Chapter 23 ― Ethan Porter 

I grabbed Niall’s hand trying to reassure him a bit. We were in front of my brother’s house and Niall was literally shaking. I thought it was quite adorable so I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry, it’s gonna be fine!” I told him smiling but he’s still looked worried. “Oh, c’mon. I gave you the option to stay at the hotel. You wanted to come.”

“Ethan is great! You don’t have anything to worry about,” Phebs added putting her hand on his shoulder and squeezing gently.

“Stop moaning, it’s gonna be fine,” Belle said next to me and made her way to the door. We followed her, Niall never let go of my hand.

She rang the bell and seconds later the door opened and my brother popped up his head. I squeaked and ran to hug him forgetting about my friends and boyfriend there. I hadn’t seen my brother in forever, I couldn’t wait a second longer to hug him.

“Alex!” He exclaimed hugging me tight. “Oh God, how I’ve missed you!”

“I’ve missed you, too!” I replied without letting him go. Just after a few moments I stepped back and let my friends say hello to my brother. Niall was still standing a few feet away and I approached him to take his hand. “Relax, it’s just my brother. He’s twenty-five! He’s a nice bloke, you’re gonna like him,” I promised smiling to encourage him. We walked together towards my brother who was glancing at us with one eyebrow raised. “Ethan, this is my boyfriend, Niall. He’s in the band we are on tour with.” I introduced the blond Irish guy.

“Nice to meet you,” my brother said with a serious expression and I wanted to punch him because I knew what he was doing: he was trying to intimidate Niall. “I’m Ethan Porter and you must know that if you break my little sister’s heart, I’ll break every bone in you body. Got it?”

I gasped and Belle and Phebs looked impressed. We had never heard Ethan saying something so… threatening. What was wrong with him? I saw Niall’s expression and how he went pale and swallowed hard. “I would never do that,” Niall promise. “If I do, I’ll break my own bones for you,” he offered and I looked at him surprised. Now, what was he doing? What was wrong with men that day?

My brother laughed and Niall frowned not understanding what was going on. Well, join the club, Niall!

“I like this lad,” Ethan stated looking at me with a bright smile. “A little bit extreme, but I like it. Come in!”

I stood there glancing at Ethan then Niall. I would never understand men’s minds. And then they said women were complicated. I shook my head and took Niall’s hand as we made our way into Ethan’s house. It was what you would expect from a man who lived alone. Very simple, a bit messy but clean, dark, plain colours, minimalist decoration, a huge telly in the living room, tons of food, and things like that. I really liked my brother’s house.

We sat on the sofa in the living room and I knew Niall was still a bit tense, so I kissed his cheek and whispered into his ear: “Don’t worry. He already likes you and even if he didn’t, I do like you, and very much.”

He met my eyes and a smile appeared on his sweet face. “And that’s all that matters.” I nodded and followed my brother to the kitchen for refreshments.

“So, how’s everything going?” He asked me and I smiled automatically.

“Great. The lads are amazing, I love them all and being part of the tour is just indescribable. We’re having so much fun!” I responded and he smiled at me, happy for me.

“I’m glad, you really seem happy and that’s all what I care about. I hope they’re treating you right.” I nodded and his smile grew bigger. “And, tell me, how did you end up with Niall? He doesn’t seem like the kind of bloke you would date. No offence.”

“None taken. I thought the same at the beginning but he’s different, you know? He treats me right, he makes me feel special, loved,” I trailed off feeling my cheeks burning a little bit. From the corner of my eye I saw Ethan grinning.

“Then it’s fine. If you like him, he must be a good lad.”

“He is,” I told Ethan. I bit my lower lip because I knew I just sounded like a cheesy teenager with her first crush, but Niall made me feel that way, like everything was new. Kind of crazy, right? I never thought that would be possible, and I loved it.

We went back with the girls and Niall who seemed a lot more relaxed, so I assumed my words reached him and my friends must have added something. We started talking and Ethan asked a lot of things to Niall and everything was fine until they starting talking about sports. I could be a tad manly for my stuff, but sports weren’t my thing. When men talked about football or cricket, for instance, I felt so much like a girl. But I was glad in that occasion because it gave them something in common to talk about and get along.

Half an hour later, they seemed best mates as we were at the kitchen preparing lunch. And by we I meant me, Phebs and Belle were eating the ingredients.

“They seem to get along pretty well now,” Phebs commented and I nodded with a smile. “Poor Niall, he was so nervous at the beginning.”

“Yeah, because you didn’t help! Talking like my brother was the next Hulk wasn’t cool, girls!” I complained looking at them sternly and they just laughed.

Ethan was a protective brother, of course, even more since our parents’ death, but he was a nice bloke, too, fair and tolerant. He always gave people an opportunity.

