Clean up

After a fair amount of making out and other aftercare, Ethan finds himself in Layla's shower. She insisted he take one, and Ethan was still following the house rules.

Now that his head was clear, Ethan was trying to wrap his head around what the hell just happened. A part of his brain was trying to point out the obvious red flags and weirdness of the situation, while another was high-fiving itself. Considering his current horny levels, the latter side's argument seemed oddly compelling. He didn't really get to the bottom of the Heather thing though, so he mentally noted he'd need to get back around to that.

Eventually.

Finishing up, he got dressed and returned downstairs, looking around for Layla. He did so very cautiously, not sure exactly what version of her he'd find. He found her seated on the couch wearing a bathrobe, her hair pulled up and back into a lazy bun. Based just on this look, she didn't seem to be in domination mode, but Ethan decided to not chance it. Glancing over at Ethan, she gives him a soft smile, suggesting she might be more 'neighbor mode', then pulls herself up.

"Did you use the pink soap?" She asks, her tone sure sounding neighborly as she draws in close.

Ethan specifically did, making sure to do as she told him very carefully. It seemed like expensive stuff, and it had a complex but pleasant smell to it. "I did yeah."

Layla leans in closer and sniffs Ethan, then draws back and smiles. "Good boy. Well, not to give you the boot, but I'm going to go shower." She shrugs awkwardly. "I take very long showers."

"Ah," Ethan shifts slightly towards the door. "I guess I shoul-"

"Mhm, Layla smiles, "Unless you want to join me?" Ethan's jaw slacks, but Layla proves the question rhetorical with a laugh. "I'm kidding. This time."

After she's done laughing, a moment of silence hangs between them.

Breathing in, Layla starts a new thought. "Are you going to the fair?"

It takes Ethan a moment to clue into what she's talking about. "Ah, um..." he really doesn't think he's got anything better to do. "Yeah, I am."

"Hm," Layla tilts her head, giving Ethan a knowing look. "I see. Maybe we'll run into each other..."

While Ethan doesn't always catch the hint, this one lands right in his glove. He gives a knowing look of his own, barely holding in the urge to wink. "Maybe."

After a final not-so-awkward goodbye, Ethan walks out the door and starts making his way home, reflecting again. Things with Layla were going somewhere, and somewhere weird. Not that he was complaining. Although there was still the Heather thing, that he REALLY needed to sort out.

He thought about that until well after he got home, mulling it over more from the comfort of his couch.