After our eventful family visit at Edmiston Manor, we went back to our home and before I knew it, Monday had come knocking on the door. Usually, I would complain about not getting enough time for my pre-lesson prep, but not this time.

I was glad the weekend was over; in fact, I wished for it to fly by since I got overwhelmingly worked up to meet Ethan again to congratulate him on winning his first game of the season personally and to let him know how proud I was of him.

"Hey, champ!" A cry of joy slipped from my lips when I sighted him sitting on the hood of his Wrangler.

Looking all stud-ly as he always has, his face jovial as he smiled watching me come running down the porch over to him.

Ethan quickly got off the Jeep, took a long stride forward, and engulfed me in his arms. "Miss you, man."

He pulled me to his tall, broad frame and lifted me off my feet. I pressed into his denim jacket and strong arms, relinquishing myself to the warmth of his hold. It relaxed me.

Ethan lowered me back to the ground and pulled back making me silently sigh at the loss of his touch. "Me too," I admitted.

There's always been a sense of excitement within me when I am with Ethan. It was like, my heart would start doing a little dance when he's close and boy, it's no secret anymore that I wanted to be around him every minute. It got me to wonder if the same is the case with him.

"Get a room, you two lovebirds." A voice was heard, compelling me to turn my head around to see Olivia, sweeping past us to her car.

"She-devil is out of the cage already?" Ethan asked quietly, sounding concerned.

"Yep," I murmured, popping the 'p'.

Both of his hands then landed on my shoulders and he gave them a firm squeeze. "Are you going to be okay?"

Olivia's suspension was officially over which means she would get tons of chances to terrorize me at two different locations.

"Just ignore her." I pulled my eyes back to his worried face. "Let's talk about you, currently the most talked about person in town."

Ethan cracked a smile with a tint of flush spreading on the cheeks, his perfect teeth shining in the morning light. "I feel flattered."

"You know, I watched a bunch of snap stories of you that night and I'm still trying to figure out how you completed that pass to Kaleb," I told him seriously.

It was the first of two crazy touchdown passes between them, as our football team pummeled our school's rival 39-7 last Friday night.

"Well, don't give me all the credit." Ethan loosely gripped the back of my neck and beamed. "I have great teammates, and had a good pregame talk, remember?"

I pulled my lips tight to stop the corners of my mouth from forming a smile. "But you see, everyone thinks you two make a great pair on the field."

Ethan was silent for a moment and I started to ask myself if I had said something wrong. But instead of answering me, he walked over to the passenger's side.

"Get in. We don't want to be late," Ethan ordered as he wrenched open the Jeep's door, completely changing the subject.

I gave him a look but complied to his request regardless. I would be lying if I said his behavior somewhat didn't confuse me. We aren't that late, I told myself. Once I settled in the seat and had the door shut, Ethan directed his ten million dollar smile at me again before he jogged to the other side.

I fondly watched him through the windshield, lips creased into an ingenious smile until a Chevy in the distant overtook my interest from the boy; consequently, my smile dipped.

That is when I noticed a familiar face -- a face I was not pleased to see again -- in the driver's seat of the black convertible which was parked down the street from my house.

•••

"Did you happen to see Kaleb's car in front of Miss Britt's house?" I asked Ethan when we arrived at school.

I checked the time: 7:35 AM. It was only ten minutes left until the first bell. Most of the parking spaces were empty and some students were still hanging outside of the buildings.

"I did. Why?" A naughty grin worked its way onto his face. "You think he slept with her?"

I quickly covered my mouth. "You're kidding."

"Steve and Kaden have a theory but, he's actually picking up her nephew. Kaleb's just helping the new guy finding his way around the school," Ethan told me.

"Are you sure?" I doubted it. It just didn't seem like something Kaleb would do.

"Come on. You think he's that bad?" Ethan asked with a raised brow.

"I think you're making a mistake by asking me that question. I'm not a fan of him in case you forgot," I answered back snidely.

Ethan scoffed as he killed the engine. "I know he's sometimes mean to you but, everybody makes mistakes, right? I just wish you could see what an amazing soul he has."

"I wish you could see him almost putting his fist through my face last week," I mumbled quietly as I looked away.

"You said something, Andy?" Ethan asked curiously.

"No," I replied looking back at Ethan.

He gave me a strange look. "Okay, I thought you were talking to me."

"I certainly was not." I faked a giggle. Ethan nodded his head and turned his body to get out of the Jeep.

Damn it, Andrew. That was a perfect time. You've been waiting for a week to tell him about Kaleb, I mentally scolded myself. If it's not now, then when?

The next moment the door was pushed open, I reached out for his arm to stop Ethan from stepping out, startling him by accident.

"I'm sorry. I lied!" I blurted out. "I have a confession to make."

Ethan turned around, glancing at my hand on his arm, then back at my face. "I knew it. There's something I need to get off my chest as well."

"Oh," I squeaked out. "What is it?"

Ethan shortly covered his hand over mine, giving me a warm smile. "I'm breaking up with Elle."