Sit close

Sitting down on the closest side, he finds himself so close to Alex he could kiss her with only the slightest of leaning. Looking into her bright eyes, the temptation is there, but Ethan finds himself playing things slow. Just in case he has the wrong idea.

“So,” Alex reaches out and picks up her drink. “You make a habit of coming over to the homes of young, impressionable eighteen year olds when their parents aren't home?”

“I try not to, but…” he lets out an exaggerated sigh. “It’s the darndest thing…”

Sipping her beverage, Alex’s eyebrows raise. “Oh really?” She smacks her lips, setting down her glass. “Should I be jealous?”

The question, while definitely intended to be playful, stabs into Ethan a little. Should she?{if Heather =false} Heather was a thing of the past.{endif}{If Heather =true} Things were complicated with Heather.{endif}{if Heather Affection >60} Things were going well, but…{endif} Then there was everything with Layla, which was really nothing, and Charlie… Ethan pauses mid-thought. Why’d he think of Charlie?

Realizing he was taking too long to answer, Ethan offers a small shrug. “Maybe. I’m a high-demand item.”

Alex lets out a small snort, shifting and lifting her feet up and tucking them under herself. The new position turns her towards Ethan more, making it kissing her all the more tempting. “I’m not surprised. In an incesty town like this, new blood would be a hot commodity.”

“‘Incesty’?” Ethan smirks, almost letting out a laugh. “Haven't seen many banjo’s…”

“Oh, we’re not that bad…” she rolls her eyes. “But the family trees here make a tight canopy. It’s not uncommon to get two invites to a family reunion.”

Ethan can tell that while she’s joking to some extent, she is being partly serious. Maybe not about the invitation thing, but still. “So you’re saying they only like me because I’m not their second cousin?”

Alex shrugs. “How do you know you aren't?”

Ethan almost laughs, until reality hits him, his jaw hanging loose. He’s got roots in this town, he very well could be somebody's cousin. Somebody right next to him.

Alex lets out a small giggle. “We’re not related. At least as far as I can tell. Not that I was looking for you and yours specifically, but I kept an eye open.”

“Screening your dates?” Ethan relaxes, slightly. At least as much as he can while sitting next to such a cute girl.

Alex’s smile wavers, but she manages to keep it up. “No, I was… trying to figure myself out…”

The empathic part of Ethan’s brain picks up on something. Reaching for his water, he takes a sip to think about it, before asking the obvious question. “Figure yourself out how?”

“Ah…” Alex’s smile weakens, but she tries to keep it up. “With my body being… Ah, it’s silly.”

Brow rising, Ethan genuinely has no idea what Alex is talking about. Giving her a glance, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her body, if that was even what she was alluding to. Obviously, there could be something unseen, or internal, or…

Ethan looks at her flat chest.

Alex, without a doubt, has the smallest chest he’s ever seen on a grown woman. Maybe there was a medical or family history reason for that. Suddenly, a pang of guilt rocks Ethan. Despite not letting it bug him, he’d been quite disappointed in Alex’s bust size, but now he was just disappointed in himself.

“Hey,” Ethan reaches out, wrapping an arm around Alex’s shoulders. “It’s not silly.”

Tilting her head, Alex looks deep into Ethan’s eyes. “Ethan…?”

“Yeah?”

{if Showered =false} “You smell.”{endif}{if Showered =true}Alex leans forward, closing the gap and kissing Ethan, once again taking the initiative.{endif}