i love reading your comments so thank you for supporting this story. This chapter is for you guys!

by the way i changed the title of my new story Saving Grace to Heart of Gold, check it out please!!

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Chapter 18

Lily's POV

It was dead silent around the dinning table with only the clanking of forks on plates. Dad was surprised to see Ethan sitting at the table but forced a polite hello.

No doubt Jake invited Ethan just to keep the heat off of him for tonight. Wish I thought of that. Twirling my fork I put a fork full of pasta in my mouth enjoying the spicey homemade sauce.

I couldn't help but smile remembering our conversation. We're friends, I have my friend back. I'm not sure how this will work our if I can handle it but I'm willing to try. From the corner of my eye I saw Ethan watching me with a smile of his own.

It dawned on me last night when he had his hands in my hair how much I need him. Ethan has always been my sturdy rock, my shoulder to cry on, only person who understands the diffuculties I went through and still am.

"This is amazing Mrs. Evans, your a talented cook."

I looked up at Ethan's mischevious smirk. My eyes darted to Annabelle, she smiled sweetly but by the way she practically slammed her fork down she is pissed. Ethan saw me in the kitchen cooking... he's doing it on purpose!

"Actually Lily made this." she said through clenched teeth

Ethan winked before returning to his food, I bit my lip from laughing. Haha take that Annabelle!

"She always loved messing around in the kitchen." Annabelle said with a smile

The smile on my face fell, my fist clenched as I waited for her to clarify. Instead she smiled my way and lifted her glass of wine up to her mouth. Dad seemed very aware of what was going cause he stopped chewing and looked down at his plate.

Someones foot rubbed my calve in a circle motion. Startled I looked up to see Ethan mouth the words 'coming from the mother hoe'.

A giggle escaped my lips causing everyone to stare my way. Disguising my laugh for a cough I waved my hand showing I'm fine.

"Hows your father's business Andrew?" dad asked changing the topic

From there we seemed to go into a freindly discussion about careers and futures. Turns out Ethan wants to be a mechanic, he always did love fixing things.

When I went to collect everyones plates Melissa surprised me by taking the remainder plates.

"I'll help you with desert." she said sweetly

What?! Shocked I followed her into the kitchen. Slamming the plates onto the counter Melissa lunged to the fridge and took out the cake.

"Cut me a piece I'm starving!" she hissed

Rolling my eyes I cut her a large piece. Like a pig she is she dug into it. During dinner she barely touched her food since there is a guest.

"How am I suppose to explain a missing piece?" I asked grabbing the cake

Melissa washed her hands and grabbed the forks and plates. Shrugging she went back in with me behind her.

"Mmmm cake!" Jake held out his hands for a piece

I gave the first piece to Ethan since he is the guest than dad and Annabelle. Jake practically ripped my arm off grabbing his piece. I handed a piece to Melissa and she shook her head.

"No thank you I'm full from dinner." she smiled in Ethan's direction

Both Ethan and I bursted in laughter. Covering Melissa's front teeth was chocolate, busted! Jake picked his head up and laughed with us as dad struggled not to. Annabelle looked mortified as she covered her face.

"What?" Melissa asked looking around frantically

"You got a little.." I pointed my finger to her teeth

Her hand rose to her teeth and she gasped standing up almost knocking her chair over.

"You did that on purpose!" she shreiked before storming upstairs

I didn't tell her to stuff cake down her throat like an animal. Ignoring the dark stare from Annabelle I ate what was suppose to be Melissa's piece.

Everyone ate talking causally about recent events, games and everything between. I spoke only when Ethan tried including me into a conversation which was often. When we finished Annabelle went up stares to check on Melissa, more like avoid the clean up. Every night was a different excuse.

Dad had some work he had to attend to in his office and Jake took that as time to go video chat with Cindy which he isn't allowed for this weekend.

It was just Ethan and me. I put the cake in the fridge since Ethan insisted on helping with the dishes. He looked hot in his black short sleeved shirt as it hugged his body nicely revealing his well toned body. I leaned against the fridge admiring how his jeans outlined his butt, he looked good.

Mmmm he looks good enough to eat. I licked my lips as I thought of my tongue running over his body. No bad girl!

Snapping out of my perverted thoughts I grabbed a towel and dried the dishes. Ethan smiled his warm genuine smile at me and it took all my strength to not melt.

"It was pretty tense in there."

"Just another normal day." I mumbled

He shut the water and dried his hands. No doubt we looked like some crazy family. I tossed the towel and grabbed the plates. Opening the top draw above the sink I stood on my tippy toes very aware of my hips brushing against his lower area.

Heat rushed to my cheeks at the contact. Ethan's hands pushed mine gently so the plates were in there place. I felt his hard chest against my back as I slid down. My teeth sank into my bottom lip, keep it together.

We put the rest of the dishes away silently but it was a comfotable silence.

"Wow I've never finished this quickly."

Ethan leaned against the counter "No one helps?"

I took out the extra bowl of frosting placing it by Ethan. Grabbing two spoons I handed one to him.

"What you saw is what happens everyday?" I said before putting a spoonful of frosting in my mouth

Ethan stared wide eyed at me.

"Bhat?" I asked mouth full of sugary goodness

He just shook his head with smile on his face. I watched him take a smaller bite, smaller than mine. Shouldn't I be all proper and him a pig?

"You haven't changed."

My eyebrows knitted together, did he want me to?

"What does that mean?" I asked as he put a spoon of frosting in his mouth.

Not so proper now "It means you still eat like a pig."

His eyes traveled down to my collar bone were a dollop of chocoalate was. Ethan chuckled, scooping up the frosting with my finger I smeared it on his cheek.

"Looks better on you."

