Chapter 135: Want to Go for a Ride?

ELLIE

Ethan stopped beside me, clearly uncomfortable, confirming my suspicion that the blonde was more than just an old friend.

“Emma,” he said indifferently, nodding in greeting.

“Ethan Morgan…” Her smile widened excessively. “I thought it was you. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

*Seriously?* I took a deep breath, struggling not to roll my eyes. Was she really going to keep acting like I wasn’t standing right here? I mean, if she had seen him before, she must have seen the kiss too. It didn’t take much more than that to figure out who I was.

“Yeah, I guess it has,” he said, making no effort to hide his total lack of interest, then turned his attention back to me. “Love…”

“And you must be the girlfriend,” she cut him off, her gaze focusing on me in a scrutinizing way. “I almost didn’t believe it when they told me. I mean, it’s Ethan… we thought he was a lost cause.” She forced a laugh, trying to sound sympathetic or funny, as if that could make her comment any less unpleasant.

God… It was almost impossible not to roll my eyes. No one should be that rude.

Still, I was nearly used to this kind of situation by now. After all, it wasn’t the first time I ran into one of his “friends.” They seemed to be multiplying. Maybe that explained the *we thought.*

First the blonde at the bar, then the ex-fiancée. Actually, I had bumped into Charlotte first at his apartment, which hadn’t ended well at the time.

And here we were once again. Only this time, I felt nothing but boredom and impatience, and I wasn’t in the mood to play the polite, clueless girlfriend.

“He’s really not easy… but I forgave him. After all, we all make a few mistakes before finding the right person,” I shot back, masking a hint of sarcasm with a friendly tone. “Some more than others, right, love?” I forced a smile at him, not hiding the accusation in my eyes, while his pleaded silently for forgiveness.

“You know I would have given anything to have met you earlier.”

“Yeah, I know. Weren’t you going to grab some wine?” I asked, deciding to handle the situation myself.

“Now?” He frowned in a mixture of surprise and confusion.

“Uh-huh.”

Frowning even deeper, he gave me a skeptical look, as if asking if I was sure.

“Go,” I insisted. “We need wine for dinner.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back,” he agreed, giving in.

I waited until he disappeared down the hallway again before turning my attention back to the blonde.

“So, you two dated for a while?” I asked, wanting to test her, even though I knew they’d never been more than casual.

I remembered well the rumors I had heard about Ethan when he arrived in Manhattan, specifically about the kind of relationship he had with two women back in London. Some sort of love triangle.

To me, it was simply disgusting that someone would subject themselves to that, but I couldn’t judge him for his past choices now that I knew the reasons behind his actions.

“No. We never dated. I mean, Ethan’s not the type for that. I’m sorry, I meant he wasn’t… But it looks like you managed to change that.”

“No. The credit’s not mine. Actually, he’s been working hard at it.”

“Well, I don’t know how long you’ve been together, but I hope you enjoy it,” she said with a fake, condescending smile. “Between us girls, we both know he’s got the best asset to make a girl happy.” She winked suggestively, finally managing to seriously annoy me—not just for being so brazen but for acting like she knew him better than I did.

“Well, I think we’ve been together long enough…” I said, lifting my hand to show the ring on my finger. “I know, crazy, right?” It was my turn to force an exaggerated smile.

Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped, unable to hide her surprise and disbelief.

“You two are…?”

“Engaged. Yes. I couldn’t say no. He practically begged me on his knees,” I exaggerated a little, enjoying her reaction.

“Oh my God… that’s… unbelievable,” she stammered, clearly in shock. “But congratulations.”

Savoring the sweet taste of victory, I let the silence linger as she stared at the ring on my finger, as if still unable to believe it.

“Thank you,” I finally said, making her blink.

“Well… It was nice meeting you, but I have to go now.”

*Finally*.

“The pleasure was all mine,” I said, this time smiling genuinely.

“Good riddance,” I muttered, watching her walk away.

The encounter made me wish we could just go home already, where I knew no one from Ethan’s past would be waiting.

✽

“Are you sure you’re not upset?” he asked, following me into the kitchen and placing the bags on the counter.

“You already asked, and I already said I’m not,” I shot back, turning on the faucet to wash my hands.

“Well, then try hiding it better,” he whispered playfully against my ear, stopping behind me.

“Fine…” I sighed heavily and turned to face him, forcing him to take a step back. “What do you want me to say? That I’m happy I had to listen to one of your… old friends talking nonsense about you and the size of your dick?”

“She talked about my dick?” he fought to contain a stupid grin.

“You’re such an idiot,” I rolled my eyes, brushing past him and going back to the groceries.

“I’m sorry, I’m just messing with you…” He kissed my shoulder, stopping behind me again and wrapping his arms around me, clearly amused. “But you have to understand, you know it’s impossible to forget the riskiest ride in the park,” he teased.

“Go to hell,” I elbowed him lightly.

“Ouch…” he groaned dramatically as I moved away to put the ice cream in the freezer. “Is this what you call not upset?”

“I’m not upset,” I said, closing the fridge door and crossing my arms as I leaned against the counter behind me. “But seriously… another blonde?”

“Okay, fine, you’re not upset, you’re just jealous,” he teased, stepping closer and stopping right in front of me.

“Jealous?” I laughed sarcastically. “Come on, Morgan. We both know you’d get on your knees right now if I told you to. Just like you got on your knees and begged me to marry you.”

“I begged?” he frowned in confusion.

“Yeah, at least that’s what your old friend is going to tell the others.”

“I begged?”

“On your knees,” I teased with a grin, moving around him to go back to the counter.

“You’re terrible,” he said, grabbing my arm and pulling me back to him.

Spinning us around, he pushed me back against the counter and lifted me up onto it, positioning himself between my legs.

“But you’re not wrong. I would beg on my knees if necessary, and I’d get on my knees right now if you asked… as long as it’s to feel you on my tongue,” he teased seductively.

“I know, and that’s why I’m not upset or jealous…” I said, raising my hand to caress his face, sliding my thumb over his bottom lip. “Because I know you love me… And also because I’m the only one who gets to ride the riskiest ride in the park,” I teased, biting my lip and watching his brown eyes darken with desire.

“So, how about taking a ride right now?”