Chapter 5 Why do I even try?

Sloane's POV

He didn't sign the darned shirt.

He just... looked at me the type of way you'd look at the maggot beneath your feet, squish it and then walk away.

And I sat there on Keylan's couch holding Priya's favorite jersey of his like a freaking idiot.

God, Ethan Andersen was the worst person I'd ever met. Egotistical, rude and...very hot.

Ignore that last part.

So what if I called him a violent maniac? It wasn't a lie. I mean the guy did punch the captain of HIS OWN freaking team after they won, what the heck?

But he'd heard me. Jesus when he quoted me earlier, I'd wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

Again, I didn't lie, but I'm human and we generally don't do well with facing people we talked crap about.

So sue me. Whatever.

Plus, despite how I sound in my head and how I am with Priya, in reality, I am extremely ridden with anxiety.

Getting bullied through highschool will do that to ya.

I recently stopped ripping my own hair out of my scalp during panic attacks.

Anywayyy, after his domineering presence finally left, I was able to think--and thinking made me realize something very crucial.

If Ethan Andersen had been close enough to hear my entire commentary on his character, then he would have been absolutely close enough to trip me.

Not one to point fingers without proof, I left my brother's apartment with my new theory pounding around in my skull.

Night came and went fast with me spending the entirety of it twisting and turning as I thought of ways to gather said proof.

The next morning, I dragged myself out of bed drowsy and exhausted. I was like a zombie growling for coffee when I got a call from my brother.

Ugh.

"Hey," I basically growled into the phone. "What do you want?"

"Someone sounds excited to hear from me," He replied sarcastically. "Anyway, I've got good news."

Then he went ahead for a dramatic pause. I swear my brother.

"Just spill it Keylan." I snapped and his answering chuckles were nails on a chalkboard.

"Dad is cool with using the house for the shoot!" He finally cheered, clearly pumped up.

Sucks, I wasn't bitten by the happy bug.

He didn't notice though and his voice yammered on through my earbuds. "So Ethan will be moving into my room today and just like we all agreed, only you two will live together and…" his voice drifted off until I wasn't listening anymore.

When I remained silent, my brother let out an exasperated sigh. "Sloane, you agreed to this."

"I agreed to be on a show. I didn't agree to be abandoned."

"I'm not abandoning you, I'm being professional." He paused and then added very calmly. "If you're worried about... you know...that... I trust him, Sloane. I'll never put you with someone that'd hurt you."

A little too late for that since you know, he tripped me and all.

I didn't say that out loud because I could be wrong and also I needed the money.

"Cooperate with him," Keylan said softly. "Help him rebuild the image on camera. I need this to work, Sloane."

"I know." I pushed out a breath. "I know, I will."

"Thank you." He said and I could hear the smile in his voice. "I owe you one, little chin."

"Nope big bro. You owe me several."

---

Ethan Andersen moved in at 2 PM with the social energy of a closed door.

He said four words to me total: "Where's the room" and "thanks."

And that was being generous because the thanks was barely audible.

No doubt he was just being a jerk.

A few hours after his arrival, the crew did a short introductory setup shot of us outside that required me to smile so hard my face ached.

When they finally left for the evening, I barely dragged myself into the shower before slumping into bed.

With how exhausted I was, I knew i should have slept as soon as my head touched the pillow, but I couldn't shut my brain up.

Ironically, I wasn't thinking about Ethan Andersen tripping me.

I just couldn't stop thinking about the type of content that would make Ethan look human and down to earth.

My brother said that was what the show needed and it was honestly mission impossible seeing as the guy was a total butt wipe.

But since this would be taking out of my school time, I needed to make it work.

The idea finally came to me at 3am.

Nothing said approachable regular guy like making breakfast for the person you lived with, right?

The crew was arriving at 9 AM and if I timed it right, there'd be a whole spread on the table --eggs, toast, fruit-- by then and I'd casually mention on camera that Ethan had made it.

So, I set my alarm for 6:30, and by 8:15 I had two full breakfasts plated and looking genuinely impressive on the kitchen table.

