The Cowboy One

by Samantha Drake

  Ethan XOX

  Leila’s heart fluttered at the note. It hadn’t been anything romantic nor the least beet intimate, but the fact that he didn’t leave without an explanation made her think that he indeed cared about her. There was the matter of the dinner too.

  She knew Ethan well, and was aware of the fact that the dinner was probably just a way to discuss whatever was going on between them. She didn’t mind it though, she was smart enough to know that they couldn’t go on like that. It wasn’t emotionally healthy to begin with. She was already wondering and overthinking, she couldn’t even fathom how it would feel to keep it going on the long run.

  Sighing, she swung her feet off the bed and searched for her clothes. She could just remember where her shirt was. But she dearly hoped that Ethan had thought about bringing it upstairs before he left. With that thought in mind she tip-toed her way around the room her fingers still firmly curled around the sheet that she had wrapped around her.

  Luckily, Ethan had thought about her before leaving. He had draped all of her clothes on the small chair he had in the room. She blushed when she spotted her lacy underwear on top of the pile.

  It didn’t take too long for her to slip into her pants and shirt. However, managing to get her stubborn bed hair into a decent up-do was a whole different thing. It refused to stay in place, the baby hairs stood chaotically at every given opportunity.

  Eventually, she gave up and decided to go with whatever her hair offered- that being a really messy and unstylish bun. Half an hour later, she was going down the stairs in her wrinkled clothes and messy hair, silently following the delicious smell of pancakes and bacon.

  There was music coming from the kitchen. It wasn’t Ethan’s music, she could immediately tell out that much. The music was far too loud and the lyrics far too explicit to be anything Ethan would listen to.

  Inside, Alec was dancing by the table, oblivious to her presence. He was stealing bites of bacon from both plates, before he proceeded to pouring some coffee into the white mugs he had placed on the table. Leila stood in the doorway and chuckled.

  The sound gained Alec’s attention. He jumped and turned around immediately, nearly spilling some of the coffee in the process.

  “Morning.” She said as she tried to hide the amusement.

  “You should have said that before giving me a heart attack.” Alec said as he slipped into the chair across from her.

  Leila took a moment to look at the food, it all looked amazing. She wished her food looked half as good. The coffee was divine too, strong but with a little bit of flavor. She had tasted something like that on one of her trips to Lebanon.

  “This is Arabic coffee isn’t it?” She asked.

  “Yep. A friend got it for me.” Alec said, “I guess you are a coffee fan, aren’t you?”

  “More like an addict. I need at least four cups a day.”

  “If this is where I was supposed to warn you about the consequences, I won’t do it. I suffer of the same sinful pleasure.” He chuckled as he took a large bite of food.

  For a couple of minutes, Leila silently munched on the breakfast. She enjoyed the mixed flavors. Her body welcomed the sugar eagerly, given how much energy she was lacking. Her stomach however, felt like it was going to explode any moment now.

  Eventually, Leila couldn’t take the silence anymore, she was known for her talkative nature in the morning. So, without even realizing it, she found herself asking:

  “So, how did you end up living with Ethan?”

  Alec seemed taken aback by the question. He looked between her and the food, as if contemplating on an answer, fact that only made Leila suspect his presence there even more. It wasn’t like Alec looked like some law breaker, but his situation was suspicious.

  “Maybe Ethan and I are best friends.” he tried to joke, although she could tell he was only trying to dodge the question. Maybe it would have been smarter to go with it. But she had done that already before, she was now far too curious to repeat it.

  “Maybe I know Ethan well enough to know he would never live with a friend.” she shrugged. “Come on, how bad can it be? Worst case scenario you are a serial killer and I end up dead.”

  Alec laughed and shook his head.

  “Now I know why he likes you so much.” he mumbled as he swallowed the last bite of his breakfast.

  “Does that mean I get to know?” she arched a brow, her hand reaching for the mug.

  Alec sighed and placed his fork on the empty plate. He looked around, still unsure of what he should do. Eventually he nodded and took in a deep breath, he slowly leaned back in his chair, both hands resting on his chest.

  “I kind of got into some trouble. I was-well still am, involved in some underground fighting. There was some trouble there, I had to leave for a while.” he said.

  “Kind of?” Leila wasn’t sure why she wasn’t shocked. She had expected something bad, but not literally that.

  “Well, I was. Anyway, I didn't want to go anywhere my parents would know of, so Jonathan talked to his uncle. And well, here I am.”

  “What about you? What’s your story?”

  “There isn’t much beyond what you know.” she shrugged.

  “I know nothing. I just know you are the ex that broke Ethan’s heart.” he said nonchalantly.

  “Well, I’m an orphan. My parents are alive, they just didn’t want me, I guess.”

  “Did you ever look for them?” Alec asked.

  “I did. And I found them. I didn’t talk to them though. I just asked around about who they were. Turns out I was the result of an affair. I don’t really know the details.” The subject had been painful at a certain moment in time, now however, Leila talked about it with nothing but a faded sorrow.

  “It was for the best. Look at you now.”

  “I guess so.”

