Love, curves and heartbreak Chapter 68

The last few days have been like a roller coaster. After months of working and studying, I was preparing for an important presentation on a particularly complicated subject for my course. We had to present a project we had worked on in a small exhibition center at the school.

I was very nervous but had put in a lot of effort, and my professor was satisfied with the result. On top of this, I had been really busy at the office, so every free moment was spent on this presentation.

Time flies when you're happy, but fortunately, it also flies when you're nervous. We might feel it's different, but the clock ticks on, indifferent to our feelings or desires. After days of anticipation, it was finally time for my presentation. I had it thoroughly organized and knew it would go well.

Throughout the morning, I received greetings and good luck wishes from friends and family. Ethan, in particular, had written to me, saying I would succeed and that I always conquer everything I set my mind to.

All these days, I yearned to ask him so many things... to bring up our relationship, to ask why he did so many things.

Did he really do them for me?

Did he help me, look after me? Was… looking for me?

Why didn't he tell me anything?

Is he in the city? Not in Europe? Why he rejected such an amazing opportunity?

But... I wanted to ask him in person. I wanted to see his expressions, his beautiful face, his eyes.

I was planning to go home for Christmas or a holiday and talk to him. Ethan deserved that and more, and I believed that I can not continue my lives without answers.

It was the time of my presentation, my boss gave me a free day for this moment, it was truly important.

When it was my turn, everything went very well. I was nearly finished, explaining the most important part of the presentation with a closing I was particularly proud of and had carefully prepared.

Suddenly, as I glanced towards the back of the room, my heart skipped a beat. It was just a millisecond, but I felt an amazing sensation filling all my nerves and cells. In the shadows, a handsome man with dirty blonde hair was watching me intently.

I stood there, totally forgetting what I was about to say, as if I were a robot suddenly disconnected from a magical power source. My heart, after that mini jump, started hyperventilating like crazy.

He was here! Ethan! My Ethan! … And at the same time... I completely forgot what I was saying! I stood there with my mouth half open, and everyone must have been wondering… What happened to this woman?

"Sorry... for a second, my mind went blank and... I lost my train of thought," I said apologetically. I saw him grin after my comment.

"It must be that my brain is tired after so many hours of work, and it begs me for a break," I said, trying to recover my thoughts.

I heard some slight laughter at my little joke. Sweet God, I decided to skip to the closing because there was no way I could stop thinking about Ethan. I smiled like an idiot, unable to stop observing his every wonderful movement.

My dream had become reality! He was here!

I didn't know if the attendees noticed my particular predilection for this beautiful listener, but I didn't care. The questions were endless, and after all the presentations were over and the place was almost empty, he was a few steps away, waiting for me. But my soul was already close to him, caressing his blond hair.

He stood near the entrance, watching me walk towards him. The sunlight outside fell on him, and I could already imagine the warmth of his skin. I took a step closer and looked into his eyes. He looked delicious in his formal suit and light shirt. He gave me a shy smile, and I felt like I was in another dimension.

Ethan walked over, and within seconds, my head was on his chest, his arms around my waist, and I exhaled in gratitude for this first step he took. My hands were on his back, and he was stroking my hair.

I intensified the hug, bringing him as close as I could, and we stayed like that for a few minutes, facing the sunset, the city breeze, while he placed his lips on my forehead, simply brushing my skin. I whispered his name, his wonderful name, how beautiful the letters in his name were... Ethan.

I wanted to cry, laugh, scream, pass out, and fall only to get up again and be in his arms. No matter what our reunion was like, all I wanted was this: to be close to him, my head on his chest, to hear the beating of his heart that sounded as desperate as mine.

I wanted to smell him, his perfume, the one that told me he was Ethan, and feel the softness of those shirts he always wore. But most of all, I wanted him to respond to my hug, to feel his hands on my back, in my hair, running down my arms in those smooth, rhythmic movements he always made, as if he wanted to encompass me completely with one touch.

He was the first to pull away, grabbing my face, almost like the last time we saw each other.

“Prissy… I'm sorry I distracted you, you were doing great! I didn't think you would see me… my idea was to go unnoticed."

“I didn't know you were coming! You should have warned me… I’d have been happily waiting for you,” I said, smiling.

“And miss your first performance? Never!” he joked and laughed.

How precious it was to see him laugh. I studied him, and he looked exhausted, with small bags under his eyes and a little thinner. So the first thing I suggested was that we go out and enjoy the city.

"Do you want to go out with me? Or do you have something else to do?” I asked. I didn't even know why he was in Seattle!

“Honestly… no. So… I can do whatever you want, miss,” he said, smiling.

I hoped it was an innocent comment because I swear this man didn't know what he was telling me. I didn't even know how I could articulate a word while his fingers gently caressed my cheek.

“Okay… the first thing we're going to do is eat something delicious. I wouldn’t be a good hostess if I didn't make sure my guest was well-fed,” I said, winking at him. I saw an almost childlike grin on his face at my silly comment.

"I totally agree," he said delightedly, and we got ready to walk.

The day was wonderful. We had dinner, and he seemed like the usual Ethan, the one I loved when he was relaxed. Although, I must say, I loved any Ethan I could have.

We spent the rest of the day walking from one place to another, and I felt more and more nervous. I wanted to take his hand, take his arm, and walk with him. But I felt he was keeping his distance.

I thought he wanted to give me my space, maybe he was thinking the same, testing the situation. I wanted to ask him so many things... to bring up our relationship and what he did. We kept talking about our lives these months, about Lily, his family, and my studies.

When I accompanied him to the door of his hotel, I noticed it was really close to my house. Was it a coincidence? The night was cool, and the wind hugged us gently as I stayed at the entrance of the hotel, saying goodbye to him on a truly fantastic day.

“You look very happy here… really happy,” he said suddenly, raising his hand and stroking my hair. It was true that my life had changed so much.

But I had no doubt that he made my heart vibrate, whether near or far, just thinking about him made me content.

"I have a nice life here... it's the experience I always wanted," I told him, and he smiled sadly again.

"But that doesn't mean that I don't miss my life in the city... and the people in it," I clarified. And it was totally the truth. He smiled, relieved.

"I'm glad. I've had an incredible day… thanks to you," he said, moving his hand to my face.

"And… what are you going to do tomorrow?… Are you free?” I asked. I didn't mind looking desperate or showing my desire to see him, my impatient desire to see him.

"If you don't have plans, we could have dinner... I have a new kitchen in my apartment and I could prepare you a good meal. You know… you always cooked for me, it's time I return the favor," I said.

A dinner at home was better than anywhere else. We could be alone, and I could concentrate on asking him the questions I so desperately wanted answers to.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he responded, looking excited. So far, he was the most expressive Ethan I had ever seen. "So it's a date... I mean, it's a... a meeting... no, not a date," he stammered nervously as he placed his hand behind his neck uneasily.

I held back a laugh. I was really glad I wasn't the only one nervous in this situation. He told me it was a date. For me, it was a date too, but I didn't tell him that.

"Have a good night," I said and kissed him on the cheek, standing on my tiptoes. He leaned in a little and gave me a brief hug that I treasured.

"See you tomorrow," he said, letting go, and I walked away from him, turning every few steps to see him and wave goodbye, while he kept looking at me until I disappeared around the next corner.

Tomorrow, just Ethan and me.