She needed to say them.
Mia looked up and saw Ethan walking towards her, a lazy grin on his face. He made her mouth water in his tan wool suit with a matching tan dress shirt and dark brown tie.
“Hi, suga,” he said, standing in front of her, resting his hands on her thighs.
“Hi,” she replied simply. His hands slid under her legs and she gasped when he pulled her closer to him. He leaned down and placed his lips upon hers. Yeah, she definitely loved him. She just had to find the nerve to tell him.
Ethan
“Ready?” Ethan asked, his eyes locked on the lovely dark eyes of the woman before him.
Mia nodded as she touched his bottom lip with her thumb. He kissed the soft pad and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. That smile did him in every time.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” he wondered, extremely curious as to whether she liked watching the game.
“No!”
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Why?”
“Ugh … I hated seeing you get hit. I didn’t like that at all!”
Ethan laughed. He didn’t like it either. “Besides that?” he asked, opening the door for her.
“Uh, it gave me feelings.”
He shook his head, knowing where she was going. He entered the car and then regarded her. “What kind of feelings, suga?”
She looked up, smiled and shyly turned her eyes down. “The inappropriate kind.”
Driving off, he thought of her feelings. He loved that dirty mind of hers as well as what her mind told her body to do. He hoped her mind told her that sex after his game would be an excellent idea.
“I made some dinner. Lemon Chicken,” she blurted out, effectively changing the topic. She seemed a little off—he’d say nervous but he didn’t know what would be causing this case of nerves.
“Have I told you what a happy man I am?” he asked.
“No, you haven’t, but I know it’s only because of my cooking.”
“Oh, Mia, you are so much more than your cooking and I, for one, am very glad that I have both.”
Ethan pulled the car into the garage, glad to be home with her. He loved having Mia there with him. He’d never felt this good. She made everything better. She made him remember that there was more to life than football, and all of it revolved around her.
He smiled as she went to work in the kitchen. His stomach was pleasantly surprised when he’d discovered that she was a fantastic cook. He could see how much she enjoyed her time in the kitchen, creating a meal from scratch. Sometimes, she even let him help.
“Sit down,” she ordered, pointing at the small table looking out onto the backyard. Guess tonight there would be no assisting her. So instead, he regarded her; those endless legs, her beautiful curves, and her stunning long chocolate brown hair. Today she had styled it straight but he especially loved it when she left it natural with the big wavy curls.
“Mia, let me help with something,” he said as she tried to reach something high in the cabinet. He rose from his seat.
“I told you to sit,” she said over her shoulder. He ignored her and went to help.
“Now are you going to be stubborn or are you going to let me help?” he asked, placing his hand on her back as he reached over her to grab the large serving dish.
“We need to buy a step stool.”
Ethan laughed and kissed the top of her head. “Give me something useful to do.”
“Oh, all right,” she said, still a hint of stubbornness in her voice. “Set the table while I finish here.”
“Now was that so bad?”
“Thank you,” she said, coming to him and then placing her full lips upon his. He tasted the garlic and lemon on her mouth.
“Mmm, you tasted the food!” he said, kissing her again. “Tastes good!”
“I did. Now go and set the table. It’s about finished,” she said, giving him a push as she went back to the stove.
He went about setting the table and as he finished, Mia came with the platter of chicken and noodles. The smell of the lemon and garlic had his mouth watering.
She plated the food and sat down. She smiled when he moaned after taking his first bite. It had the perfect amount of lemon and garlic. Just how he liked it.
“Oh, suga, this meal is so worth any hit I took today!”
She smiled but during the rest of the meal, Mia seemed distracted. She barely touched the delicious food she prepared. Instead she just stared off, continuously twirling her noodles with her fork.
When he was done, she got up and cleared the table. He offered to help but she declined it. She told him to turn on the TV and relax. She didn’t seem mad but something was definitely up.
Ethan went to the sofa in the family room and turned on the television above the fireplace. He tuned it to ESPN and absently watched recaps of today’s earlier games. What he really wanted to know was what was bothering his girlfriend?
A few minutes later, Mia joined him, sitting her cute bottom on his lap, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder. He stroked her leg while he half-listened to Detroit’s head coach address the press after today’s surprising loss.
After about thirty minutes of that, she sighed quietly. He felt it more than heard it. She totally surprised him when she practically jumped from his lap.
“Let’s go upstairs,” she suggested.
“Are you all right?” he asked, studying her face, exhaustion evident in her heavily lidded eyes, yet he sensed the apprehension emanating off her.
“I’m fine,” she replied with a tired smile. “Just a little sleepy.”
Ethan glanced at the clock. It wasn’t even nine o’clock yet, but he turned off the television and followed her upstairs. He didn’t believe her and wanted to get to the bottom of this.
She entered the bedroom and headed straight for the bathroom. “I’m going to get ready for bed,” she said, calling out to him.
Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, slowly removing his clothes, except his boxers, and tossed the rest on the nearby chaise lounge. He stood up and turned down the bed before climbing in. He sighed loudly as he rested against the headboard, waiting for her to return to him.
