Chapter 11

11

Ethan

It's been a long time since I've shared space with a woman and I'm unsure how I've forgotten the mess they can make. When I returned from getting our dinner last night, Maddie had taken a shower and, in the process, spread all her shit from one end of the room to the other. My bed was the only area left free. The bathroom also had her beauty products strewn everywhere. When I stumble into the bathroom first thing Monday morning after very little sleep, I almost trip over her shoes. I curse loud enough to wake her.

"Sorry," she says when I come out from the bathroom. She's half sitting up in bed with the sexiest fucking bedhead hair and those beautiful blue eyes of hers looking at me with apology. "I'll be tidier from now on."

I try hard not to let my eyes wander down to her chest but it's an impossible task. One of the thin straps of the silky pajama top she's wearing has slipped off her shoulder and as I take it all in, I wish to Christ I'd tried harder to keep my eyes on her face.

I'm staring at a whole lot of skin and a nipple that's only just hidden by silk.

Tearing my gaze away, I head for my bag to find clothes. "I'm gonna go get coffee. Do you want anything?"

She pushes the bed covers off and gets out of bed and fuck me, those tiny pink silk pajama shorts may be the death of me.

"I would die for coffee. With creamer please. And if they have cinnamon caramel syrup, I'll have that too."

My eyes are in a mood for my demise today. They're glued to her long legs as she walks toward the bathroom. They're so fucking glued there I may need help removing them.

In the end, it's the bathroom door closing that breaks the spell. I can only hope Maddie plans on covering all her skin today. Otherwise, it's going to be a long day.

I find a coffee shop down the street and while I'm waiting for our order, a group chat text comes in.

Hayden: Have we figured out where Styiiiioop is yet?

Olivia: St. Louis?

Gage: Why would Ethan be going to St. Louis?

Kristen: Does he know anyone there?

Hayden: I don't think so.

Olivia: I'm thinking of places that start with "St".

Kristen: Is sending texts that need deciphering normal for Ethan?

Hayden: No.

Kristen: Ooh, so this is new?

Olivia: The emoji is confusing. It doesn't feel very Ethan.

Gage: Not confusing. If any emoji represents Ethan, it's the middle finger.

Olivia: Right, I get that, but it's not like he gives us the middle finger. It's odd.

Bradford: I called Troy. Ethan's on a road trip with the runaway bride. They're going to Sedona.

Olivia: God, I have no idea why I didn't think to call his assistant.

Kristen: You're kinda busy on your honeymoon.

Hayden: How's your father, Liv?

Olivia: He's doing well. He's recovering at home after the stent surgery.

Hayden: Glad to hear it.

I'm distracted from the texts when I'm alerted that my coffee order is ready. I grab the drinks and pastries I got for Madeline in case she's hungry and head back to the hotel.

When I walk through the door of our room, I'm presented with Maddie bending over her bed, rummaging in her suitcase while wearing only her underwear. And those panties she's wearing? They put a massive grin on my face.

"I see you're in your grandma era, Miller," I say as the door shuts behind me.

She spins to face me and glances down at the big granny panties she's wearing. Her smile matches mine. "I don't think I'm ever going to leave my grandma era. Seriously, these are the most comfortable undies I've ever owned."

I'm looking at the most oversized panties I've ever come across. They're white with big red hearts all over them and red frilly lace along the edges. There's nothing sexy about them, but Maddie manages to look sexy in them. Although, that could have more to do with the bra she's wearing. No grandma bra to be found here unfortunately. It's lacy, and hot as hell. And if I thought her pajamas killed me, I had no idea of the death still awaiting me.

Helping a runaway bride was not on my bingo card for this year and now I know why. Under any other circumstances, I'd ask Madeline on a date. Under these circumstances, that feels like a crass move and I'm in a constant state of pushing my interest down.

I give her the coffee and pastries I got her. "Do you often wear granny undies?" And killer bras?

She laughs. "No, not like this. These were a fun joke from Leigh that I just found in my suitcase. I doubt she's expecting the message I'll be sending her about finding more." She mercifully reaches for a black T-shirt from her suitcase and puts it on along with a pair of jeans.

I take a sip of my coffee. "Okay, I'm thinking if we leave around nine this morning, we'll make it to Louisville today. Probably around five p.m. based on the number of stops you insisted on yesterday."

Her brows lift as she drinks some of her coffee. "Me? I recall you wanted to stop to take photos."

"If we remove those stops from the equation, we're still looking at a fuckload of breaks for all kinds of odd things."

"Since when is having to use the bathroom an odd thing?"

"It's not the bathroom breaks that give me pause."

"Oh, hello, Grandpa Ethan. Who says ‘give me pause' anymore?"

My lips threaten to curl up into a grin. "I can get behind stopping for snacks, for looking at historical markers, for collecting shit you see that gives you lyric inspiration, for looking at cute animals you see along the way, and for buying trip souvenirs, but stopping to gaze at cloud animals you see? That shit's weird, Miller."

I think she's also trying not to smile but she's doing a bad job of it. "It's a good thing you enjoy bumps in the road of a friendship because I don't think I'll ever stop wanting to look at cloud animals. And honestly, I'm unsure why you don't like them."

"I've nothing against them, but they add time to our trip that we need to factor in."

"For a guy who seems to enjoy spontaneity, that is the most unspontaneous thing you've said since I met you."

"A guy can be both spontaneous and practical." I nod at the cup in her hand. "Drink your coffee. We've got half an hour till we need to leave but about five hours of packing ahead of us."

She can't contain her smile any longer. Sweeping her gaze around the messy room, she fakes offense. "I can't believe you just said that." She puts her hand to her heart. "I'm wounded."

"Can you save that for after we pack? You'll have at least six hours to feel all those feels in the car."

She walks my way and pats my chest. "Soon, you'll be talking in acronyms." With that, she moves past me and goes into the bathroom to begin packing. I'm helpless but to watch every step she takes.