I made spaghetti for lunch and we all ate together talking about different things. I had missed my brother so much and it was nice to talk to him face to face, knowing about what he was doing. As Niall and the girls offered to wash the dishes, Ethan and I got time alone and he told me about this girl he was dating. It seemed pretty serious and I was so happy for him, she sounded so lovely and I wanted to meet her. He promised to introduce us before we left the city.

The guys came back and we decided to watch a movie and that was what we did, at least until the bell rang and my brother went to see who it was. I stayed there next to Niall cuddling and breathing his scent that I liked it so much. “So, was it that terrible?” I asked him in a whisper and he shook his head. “See? I told ya! Never believe these girls!” We laughed as Phebs and Belle looked offended.

“Your brother is really nice,” he commented kissing my temple.

“I told you, and of course he’s nice. He’s my brother! We have the same DNA,” I replied cockily and he chuckled giving me another kiss. I loved those sweet kisses, too.

“Dude, I finally got it! You’re gonna love me for this,” we heard a clear American accent coming from the hall. My brother had company.

I turned around to see who the boy that had interrupted us was and my eyes found a very tall and strong built man dressed in black clothes, combat boots like mine, black and long hair, grey eyes, strong and very manly features but with a lovely smile. He, also, had dimples. I believed I wasn’t the only one staring at him, but his grey eyes were fixed on me and probably Niall noticed it because I felt him tensing next to me and that made me wake up from this weird trance I was immersed in.

“Jack, these are my sister and her friends,” Ethan introduced us. “Guys, this is my friend and co-worker, Jack.”

Jack approached us and shook our hands leaving me to the end. His glance was so intense and I felt a bit intimidated at the beginning.

“He’s American, got here very recently,” Ethan explained.

“And I wonder why I didn’t meet you before, considering you’re his sister,” he mused with this deep voice.

“I don’t live here, I live in London and we’re just passing by,” I told with a polite smile. His glance glued on me and I was starting to feel uncomfortable.

“You must know your brother didn’t mention you before! I didn’t know he had a sister,” he added looking at Ethan reproachfully shaking his head slightly. “I don’t know why he kept you in the shadows.”

“Because you came here to work, not to meet Alex. Now tell me what you did,” Ethan asked and Jack finally focused on someone else. I relaxed immediately and let go the air I was holding without even noticing. He was quite the character.

“Oh, right. Let’s go to your office,” Jack said walking away to that room my brother had as an office.

“Be right back,” Ethan said as he walked behind Jack. That man was really confident, I could immediately say.

“Wow,” Belle said and I turned back to look at her. She had her mouth slightly open. “I hadn’t seen a guy like that one in a long time.” I hummed as Phebs nodded still looking impressed. And who wouldn’t? Jack was hot, he had a powerful presence and you just couldn’t ignore he was in the room. He knew he was attractive, it was obvious, and he knew he had a pretty intense effect on women.

“He looks like that guy you love from the movie Thor, but darker,” Phebs commented offhandedly and I felt Niall tensing next to me. I looked at him and I could see he wasn’t amused, he was pretty serious and that was something so weird in him.

“You okay?” I asked him even though I could guess why he was acting like that.

“Aye, I’m fine. So, Alex… you used to date guys like him, uh?” He inquired nonchalantly avoiding my glance.

“Hmm… I guess you can say that,” I replied still trying to make eye contact. “Niall?” I called him but he was still avoiding me. Phebs and Belle noticed what was going on and the blonde girl seemed to realise that what she had said didn’t help, in fact, it had been what brought us to that point. They stood up and Phebs mouthed a sorry before going to the kitchen. “Niall,” I called him again and this time he met my eyes.

“What?” he asked like nothing was going on.

“Are you jealous?” I asked leaning into him and smiling sheepishly. He blushed furiously and avoided my glance. “You are!” I stated loudly grabbing his arm.

“No, why would I be jealous of a bloke who is just like the kind you like?”

“You are jealous!” I stated again smiling widely. I started giggling because this whole situation seemed so cute to me.

“I’m not!” he protested and I giggled more. “I’m telling you, I’m not jealous of that pompous American dude,” he said mimicking the way Jack had called Ethan. I burst out laughing and he looked at me offended.

“You’re so jealous but that’s kinda cute,” I declared biting my lower lip. “But I want you to know this: I like you, very, very much. Yeah, you’re not like the kind I used to date.” He breathed in sonorously and held my gaze; I just smiled. “You’re way better.”

He looked surprised for a few seconds before a lovely and oh-so adorable smile appeared on his face. I loved his smile, with his braces and everything, that smile that lit up his whole face and made him so… handsome.

I leaned in cupping his face as he did the same. Half way our lips met and I closed my eyes tasting and enjoying the kiss.