He didn’t want to think that in a couple weeks, Mia would be on tour and that he would not see her again until Thanksgiving. Two months without seeing her, without touching her, without her by his side.
He stared at the master bathroom doorway, waiting for her to walk through. When she did, it took his breath away. She wore a pale mint green nightgown with those flimsy thin straps that he loved so much. The slightest touch and they fell off her shoulders. Her face was free of makeup. She barely looked like she was old enough to order a drink at a bar.
Mia hesitated at the door and he wondered why. “Come here, suga,” he said, patting the mattress next to him. She turned off the bathroom light and quickly crossed the room.
“Do you want to watch the night game?” she asked, climbing into bed and snuggling up to him, her beautiful long fingers resting on his chest.
“No, not tonight,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “I just want to hold you.”
Before he could even get his arms around her, she sat up, facing him. She crossed her legs and just stared at him. He saw her face move like she wanted to say something, but just couldn’t quite get it out. Her expressions were cute but he was also concerned because he had never seen her like this before.
“Mia? What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, taking one of her hands in his. A small smile touched her lips and then she shook her head.
“God, nothing’s wrong. Everything is wonderful because of you,” she paused, smiling wider. With her dark brown eyes on his face, she spoke softly. “I love you.”
She loves me, he thought happily.
“I love you, too!” he said, finally saying what he’d felt for a long time. “God, I think I have loved you since the day I met you.”
He drew her to him and softly kissed her lovely mouth. She latched
onto him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
“I should have told you a while ago …” she began.
“I’m just glad you told me now,” he paused, pulling back to regard her beautiful face. “I can’t believe you love me!”
She chuckled out loud. “You love me!” she said with the same amount of enthusiasm as he had.
“How totally amazing is that?”
She crawled onto his lap and placed her soft lips upon his again. Her breasts brushed up against his bare chest and he felt his cock stir; so did she by the look of her raised eyebrows.
“So, are you up to showing me how much you love me?” she asked, a devilish twinkle in her eyes. Gone was the distraction and nerves. In its place was the confident woman he loved. Ethan pushed down the straps of her nightgown, leaving her breasts bare to him. He quickly glanced down and smiled.
“You better believe it!”
Mia
Two weeks later
Standing in the kitchen, Mia stared at the door from the garage, waiting for Ethan to arrive home from practice. It was their last night together. Tomorrow morning, she would get into her Pathfinder and make the lonely trip back to Chicago.
She had packed while he was at practice, her bags tucked away in the closet. She needed to be at the tour bus by seven but she still had things to pack up at her studio so she wanted to leave before noon. That was cutting it close but she didn’t want to leave him any sooner.
Hell, she didn’t want to leave him at all. She’d enjoyed the past couple weeks with him. He told her he loved her every chance he got. She never thought she could be so happy. Now the time had come to say goodbye to that happiness and Mia was so not looking forward to it.
Even though she would miss him like crazy while she was gone, Mia had to do this tour. She had to live out this dream of hers.
Taking a deep breath, she fought the tears that threatened to spill. She was determined not to cry but knew that was more than likely going to happen in front of him.
She stood up straighter and swiped a finger under her eyes when she heard the garage door open. The thump of his bag hitting the floor announced Ethan’s arrival inside the house.
“It smells wonderful in here, suga,” he called out from the mudroom. She had made spaghetti and meatballs, one of his favorites.
“It’s ready if you’re hungry.”
“I am,” he said, walking into the kitchen. Placing his keys and phone on the counter, he continued his way to her. He kissed her forehead and then pulled her into his arms. Mia went willingly and clung to him, letting his embrace comfort her.
“Hi,” he said after she looked up at him.
“Hi,” she replied. Taking his hand, she led him to the eating nook and sat down.
Dinner was a quiet affair. Her leaving loomed over them. It sucked the happiness right out of the room.
After they finished eating, Ethan went to the terrace while Mia put away the leftovers and cleaned up the mess. She looked up from washing a pan and saw him standing, staring out across the backyard. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair and sank onto the outdoor sofa. She sighed sadly, hating to see him so upset.
She hurriedly dried her hands and ventured out to him. When she walked through the doors, he looked up at her. She sat next to him and he put his hand on her knee. Mia clutched at his hand. He smiled over at her but it didn’t reach his eyes. She’d never seen his eyes sad before and she didn’t like it one bit.
Leaning over, she lightly placed her lips upon his. “Ethan, are you okay?”
He frowned and exhaled loudly. “Just thinking about how much I’m going to miss you.”
“Oh, Ethan!” she exclaimed, the light reflecting off his tear-filled eyes.
Over the past few months, she’d come to find out that her tough quarterback had a sensitive heart. She loved that about him but she didn’t love it right now. Her heart ached at his pain.
“Is there anything I can do to make you feel any better?”
“Let me make love to you?”
“You got it!” Phew! That was easier than she thought it would be. She needed this connection, too.
He lifted her in his arms and started for the house.
