Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

Ethan laughs.

The cashier looks at us like we're crazy. He nods to the salsa bar at the end of the counter. "Salsa and toppings are self-serve."

Ethan pulls out his wallet.

I grab his wrist. "Let me."

He shakes his head. "It's part of my per diem. It's the band's money, not mine."

"Okay." I chew on my bottom lip. It still doesn't feel right letting him pay for me, but I can tell he's going to insist.

After Ethan pays, we get salsas and waters and take our seats in a cozy booth in the corner. This place is cute. The orange walls are decorated with Day of the Dead paintings. The furniture is all tan and brown and there are cacti on every table.

This really is a cozy booth. Ethan's feet are touching mine. When he shifts his weight, his knees touch mine.

I pull my legs onto my bench seat and cross them. That doesn't do anything to ease the nerves fluttering in my stomach.

Ethan's blue eyes are fixed on me. His expression isn't platonic. He's looking at me the way he used to—like I mattered to him more than anything else.

His phone buzzes. It's loud enough I can hear it.

He pulls out his phone. "I'm turning this on silent."

"What is she saying?"

He glances at the phone then his eyes are on mine. "Piper doesn't get that the two of us are just friends."

"Right. Yeah. We're friends. Just friends. I mean, we're not really friends yet, but we're going to become better friends." I grab my water and chug. Ah, that stops the babbling. But my throat still feels dry. My stomach is still twisting in a really unpleasant way.

That look in Ethan's eyes is doing things to me.

My thoughts are interrupted by our food. I dive into my enchiladas before I can say anything else. They're hot enough to burn the roof of my mouth but they're also amazing. The tomatillo sauce is perfectly fresh and tangy.

The two of us being just friends is a good thing. It shouldn't make me feel empty and achy.

His phone flashes. He glances at the screen and shakes his head.

"I… uh…" I take another bite and chew slowly. "How has the band been?"

He looks at me like he'

s judging my intentions. I guess he deems them acceptable because he smiles. "Good. Mal and I had just joined when things ended between you and me." His voice is even and matter of fact about our breakup. It's like he's reciting a date in history class. "Fans really responded to us on that first tour. People liked what I brought on guitar. And you know the way Mal sings all breathy and needy. Women love it."

I nod. Mal does sound like he's in the middle of fucking a woman when he sings. "He's hot."

Ethan laughs. "We waited until we had a fan base to sign a deal. Put out our first record, toured more, put out our second record. We're finally at the point where we can cut back to touring five months a year instead of eight."

"Yeah?"

He nods.

"Using any of that time to date?" Yet another tactless comment. Awesome.

Ethan laughs. "That was smooth, Vi. Really smooth."

"Thank you." My cheeks are burning.

"No, I don't date."