Cutting out of the store, I decided to go to the school library and use their computer and order all of my books from this half-price website, before heading over to the store that sold the used scrubs. As I was crossing campus, trying to remember where the library was, the hairs on my arms stood and I felt … exposed, vulnerable. Peering over my shoulder, I tried to examine the faces of the passing students but no one was really looking at me. Still, I couldn’t shake that feeling. Bryce being back in town, saying he was going to stick around, had totally fucked with my head.
Once I’d ordered all my books, and purchased an extra-large pair of light blue scrubs, the only pair they had left for five dollars, I headed back to Ethan’s.
It was almost six o’ clock and his shop would be closed. So far, it felt weird using my key to open his shop to walk through it and up to my apartment, but it was something I would need to get used to.
After a five minute walk from the light rail train station near Ethan’s house, there were twenty motorcycles outside the shop and loud music blaring inside. Ethan had said he had club meetings Sundays and Wednesdays, but today was Monday. Letting myself in, while trying to juggle my heavy bags, I locked the shop behind me and then made my way into the main shop floor.
The main power tools and equipment had been cleared and a foldable table had been erected. On it was a big sheet cake with one of those printed edible pictures on it. This one was of Jessica Biel in her bikini. The icing read, “Happy Birthday James.”
The moment I walked in, the boys quieted and Ethan looked up at me with that piercing blue gaze. His arms were crossed over his chest, which made his muscles pop, and he tipped his head in my direction.
“Hey, how was orientation?”
I swallowed hard as twenty dudes stared at me. “Good.”
Why was conversation so awkward for me?
Ethan uncrossed his arms and walked over to me. “Want some help with those bags?”
My fingers were turning purple.
“Nope. I got it.”
His lips twitched like he was suppressing a smile. “Alright. Well, feel free to join us. James is turning twenty-three.” He pointed to a quiet dude in the corner who looked like he didn’t want to be here.
After noticing the birthday boy’s glum expression, he looked back at me and shrugged. “He’s not one for parties.”
I chuckled. I felt that. Hard. Unless it was Christmas, my favorite holiday, I hated parties. Probably because Bryce made me throw them and complained about every aspect of what I’d done wrong.
“I’ve got work at Mickey’s in an hour, but thanks.” Giving him a sheepish smile, I moved to go up the stairs and one of the loops of my heavy bag slipped from my fingers.
Ethan scooped down and pulled it gently from my hand.
“I’ll help you up,” he told me, and started to walk up the stairs like it was his God-given mission to make my life easier.
As I followed after him, I noticed all of the smiling faces grinning at me like I was going upstairs to fuck him.
“Man, that room has been vacant for years. Where are we going to crash now?” one guy whispered way too loudly.
“I’d rent it to her too, wouldn’t you?” another dude said as the red crept up my cheeks.
Great. Just great. Ethan had totally given me a handout, but I was too broke to care right now. As we reached my door, he set the bag down
“Have a good shift. Let me know if you need a ride home,” he told me, and I shook my head immediately.
“I’ll be fine, thanks.”
Rushing into the room, I closed the door and leaned against it.
Ethan King would either save me or be my undoing. I hadn’t decided yet.
OceanofPDF.com
Five
The first week of school and work just about killed me. I had classes 8AM-3PM every day, then five nights a week I worked at Mickey's from either 4PM to 1AM or 7PM to 3AM, closing the bar down. Only to wake up at 6AM and do it all over again. My days off from Mickey’s I was either studying, catching up on sleep, or both. I’d barely seen Ethan at home. I was sneaking out of the shop to catch the light rail before he was up, or sneaking in after tending the bar all night when he was asleep. Bryce hadn’t shown up, and a few days ago I’d found a can of pink mace in front of my door. Another gift from my landlord. To top it off, Ethan kept coming in for a three-dollar beer and tipping me twenty dollars, so I’d gotten a bike off Craigslist three days ago.
Saturday morning, I’d miraculously slept in until 10AM. I wasn’t due at the bar until 7PM and my homework load was light. Could even wait until Sunday.