“You’re going to carry me all the way up to the bedroom?”
“Yes, suga.”
Mia woke up the next morning, next to Ethan, his arms wrapped protectively around her. He had carried her all the way up to the bedroom before placing her down gently on the middle of the bed where he proceeded to make love to her two glorious times before she’d finally fallen asleep, completely spent, in his comforting arms.
She tried to fight sleep. She’d wanted to stay up and get as much quality time in with him as she could because when she awoke she would be leaving him.
But as Mia rested her head on his chest, his heart beat calmed her to a point where her eyes had drooped and she’d fallen asleep in the safe confines of his arms.
Wanting to stay but needing to get ready, she slid out of bed and went to the bathroom. She entered the large glass shower and methodically cleaned herself. She stood under the spray, letting the warm, almost hot, water cascade over her. The thought of how much she would miss Ethan overwhelmed her. She loved him so much, how was she going to just walk away from him?
Mia tried to tell herself that they made it through being apart before, that they could do it again. That this was her dream she was following—the thing that had kept her going all those lonely years after her mother left and her father retreated into himself.
But …
Ethan would not be there.
Tears began to fall, slowly at first, but then the ugly sobs arrived. Sliding to the floor with her knees to her chest, she cried for everything she would miss.
After what seemed like hours, but in reality only a few minutes, Mia looked up when the shower door opened and Ethan stood there before her, concern etching his face. He quietly entered, his clothes still on, and gathered her in his arms.
“Ugh, I’m sorry I’m crying,” she said, gripping him tightly.
“Mia, it’s okay.”
“I didn’t want you to see me cry.”
“Why not?”
“Uh, it’s not a pretty sight.”
“You’re naked in a shower … that’s a very pretty sight.”
Of course, because he meant for it to happen, she burst out laughing. “How do you do that? Crying to laughing in under five seconds.”
“I hate seeing you sad … it’s instinct.”
“I really don’t want to leave you,” she said sadly, tears welling in her eyes again.
“Neither do I. But we’ll talk every night, I promise.”
“Our cell phone bills will be crazy expensive.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already spoken to Allie about changing your contract. She got you a new phone, too. It’s so much better than your old flip phone. It can do lots of fun stuff—email, texting, instant messaging, and music. Oh, it can take pictures which you can then send to me.”
“Like naughty pictures?” she said, a smile coming to her face.
“I definitely would not say no to those. Plus you have the video camera—document this. Enjoy this time!”
Mia sighed heavily.
“You can do this,” he said, giving her a squeeze.
She laughed. “The faith you have in me.”
Ethan
Chicago, April 2007
Ethan tried to regard Mia in the recording booth, but could barely see her beautiful face. The large headphones on her head and the filtered microphone in front of her mostly blocked her from his view. Her gorgeous hair, currently covered by his black Flash hat, was pulled back in a ponytail. The front of her green V-neck shirt was tucked into the front of her well-loved jeans, her hands contained in her back pockets. She was the picture of comfort despite the fact that she was at the studio late, finishing up some vocal tracks. The rest of the band had already left for the night. According
to Mia, they were close to being done with the album. Ethan had no clue. He just showed up; watched that gorgeous woman record her music. That’s all he really cared about when he was there.
The playback stopped abruptly. “What’s the problem?” Mia called out. He saw the glimpse of frustration on her face. She wanted out of there.
“Give me a sec,” the producer replied. She sighed and then turned her eyes on him, smiling.
“Bored yet?” she asked with a wink.
Ethan shook his head. He was far from bored. Her enthusiasm here was contagious. Everyone had a smile when she was around. He loved the energy she showed in the studio because she wasn’t always like this. She could be pretty reserved at times.
“Okay, Mia, we’re ready to go. Start from the top,” the producer said.
She nodded and then the music surrounded him again; her voice with its slightly smoky and coarse edge, ringing with confidence.
He focused on her face. God, he loved that face! It really sucked when he couldn’t see it while she was on tour. It made him miserable. Then she finally figured out how to send him pictures with her phone and he’d acquired a collection of photos displaying every kind of emotion from her, but the majority of them were silly; pictures taken to make him laugh. Ethan needed those. He couldn’t believe how much he’d missed her, craving any kind of contact with her.
He’d become addicted to his phone, constantly checking it to see whether Mia had sent him a message. They lifted his spirits, not as well as being with her, but better than nothing at all from her.
While he did love her pictures, Ethan especially loved the long emails she would send. Those were usually waiting for him when he woke in the morning, sent in the middle of the night. He remembered asking if she ever slept to which she’d replied, “I’m a rock star now. No sleep for me.”
The emails would always start out with her talking about her day but would end up discussing their relationship in some way. He liked knowing she had future plans for them, that she saw more than the present.
They talked daily, even if it was just for a few short minutes. Normally, they would speak after her shows when they knew they could talk uninterrupted, but that didn’t always work when she was shuttled directly on to the tour bus. Her bandmates liked to tease her about the calls and could be quite obnoxious about it.
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