With two fingers he scooped the frosting and put it in his mouth. I felt my mouth go dry, that was kind of hot.

"It tastes better on you though." he teased

I pushed him playfully which caused him to chuckle. His fingers brushed my cheek.

"Your blushing." he laughed

"Am not!"

Ethan scooped some frosting into his mouth a stupid smirk on his face. Giving him a dark stare I cursed my body for giving me away. With a pouty lip I scooped another large dollop of frosting in my mouth.

"You shouldn't pout your lip it will fall off."

I rolled my eyes swallowing the frosting, not him too.

"So how does this whole friendship thing work?" I asked

Yeah real mood killer but I need to know the ground rules. Last night I stripped in front of the guy and now I'm eating leftover frosting.

Ethan ran his tongue over his teeth getting the frosting out. His face drained of all fun as he stared down at the counter.

"Its not some speacil relationship Lily, just act normal around me."

"I do act normal around you." I lied

Using the back of my spoon I made swirly designs like on the cake. Ethan laughed a humorless laugh. The pain in his voice was unmistakeable.

"Everytime you see me you run in the opposite direction, you ignore me when I say hi."

His jaw clenched and unclenched. Ethan looked like a broken man, his mouth was pulled downwards in a frown. Guilt washed over me, I wasn't fair to him.

All I thought about was myself all this time. Ethan reminded me of my past, a past I don't want to remember but I don't want to forget him. That night I told him everything my mom did he didn't freak out, he didn't even look digusted.

Ethan just held me as I sobbed. He was there for me.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled

Ethan raised his head up to me, his usual warm green eyes were hard as rock. His brows knit together as he stared at me curiously.

"The day after I told you everything I felt like I was being sucked back into that life. My memories became more vivid and I freaked out." I shrugged my shoulders

Ethan's face softened as his eyes became endless pools of green water. Unable to look at him I looked down at my fingers twisting them nervously.

"Never once did I think I was hurting you and I didn't mean to. I just needed to escape the nightmares."

Tears stung my eyes as I remembered those lonely nights when I sat in my bed crying. Refusing to cry, I am not going to cry.

Taking a deep breath I forced a smile onto my face and raised my head. Ethan smiled but by the sympathetic look on his face I wasn't doing a good job of hiding my pain.

"I'm not really in the mood for frosting anymore."

I pushed the bowl away from me. Ethan put it back in the fridge and washed the spoons. He paused by the fridge and stared at me like I'm an impossible puzzle he's working on.

"What if I help get rid of your nightmares?"

I rolled my eyes, sure its that easy. Ethan walked over to me his face lighting up like a kid on Christmas.

"How do you plan on doing that? Sleeping beside me?" I said sarcastically

Ethan raised a brow suggestively. Hmmm not a bad idea but he declined last night, tonight won't be different.

"I don't think your parents will like that. I was thinking more like talking before you go to bed. You know put good thoughts in your head."

Good thoughts like when you read a story to a kid before bed. Would it work? Ethan stared at me waiting for my answer, he was biting his lip holding back a smile. Weird thing to get excited about.

It wouldn't hurt to try besides hearing his voice every night doesn't sound too bad.

"Alright but if you get annoying I'm hanging up." I warned

Ethan chuckled "I'll just call you again."

I crossed my arms over my chest trying to seem serious but the smile on my face was not helping.

"Than I won't answer."

He unfolded my arms, his fingers curled around my wrists a teasing smile on his face.

"That's ok I'll just have to come to your room in the middle of the night in my pajamas and I sleep in my boxers."

I felt my face flaming at the image of Ethan in my room at midnight in his boxers.

"Fine I won't hang up."

Ethan chuckled and pulled me into a hug. "Oh I liked the idea of having to sneak into your room in my boxers."

I pushed his chest playfully but still stayed pressed against his chest loving the feel of his hard muscles under my hands.

"Your such a perv." I said

He gave me his cocky croaked smirk and shrugged his shoulders.

"Let go before they think I deflowered you." I said as I pulled away

Ethan chuckled wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "I like that thought, we'll do it tonight when I sneak into your room in my boxers."

I elbowed him as he chuckled, just than my phone vibrated. Ethan let me go. Reaching into my front pocket I pulled my phone out

Where did u disappear 2 last night? call me now!!

Ashton

Damn I forgot about Ashton. I sighed and slipped my phone back into my pocket.

Ethan ran his fingers through his chocolate colored hair his jaw clenched.

"I should go but I'll see you later."

He's leaving already? I nodded disappoint clear on my face.

"Bye."

Ethan smiled a weak smile at me before leaving through the back door. I heard his engine flare to life as he sped down the street.

Looking around the empty kitchen I sighed and head upstairs. I'll call Ashton tommorow. Changing into one of Jake's large shirts and plaid long pajama bottoms.

Heading downstairs I watched the movie Beastly. The whole time I was cursing Alex Pettyfer's character for not knowing she has feelings for him. How stupid can you get I mean isn't it obvious?!

When the movie finished I went upstairs since no one came down. Snuggling into bed I pulled the covers up to my chin.

As I began to drift off just as my phone vibrated. Ugh!! I sat up, the day ends the same way it ended.

"Hello." I snapped

"Am I annoying you already?"

My lips twitched into a smile as excitement burst through me.

"Not yet."

"Damn I was ready to climb up through your window."

I laughed than bit my lip careful not to wake anyone. I doubt anyone is a sleep, more like avoiding the others.

"Your order is ready ma'am one hunky dream chaser hot off the grill." he said in a horrible attempt at a girl voice

"Do you have anything better?" I teased

Ethan's throaty laugh rang in my ear sending shivers of excitement down my spine. I can get use to this.

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~LovelyDove43~