Chapter 6

'Calling in the Troops'

Simone woke from her nap feeling cozy and snug until the night's previous events came rushing back in a flood. Burying her head under the blanket Simone squeezed her eyes tight and tried to wish her self back to sleep and oblivion. Glancing at the clock Simone noted that she had only slept for twenty minutes. She flipped over to burrow her face into the back of the sofa but it was useless. She had to get up.

Going to Ethan's private office bath Simone took a moment to admire the space. Whoever had stocked his office bathroom had thought of everything. Simone glanced at the items that Ethan pulled out for her as she turned to start the shower and while waiting for the water to get hot she took Ethan's robe held it to her face and searched for his scent. Closing her eyes she thought of his words before he left her. He thinks he loves me, Simone reflected. What am I going to say to him when he gets back?

The steam was rising in the shower and Simone got in and felt the hot water rush over her. Using Ethan's shampoo Simone washed herself slowly, remembering the feel of him the way his warm mouth felt on her lips and on her flesh and wished that he were with her. Simone tried to clear her head before shaking herself out of her revelry and shutting off the water. Slipping on the robe Ethan had set aside for her she wondered briefly about what he was facing in the boardroom.

"Miss Torres; a Mrs. Greenlee Lavery, a Miss Dani Frye and a Miss Lily Montgomery are here to see you." A man's voice asked through the intercom.

"Thank you Abe. Please send them in." Simone smiled and gave her hair a brisk rub before hanging it back on the hook.

"Simone!" Greenlee, Dani and Lily pushed through the door as soon as Abe unlocked it.

Greenlee and Dani went to her as Lily waved to Abe as he closed the door and locked it once again.

Whispering to Greenlee, "Lily?"

"I didn't bring her. She was standing outside talking to some reporters and waiting for you to come out." Greenlee cringed, "I thought it would be better if I brought her in."

"There are reporters outside?" Simone asked shakily.

Smiling, Lily walked over. "Oh! There were lots and lots. They seemed nice. They all wanted to talk. They asked me about you. I told them you're nice."

"Thanks Lily."

"I usually don't like hot girls. But I like you and so I wasn't even sure if you really were, you know, a hot girl that is, so I asked Sam and Sam said you were hot." Lily repeated, "Simone, I want to ask you a couple of questions."

"Maybe this isn't the best time Lily." Greenlee said stepping forward.

Not to be deterred Lily continued. "Sam and I saw you on the news with Ethan. You were having sex right?"

"Yes." Simone said turning to glare at Greenlee and Dani who were backing away towards the door.

"That's an awful lot of touching. And it looked really uncomfortable. I didn't think I was ready before." Lily shook her head, "I definitely couldn't do that."

"That's ok Lily. You should never do anything that you don't want to." Simone said smiling at Lily.

"I don't think I'll ever be ready."

"You be sure to tell Dad." Greenlee said stepping in between Lily and Simone.

"I will when I get home. I do have some more questions though." Lily replied sitting on the couch.

"Could we talk about them later Lily? I have some questions for Greenlee." Simone asked.

"Sure. Most of my questions are for Ethan anyway." Lily replied with Dani and Greenlee snickered behind her.

"How did you guys know I was here?" Simone asked turning her attention to Greenlee and Dani who just looked at each other. "Ok. How did you guys know to come over?"

"Ethan called us. He asked us if we could bring you some things and sit with you for a bit." Said Greenlee placing a couple of bags on his desk. "We've got some fresh clothes and some hot soup and coffee."

"Ethan specifically asked us to bring you something hot and nourishing." Dani said.

"Thanks. I'm starving. Why don't you guys rummage through the baskets and see what else is in there while I get dressed. Maybe you could jot down who sent what."

"I don't think you have to send thank you cards for gag gifts Simone."

"True enough. Just go ahead then and dig in then." Simone laughed as she grabbed her clothes and her purse and went to get ready. When she came back Greenlee and Dani were sitting on the floor with the contents of all the baskets in front of them. Simone whistled, "Look at all that stuff. Greenlee why don't you open up some champagne? I put a bottle on ice earlier. It's in the sink, there's some soda in the fridge. Dani? Lily?"