  *****

  Leila was booked in one of the most luxurious hotels in all South Dakota. Her bedroom was larger than most houses in that part of the city. Grandiose as it was, the room seemed to shrink considerably when facing the wrath of her spilled closet.

  Her entire wardrobe was scattered around the room. Her blouses laid in one corner of the room, while her skirts laid on the bed, pilled one over the other. The dresses were on the chair by the beauty parlor. It wasn’t until then that Leila noticed how many clothes she had actually brought along. They were a lot, if she may admit it herself. Many as they were, she couldn’t find something suitable for the event. Everything seemed either too little or too much. Just like the dress she currently had on.

  It was a low cleavage dress, with lace around the hem that reached mid-thigh. The dress complimented her figure, it showcased her curves. Still, it was way too much for dinner. She didn’t want to look like she put in too much effort. Still, she wanted to look her best, to leave Ethan breathless.

  It was one of those dilemmas only girls understood. However, such scenes usually occurred on the first date. This was by far not their first date, it was still not just any normal dinner. Their situation was complicated, and her outfit should match the occasion.

  With a loud huff, she fell on the bed, one of the hangers poking her side. With a pout, she grabbed her phone and looked at the clock. She had been there for over an hour, and she had just as much until Ethan would show up. The problem was, she still didn’t know what to wear, and she still had to do her makeup and hair.

  She groaned loudly and swore at herself. Why was she acting so foolishly? Slowly, she stood up and looked around the room, trying to decide what outfit was worth returning to. Now that she had tried everything on, her choices had been pretty much narrowed down. There was only one dress she didn’t hate that much.

  Slowly, she made her way to the parlor. She tugged at the blue material slowly, freeing it from the pile of dresses that lay on top. The dress was satin, with thin straps that crossed one another in the back. The hem reached her knees, but the cut on the side exposed a bit of her well sculpted legs. She hadn’t worn th
at dress before. She had bought it especially for that trip. Of course, back then, she expected it to wear it at some business dinner, not on a date with Ethan.

  Sighing, she slipped out of the black dress she was wearing and into the blue one. She was still unsure what shoes to pick, but for now, that matter was meant to be postponed.

  Picking the dress had been the easy part, now she had to do something about the wet locks on top of her head. Her face needed something too, like a smoky eye that would bring out the color of her beautiful blue orbs.

  She followed that pattern of thoughts and did her best. As she did her makeup, she tried putting on some music, even tried watching some rerun of her favorite show. Anything to keep her mind busy. But nothing worked, her thoughts keep trailing back to the man she was about to meet. With each stroke of her makeup brush she wondered if she was doing a good job, if she would manage to make his heart skip the way hers was.

  An hour and many similar thoughts later she was ready to go. The only thing that was left to apply was her signature floral perfume. But it didn’t take long for her to spray a few puffs against her long neck and slender wrists.

  As if Ethan had sensed it, a knock came from the door the very second, she finished getting ready. Leila jumped in place. For a second, she panicked, but after a few mental pinches and slaps she was good to go. She was nearly at the door when she remembered the mess in which her room was, so she had to return and close it.

  “Coming!” She said loudly as she ran across the floor, wincing at the loud noise of her high heels.

  On the other side of the door, Ethan was waiting rather impatiently. His heart was beating so loudly, he feared she would hear it. His hands were shaky, like the turbulent blood that rushed through his veins. His knuckles still lingered on the wooden door, even after the sound of his knock had faded.

  He took in a deep breath and looked around the hotel corridor. There were a couple of people walking up and down the hallway, some coming in, others going out, but all giving him the same sympathetic smile, as if they knew how nervous he was.

  After what felt like an eternity, the door finally opened. His head immediately turned, his eyes wide and open ready to capture the woman that was bound to be revealed. The second Leila came into view, everything around him stopped. Time, life even death seemed irrelevant at that moment in time. All that was important were the bright blue eyes that looked at him from beyond those long luscious lashes.

  He saw her say something, but his heart was beating too loud for him to hear. Instead, his eyes watched her lips move, taunting him with the memories of the night before. In that dress, Leila seemed to miss the meaning of mercy. She was killing him slowly.

  “Ethan?” she asked in a low nervous chuckle. It was only then that he managed to escape the trance in which he had fallen.

  “You know, I wanted to talk over dinner. But if this is how you’ll look for the rest of the night, I doubt I will be able to.” Ethan said in a low voice, the words rumbling through his chest, expressing his clear distress.

  Leila seemed shocked by his words. She looked away shyly, her hands struggling to get a hold of the clutch she had placed by the door. Ethan chuckled and shook his head; amused by how she was acting even after the night they had shared together. It was in moments like that he was reminded why she stood out from other girls.

  “So, where are we going?” she asked once they were in his car.

  “I wanted to tell you, but why would I be so nice to you when you tease me with that dress?” He didn’t look at her as he spoke, but he could imagine her face.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” she chuckled eventually, although her voice was so low and out of breath.

  “You know, I probably wasn’t supposed to do this, before we talked, but damn what’s rational!”

  Leila probably didn’t know what he meant, but she soon understood it nonetheless. With just that sentence as a warning, he turned around and grabbed her face pulling her closer to him. His lips crashed onto hers and she responded instantly. The kiss wasn’t gentle but nor was it aggressive. It was a pattern that could not be described by mere words.

