Ethan (Face-Off 5)

Is my brother any better? Not really. In fact, he might even be worse than Ethan. More often than not, Will lands on the pages of my newspaper with a different girl on his arm.

Ethan stalks toward me. “You wish you could have me, princess. Bitter isn’t a good look for you.”

“I hate you,” I scream, not realizing my anger.

“No, you don’t.” Ethan throws his hands onto his hips, drawing my attention to his thick chest and muscular arms.

Why does someone so attractive have to be so damn annoying? After all the years of hating Ethan, and him being a dick in return, I can’t stand the sight of Ethan fucking Waters. He knows he’s God’s gift to women. And he is, which makes me hate him even more.

Will and Ethan raid my fridge for a few minutes before they realize I have nothing to offer.

“Speaking of credit cards.” Ethan stares into my empty fridge that contains condiments and a few aged half-eaten takeout containers I need to throw out. “Why don’t you use yours to buy some food?”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I stare up at Ethan. Who the hell does he think he is? What I do with my money is none of his business.

“Because I have student loans, rent, a car payment, and no money left on my credit card,” I quip. “If you two are going to stay here, you can at least buy your own food. I can’t afford to take care of you.”

“We’ll get you some food tomorrow,” Will mumbles. “I hate to see you living like this.” He shakes his head, and the same white-blond hair as mine falls onto his forehead. “Why didn’t you say something, Mia? I have money. You don’t have to live like this.”

“Food would be great,” I interject. “Enough about me. I don’t need another brotherly lecture.”

Will reaches for the bottle of vodka in my freezer, but I steal it away from him. “You’ve had enough to drink tonight.” I tuck the bottle back in place and shut the freezer door. “I made up the bed for you in the guest room. Why don’t you get some sleep? I have to get up early for work.”

“Me, too.” Will cups my shoulder with his big hand, his balance a little unsteady with how much alcohol he’s drunk. “We have an interview with your paper in the morning.”

Leaving Ethan in the kitchen, I lead Will into the guest bedroom that’s the size of a walk-in-closet. My brother stumbles into the dark room and walks into the metal bed frame, hitting his shin pretty hard.

“Fuck,” he yells and falls onto the mattress, grabbing his leg with both hands.

I sit next to him and turn on the bedside lamp. The dim light casts a shadow on his face. We’re three years apart and look so much alike with our mother’s white-blonde hair and light blue eyes.

“Do you want me to grab you a glass of water and some Tylenol?”

He shakes his head and sinks into the pillows, staring up at me with one eye open. “Nah, I’m good. Night, baby sis.”

I strip off his shoes, throw them onto the floor, and push myself up from the bed. “Night, big bro.”

Will is snoring by the time I close the door behind me. For a few seconds, I forget what awaits me in the kitchen, until I find Ethan sitting on the counter pounding the bottle of vodka. Asshole.

“Hand it over.” I hold out my palm and wait for him to give it to me.

Ethan tips the discount bottle of vodka I bought last year to his lips and winks at me, drinking most of the remaining liquid just to spite me. He takes one more sip before he places the bottle in my hand and squeezes my fingers around it along with his. A chill runs through me from the cold bottle and the effect Ethan’s touch has on me.

We always had chemistry, so it’s no surprise that bein

g this close to him stirs up feelings from the past. Those emotions last for all of three seconds before I remember what he did to me. He left me behind as if I meant nothing to him. Snapping myself back to reality, I recall how much I hate Ethan and turn away from him.

When he slides off the counter, he falls into me, knocking my shoulder. I stumble for a second and use the refrigerator handle for support.

“Time for you to go to bed,” I tell Ethan.

“Yes, Mommy,” he says, breathing vodka in my face. “Are you going to tuck me in and give me a goodnight kiss?”

I snort. “In your dreams, buddy.”

He hooks his arm around my back, and his hand grazes my left breast.

“Don’t be a pig, Ethan.”