Honestly if this whole biomedical science thing didn't work out, I could pivot to food science.

The front door opened at 8:40.

Ethan came back from his run in a grey athletic top with his earphones still in.

He stopped at the kitchen entrance and looked at the table, then at me, before pulling one earbud out.

"What's this?"

"Breakfast," I said brightly. "You made it this morning, remember? Before your run."

The look he gave me was flat. "I don't even eat breakfast."

My bright smile did not waver but God, internally I was screaming.

"You mentioned wanting to try," I pressed pleasantly.

"I didn't."

"You definitely did."

He stared at me for a long moment and I stared back. The crew wasn't here yet but the camera on the kitchen counter was already running.

Keylan had set it up for the casual unscripted footage and it automatically turned on by 8am every morning and off by 8pm at night.

Suddenly, Ethan looked at the camera and then his expression slowly changed.

He didn't agree but at least there was recognition that we were, technically, on the same team here.

Literally as he finally sat down, the crew barraged into the room. My brother wasn't with them, but his assistant Mason was pretty great.

We did a short segment with the whole breakfast bullcrap. But the only bite he had for the camera, he spat it into the trashcan on his way out.

Oh Lord help me!!!!!

By 10 PM the crew had wrapped and the house was finally, blessedly quiet.

I changed into my towel and went into my room's bathroom for a shower but when I turned the shower on... There was no water.

"Are you flipping kidding me?" I groaned in frustration but the darned thing didn't respond--obviously.

I stood there for a second, weighing my options, and landed on the only one that made sense.

Keylan's room or rather bathroom. I hadn't seen Ethan since the crew left so maybe he'd gone to party.

There wouldn't be shocking at all seeing as he was a top athlete.

The lifestyle of staying home all day was for people like me.

Creeping to the door, I pressed my ears to the wood. But I heard nothing.

Just to be sure I even knocked on the door.

Nope no answer.

So with a pounding heart, I eased the door open and stepped into the very dark room.

Well, mostly dark room left for the sliver of lighting coming from the opened bathroom door.

Oh Shick! That meant he was home. When did he even get--

Ethan Andersen walked out in a cloud of steam with a towel around his waist and my thoughts disintegrated into dust.

It took me an embarrassingly long time staring at his wet chest before his towel slipping from his hips to the floor snapped me out of my stupor.

A shriek ripped out of me and it was so loud he actually startled, which would have been satisfying under literally any other circumstances.

"Why didn't you say someone was in here?!" I spun around to face the wall, my heart no more pounding but jackhammering against my ribs. "I knocked two times!"

"I was in the shower. I didn't know I had to announce that to the camera." He drawled mockingly in that infuriatingly deep voice and it sent shivers down my spine. "Why are you in my room?"

"My shower is broken!" I squeaked.

"So you just walked in."

"I knocked, okay?" I bit out, pressing my palm flat against the wall to calm my racing heart. "C-c-can you at least put something on?"

"I'm in my room." His voice was flat.

"But I'm here too so technically we're sharing it right now and I'm asking you to put a shirt on!"

"Be my guest to plaster yourself to my wall all night then." He mocked. "I suppose you'd like that anyway."

Okay I swear that pissed me off.

I whirled around to ask him exactly what that meant but oh...

The sight of his body...drained the blood from my brain again. I'd never seen anything like it...in person. This was totally fantasy territory.

Helplessly my eyes dragged down his entire physique, taking in those broad shoulders and his defined torso that tapered into the towel.

Thank God he'd put his towel back on now.

When my eyes darted back to his face, his lips were twisted into a knowing smirk.

And it officially snapped me out of my thirst. So clearing my throat, and wetting my lips, I shrugged. " I've seen athletes before so you're not exactly a shocking sight."

He looked at me strangely because yep, that was so weird.

Ugh! Let's try again.

"Your build," I clarified, with what I felt was admirable composure. "It's pretty average for someone at your level."

The smugness left his expression and anger seeped into his eyes.

Yes!