Ethan (Alluring Indulgence #5)(22)
Author: Nicole Edwards

“This is work, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“The hell it is.” Blake’s anger seemed out of place, especially since Blake had insisted on having the last word two weeks ago. “Work would be dumping that shit off. What I saw when I pulled up wasn’t work.”

Ethan had no idea why he felt the need to explain himself, but he had to catch the words before he went any further. He didn’t want to intentionally hurt Blake, but their time together had run its course, and Ethan did want to move on. Having Blake show up every time he turned around was starting to seriously piss him off.

“Look, –” Blake promptly cut him off before he could finish his sentence.

“He’s been talking shit about me, hasn’t he?” Blake asked hysterically. “Is that why you don’t want to see me anymore? Are you listening to his lies?”

What the fuck? Ethan felt like he was in an alternate universe, one where Blake had the ability to rewrite history and change what had happened.

Glancing over his shoulder, Ethan noticed that Beau was watching them closely. He turned back to Blake, trying to see what part of this that he’d missed. It wasn’t like Ethan had any contact with Beau. Well, aside from one kiss that had rocked his world and now this… today. But this was business, nothing more.

Ethan had known Blake for a while. Spent a lot of time with him and was privy to numerous sides of his personality. He certainly was extremely self-centered, insistent that everything revolved around him, but this seemed a little much, even for Blake.

Ethan had no idea what Blake was rambling about. None whatsoever.

He turned again to see Beau still staring at the two of them, his biceps bulging through the tight sleeves of his short sleeved t-shirt as he crossed his arms over his chest. How the hell wasn’t he cold? It probably wasn’t more than thirty-five degrees outside, and that didn’t include the wind chill factor.

Turning back to face Blake, Ethan mirrored Beau’s defensive stance, crossing his arms over his chest and keeping several feet between the two of them. He raised an eyebrow, signaling Blake to continue. If he knew anything about Blake, the guy would ultimately end up putting his own foot in his mouth before it was all over. He never had learned when to shut the hell up.

“I helped him move his stuff,” Ethan explained, gesturing toward the hulking toolbox still sitting on the flatbed, although he had no idea why he bothered to say anything. He didn’t owe Blake any explanations.

“Are you dating him?” Blake asked, not seeming to have heard a word Ethan said.

Ethan leaned in closer to Blake, lowering his voice so only he could hear. “That’s not any of your damn business.” Ethan knew he should’ve just denied it, but he didn’t. He wasn’t dating anyone, hadn’t ever dated anyone, in fact. But more accurately, there wasn’t anything between him and Beau.

Blake met his gaze, his green eyes glittering like emeralds. He was pissed, but Ethan wasn’t sure why that was.

“You fucker,” Blake yelled at Beau over Ethan’s shoulder. “You should learn to keep your fucking mouth shut. What happens between us is none of your goddamn business.”

Ethan grabbed Blake’s arm, pulling him around the side of the truck and out of Beau’s line of sight. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I know he told you. But he’s a fucking liar.”

When Ethan stared back at him, trying to catch up to the crazy that had obviously infiltrated Blake’s brain, Blake stopped talking. Ethan spurred him on when he said, “What exactly did he lie about?”

“I wasn’t really with that guy that night. But I knew he’d lie about it so you wouldn’t want to see me anymore. He was just a friend. Nothing happened.”

Ethan’s heart did a strange misstep in his chest. He felt his face warm as the ever-present anger that simmered on low inside of him roared to a full boil. The biting cold wind had nothing on the fire that suffused his face as he stared back at Blake. Of all the crap he had expected of Blake, being a cheater hadn’t been it. But obviously, based on the story he was telling, that’s exactly what he was. And Ethan had no room in his life for that shit.

“You cheated on me?”

Shit. Why did he ask that? It sounded like they’d actually been in a relationship. They hadn’t. It was just casual sex. Friends with benefits. Ethan didn’t do relationships. And he damn sure didn’t have a relationship with Blake.

“I didn’t. Beau’s lying,” Blake retorted defensively.

“Well, then, why don’t you explain your side of the story.” Crossing his arms over his chest again, Ethan tried to contain his temper.