"Champagne? To celebrate the merger?" Dani asked taking the soda from Simone.

"Shhhh!" Greenlee kicked her

"How do you guy's know about that?"

Lily stood, picked up the TV remote from Ethan's desk and offered it to Simone, "It was part of the news segment. Ms. Clark was talking with the Board of directors and they were standing outside the building and they were talking about Ethan and what a great job he was doing and how he was hard at work and that he managed to save 400 local jobs and how he was still in his office hard at work. It's probably on again. It was on like every channel. Sam and I were watching TV at his house when we saw it and this place is on the way home so I asked Sam if it would be ok if I could ask you a couple of questions when you came out. He didn't think you'd feel like answering questions but we saw all the reporters so we stopped and they had questions for me! Want to take a look?"

"Uh…that's ok. I think I'll watch it later after you guys leave." Simone said as she picked up the soup and took off the lid.

"Well, you looked pretty…your face anyway. The rest of you was hidden under Ethan. He looks heavy. Is he heavy?" Lily turned to Greenlee.

"Don't ask me." Greenlee laughed, "Lily, you said that you wouldn't ask any questions for now. Why don't you give Simone and me a chance to talk about some things?" Lily nodded and when she remained silent Greenlee continued, "Ethan told us what happened and he said he thought that you were upset and might need us. He sounded worried and that isn't like you Simone. I would be upset. Dani would be mortified. You. You're supposed to brush it off and laugh."

"It might take a lot to push me over the edge but, Come On! This is ridiculous. First the episode in the park, then the news crew showing up with Lauren Clark… and she knows me and she hates me." Simone mused. "And I'm a little freaked because Ethan told me he loves me."

Dani was looking at Simone like she'd lost her mind. "Did I miss something? That's part of what's bothering you?"

"Aren't you supposed to love each other when you have sex?" Lily thought for a moment, "Actually people keep telling me you're supposed to be married. Are you and Ethan married?" Lily interjected.

"Wow, look at all of this stuff!" Simone began trying to change the subject. "I feel like I'm eight again and I'm about to start trading my Halloween booty with my best buds." Simone sat on the floor next to Dani and Greenlee and opening a box of chocolate and passing it around.

"We're waiting."

"Ethan told me he loves me." Simone repeated and sighed.

"Yeah, I know. I saw that." Nodded Greenlee.

"Saw?…WHAT?"

"Um…never mind" Greenlee popped another chocolate into her mouth to keep quiet and nearly choked on it.

"HOW MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED SHOWED UP ON THE NEWS?"

"Simone it wasn't that bad, you couldn't see below the waist or anything." Dani said scooting closer to Greenlee and the chocolates.

"You can on the Internet." Lily said.

"WHAT?"

"Nothing. Forget she said anything," Dani suggested scooting forward and trying to block Lily from Simone's view.

"Aren't you supposed to be making me feel better?" Simone glared at them.

"Well, you might want to know what you're facing." Dani replied placing a hand on Simone's shoulder. "But maybe you should have a Valium first."

"Simone. It's a bit of a mess after what happened just the other day. I mean really can't you guys just get a room? I always suspected that you were an exhibitionist but I wouldn't have guessed that Ethan…"

"Thanks for making me feel better Greenlee. You can go now." Fed up Simone stood and pointed to the door. Lily was bad enough but this was getting out of hand.

"Sorry." Greenlee sighed. "Why don't you just talk to us? I'll be good. I'll just listen."

"Ethan told he loved me for the first time tonight." Simone whispered as she sank back to the floor.

"Ahhhh!" nodded Greenlee.

"So?" asked Dani.

"Well that's not good," replied Greenlee. Dani sat looking at Greenlee as if she'd just grown horns. Greenlee unfazed went on, "You don't want first time he tells you he loves you to be while you're …you know."

"But he does love you right?" Dani asked turning to look Simone in the eye, "Did he say it again since then?"

"Yes. But he then he said it to make me feel better."

"But do you think he means it?" Dani asked.

"Maybe we're asking the wrong questions. Simone, do you love him?" Greenlee asked.

Chapter 7 'Tell Me. No, Don't Tell Me.'

Ethan confesses his feelings for Simone but she isn't sure about her own.