Chapter 4

ETHAN'S POV 

I winced as the tip of the bud touched my cheeks. It wasn't really painful yet I felt the urge to act like a child in front of him. 

Jamie was glaring at me viciously as he applied medicine on my bruised cheeks. I didn't expect to get so angry at Trevor. But what he had said pulled out instincts that I never had before.

The instinct to protect Jamie. 

I brought him here so it was only right that I defend him. Trevor had been the unfortunate one to get beaten up. 

Jamie stood up to leave. Without thinking, I grabbed his wrist and pulled a bit too hard. 

He lost his balance and started falling. Before I could react, he fell on me, pushing my back to the bed. 

“Oh my goodness!” I heard someone gasp. 

Jamie's eyes widened and he scrambled away from me. I sat up to see my grandma.

“The door was unlocked. I didn't expect to see the both of you so…” she trailed off while pointing at Jamie then at me. 

“Grandma, it's not…” Jamie tried to explain when she shook her head. 

“I'll excuse you.” She hurriedly left. 

The whole situation seemed like a romance scene from fairytales. Too bad it was Jamie and not a lady. 

“What are you smiling about?” Jamie pushed my head with his index finger. 

I didn't realize I was smiling and it made me grin wider. 

“You felt so soft being on top,” I teased him.

Jamie's cheeks grew hot in seconds. His lips parted various times but nothing came out.

Then he shook his head and walked to the bathroom, slamming it behind him. 

I scoffed and stood up from the bed. It was so easy to get under his skin. 

Had it not been for grandma, I knew he wouldn't have agreed to see me. He was still angry with me. But I was going to make it up to him during this trip as his best friend. 

Grabbing my jacket, I left the room. With Jamie here, I won't have Grandma pestering me with those women anymore. I could finally have some peace. 

As I rounded a corner and was about to go down the stairs, I heard someone making a call. 

“That boy is playing with me! I don't believe he is dating Jamie,” my grandma said to someone on the phone.

My feet stopped on its own accord and I held my breath. She didn't believe me. 

“Don't worry Mrs Briggs, I won't let him deceive me,” she went on. “What about Jane? Is she back? I would like to introduce her to Ethan.” 

I frowned. She wasn't going to back down! 

Was my acting earlier so bad? 

“Of course. I'll prepare a day to invite the both of you to dinner. Ethan can lie all he wants but I know he loves women!” She declared with so much confidence. 

I knew that tone. It was when she had a trick up her sleeve. 

Guess I'd have to suspend my trip to Trevor's room. 

I rushed back to my room. 

“Jamie!” I called out as I entered, and wish I didn't open the door so fast. 

He was naked with only a piece of towel hanging from his waist. I couldn't help but admire his physique. 

With such a small waist, six packs despite being lean and some muscles, Jamie was hot. No, a bit too sexy. 

If I were a lady, I'd have eaten him up. Too bad. 

“Why are you staring at me like that?” He snapped and threw the hand towel he was holding at my face. 

I caught it and cleared my throat. 

“You've been working out?” 

“A bit.” He turned away. “Why are you back so soon?” 

I closed the distance between us and noticed the water droplets falling down his chest and rolling ever so slowly. 

It was a normal thing yet the urge to do something about it filled me. My hands itched to touch him, the thought already corrupting my mind. 

“You can't even dry yourself properly!” I placed the towel on his shoulders and looked away. 

The lower part of my body started reacting. What the hell? 

Have I been so sex starved that I would be getting an erection for Jamie? My best friend? 

“If there's nothing, I'll go and get changed,” he replied coldly, with no affection in his voice.

“Wait,” I grabbed his wrist. “We need to come up with a plan.” 

“What are you talking about?” He began drying his hair and for the first time, I was noticing every single action he took. 

I shook my head and let go of him. This wasn't appropriate.

“I heard grandma talking on the phone. She doesn't believe we are actually in a relationship. We have to do something to convince her.” 

Jamie shrugged. “It's your call. Just now, you pulled away after touching me like my skin had burnt you. How do you want to convince her when you're so stiff?” 

“Wait, that's not…” 

“It's alright. I know it's hard for you. Let me think of something,” he cut in.

How was I supposed to tell him I was worried about taking advantage? 

“Okay,” I glanced at the time. “We should get going. Dinner is ready.” 

He nodded and walked back to dress up. 

I let out a breath of relief. After having not seen Jamie for so long, he has turned out to be this handsome and sexy. 

It was quite unexpected. 

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“Here, you love potatoes,” I smiled warmly, while placing more food on Jamie's plate. 

Earlier, he looked too good. That waist was definitely too tiny for a man. He needed more food. 

Jamie quietly ate his food, not daring to look at anyone. Meanwhile he was the center of attention. 

My uncle and family were present, as well as Trevor and his fake fiancee. I honestly had no idea what Grandma was thinking about accepting a relationship like Trevor's without love. 

I believed in love. My parents were in love until their accident years ago. 

“Stop staring at your boyfriend. He isn't going anywhere,” Trevor broke the silence. 

I threw a glare at him. He was also nursing a bleeding nose and torn lip from the fight earlier. 

“I have to protect him from preying yes, don't I?” 

Jamie shoved me a bit under the table. 

“Protect him?” Trevor scoffed. “More like scared your little secret will be revealed!” 

“Trevor!” I slammed the table. 

“That's enough!” Grandma interceded. 

I grit my teeth in annoyance. Trevor was indeed getting on my nerves. He was doing all these to get Grandma to hand over the company to him. 

Already, grandma didn't believe me. Now Trevor's words were only going to make it worse. 

No, I couldn't let that happen. I needed the company and contract. 

“This is family bonding time. I won't have any of you fighting here!” She snapped, giving the both of us a pointed look. 

“Exactly Grandma. It's family bonding. Every stranger should be removed,” Trevor said. 

I felt Jamie tense up beside me and grew a bit frustrated. 

So I decided to take a big step. 

“Since you doubt our relationship, I'll prove it to you.” 

Right in front of everyone, I pulled Jamie's seat closer. Surprise flashed across his face. 

There was a tiny bit of hesitation before I grabbed the back of his head and captured his lips with mine.

Forgive me, Jamie.