"How does the house look like?" - Ian asks Meredith with a toothy smile, continuing to fill the five glasses with a nice red wine, while I would like to make him understand that there are just four of us, but I let him do it and bring my eyes back to my friend, who approaches slowly to the sofa, shrugging her shoulders:
"It's not luxurious, but it's fine." - she says, looking around as I did a little while ago, but if I was enthusiastic and couldn't wish for anything else, Meredith assumes a grimace:
"Isn't there a television?" - she asks puzzled in a shy voice, making me roll my eyes.
"There is only one rule in this house." - Ian points Meredith with his forefinger, making me smile for her expression, while in the meantime I take off my heavy jacket with difficulty:
"No TV." - he begins to say with a warning tone, and then leans towards my friend and takes the phone from her hand:
"And no phone." - he adds immediately after, while Meredith opens her mouth offended, but Ian doesn't pay attention to her, addressing me with the same expression, so I hasten to raise my hands in the air in surrender, and then stretch the phone in his direction.
After all, the only calls I get are from my father, one more reason to deprive myself of that diabolical and useless contraption.
The smile dies on my lips when Ethan's footsteps get heavier behind me, but I try to avoid it, unlike my friend who doesn't take her eyes off him until he greets her by lifting his chin:
"We're four." - Ethan frowns, looking at the glasses placed on the table and making me understand that I was right, but when Ian widens his smile I get confused too:
"I invited a friend of ours. I hope you don't mind. »- he hands one of the glasses to Ethan, who has an impassive face, as if he were used to Ian inviting strangers into the house.
«Tomorrow is your birthday and believe me, he is one who knows how to organize parties.» -Ian continues, while he nods to his own words, offering me a glass, and then jerks his head towards the door when hears the bell suddenly rings.
I sigh heavily, casting a quick glance at Ethan, who hurries his eyes away from mine when he notices I've caught him staring at me, then brings his eyes to my back, dilating his pupils as the door swings open, while his reaction leads me to do the same, but not before hearing someone exclaim behind me:
"Here I am! Oh, fuck ... »- he stops at his footsteps when he crosses my eyes, while my heart rises in my throat as soon as Jack appears in front of me.
I get to my feet as soon as I can find the courage to breathe, while Ian moves his gaze between me and the man beside him:
"My cousin is the king of parties." - he says perplexed, but I don't give him time to finish talking that I hurry to point my finger at Jack, who I discover is his cousin, even if I never had the opportunity to get to know Ian or his family:
"What are you doing here?" - I ask in a tone so cold that I hope Ethan can kick him out of his house as soon as possible, but if there is one thing I know about the man behind me is that he feels joy in seeing me suffer, so I'm sure he won't intervene.
«I didn't know you were here, Valerie.» - he raises a hand in the air, almost worried, crossing his arms under his chest:
"Do you know each other?" - Ian resumes looking at me with a confused expression, feeling almost guilty for his choice, while I begin to feel selfish: after all he is his cousin and I have no right to prevent him from staying here, even if, if only I had known that I was going to spend another five days of my life with Jack under the same roof, I would definitely not have agreed to come here.
"No problem. I'm going back. "- Jack's voice annoys me even more than his presence, but as soon as he turns his back, I hurry to stop him, glancing quickly at Ian, who looks like a whipped puppy for his cousin's reaction.
"Stay." - I say in a faint voice, really hoping that I have not heard and aware of the fact that I will regret it:
"What?" - Jack assumes a confused expression, making me understand that he has not really heard my answer, but before opening my mouth again Ethan's hoarse and low voice behind me makes me realize his sudden proximity:
"Let him go." - he mumbles between his teeth, taking advantage of the fact that Jack's eyes are completely lost in mine.
His words come out almost like a prayer, making me frown, as this is the first time Ethan's tone is not authoritative: I am so distracted by the hoarse tone of his voice that I am almost tempted to follow his advice and obey him, but Meredith doesn't think twice before anticipating me with her innocent child's voice:
"She said you can stay."
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