  His tongue softly brushed against hers, his hand resting on her thigh drawing random patterns on her exposed skin. Kissing Leila was so different. It didn’t feel wrong nor did it require energy the way it did with other girls. It was something natural, right till the very essence of his soul.

  A groan rumbled through his chest when he pulled away.

  “Put on the seatbelt.” He whispered as he pulled away. He turned to turn on the car without another word, leaving Leila both breathless and speechless.

  Chapter 7

  Leila walked through the tables speechlessly. Her attention was simply stolen by the beautiful view that ley beyond the tall glasses. She tried to follow Ethan and the waiter without stumbling, but given her lack of attention, she wondered how long she could go without tripping on her own two feet.

  The table Ethan had reserved had been right by the window, where she was lucky enough to get a full glance at the city from the thirstiest floor. Under the night sky, the city looked like a thread of lights. They twinkled brightly, some moving some standing still. Some were pale others were blinding or colorful. Leila couldn’t even begin to express the beauty that she faced.

  She had heard of dining at such high places, but she had never experienced it herself. Ethan, as always, had surprised her. His taste remained impeccable, just as she remembered it to be. By the time she had snapped out of her amazement, they were already at their table. Ethan, like the gentleman he was, pulled out her chair and was patiently waiting for her to take a seat.

  “This place is amazing.” She whispered.

  “It just opened. I thought you would like to see the whole city.” He smiled proudly.

  “You know, it changed a lot.” She said with a sad smile, her eyes still lingering on the view.

  “The city maybe, but the people didn’t.” Ethan shrugged as he opened one of the menus. “So, how about I order the wine first, and we can think about whatever we want to eat?”

  Leila smiled and nodded. She didn’t bother to try and look through the wine section, she knew her knowledge didn’t even come close to Ethan’s. If there was anyone who could choose a good drink, it was definitely him.

  As he looked through the written lines, she couldn’t help but steal a few glances at him. He was handsome as ever, with his hair styled back and his suit hugging his arms and back at all the right places. From beneath his light blue shirt she could see the outline of his well-built muscles. She wasn’t sure how long she had been staring, but eventually she heard him say:

  “Like what you see?”

  Leila felt her blood boil with guilt. She looked away almost immediately. From the corner of her eyes, she saw him put the menu down and wave at the waiter, who, in return, came back almost immediately. Leila heard him order some wine she hadn’t heard of before, but judging by the date of manufacture, she didn’t doubt it was good.

  “So, shall we talk before or after the food?” Ethan asked.

  Leila could tell it was as hard on him as it was on her. They both knew that the conversation was inevitable, but it wasn’t the most pleasant of all. Their decision upon their future was bound by what they were about to talk. Leila tried not to look so affected by the matter, although deep inside, she dreaded it.

  “How about we get it over with? Might as well eat in peace afterwards.” she chuckled, although she wasn’t humored at all.

  Ethan smiled and nodded, before taking in a deep breath. He seemed to hesitate on the questions, his lips parted but no sound coming out. He seemed to be more nervous than she was, she didn’t blame him though. He must have had way more questions than her. Questions he must have been afraid to even find the answer to.

  “It’s okay, you can ask why I left. I’m sure that’s the highlight of all your thoughts.” she said slowly, her hands constantly fidgeting with the napkin she
had found on the table.

  Ethan rose his eyes so he could look at her through his lashes. He took a deep breath and straightened his posture.

  “So, why did you leave?” He seemed like he was choking on the question.

  Although Leila had expected that question since morning and although she had practiced the answer a thousand times in her head, she still couldn’t find the right words to use in that moment. Luckily, the waiter had arrived with the drinks too, delaying her response further.

  “Thank you.” Ethan said to the waiter with a smile.

  Leila only smiled and reached for the glass. She had no idea why she was so nervous. She had done nothing wrong. Still, that didn’t mean she was safe. There was still the possibility that he will not believe her, or that he still wouldn’t believe she had done the right thing.

  “So?” he asked again, just as she placed the half empty glass of wine on the table.

  “Remember that article that came out? About me being an orphan and using your money to go through collage?” she asked. Ethan nodded, although she could tell he wasn’t sure how that had anything to do with the story. “It was then that everyone started calling me names. Up until that moment, there were only a few people. Your mom, and a few people at work. When a lot of people start telling you the same thing you started to believe in it too.”

  “Leila, you can’t possibly say you believed them? You were nothing like what they said. They all did you wrong.”

  “But I was Ethan! I was not worthy of you! I had nothing to offer you, while you were able to lay the world down at my feet. When that happens, you are bound to be called a user, like it or not.”

  “You loved me. No one ever loved me for who I was. That was more than enough.” Ethan shouted in a whisper, pointing one finger at her.

  “Maybe. But I was young and motivated. I wanted to prove to everyone that my heritage had nothing to do with who I was. I wanted to earn my place in your world, I wanted to be a part of the society you belonged. Because I knew you were suffering as much as I was. Going against your family and friends couldn’t have been easy.”