's business partner. I don't know if he would be so keen on Ethan and me seeing each other. What if he thinks I am dating Ethan to influence him to sign more deals with my brother? Ya Allah, I hope he does not think such things of me because that is not the reason I am with Ethan.

"Ethan......" I say locking eyes with him. I am about to say no again, but I find it hard to say no to those lovely grey eyes of his.

"Adina I know you are scared of meeting my dad, but you shouldn't be. "The man loves you," Ethan says, and it amazes me how he understands what I'm thinking without even saying it aloud. During Mr. Federico's dinner, he and I got along pretty well.

"Ethan, I know your dad likes me, but he might not anymore when he finds out about our relationship."

"He would trust me."

"Hmmm," I say, thinking that Ethan might be right about his dad.

"Please come with me; it would mean a lot if you do."

"Alright, fine I will," I say praying Mr Federico approves of our relationship.

************

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