Read Online Second String (In Too Deep #3) by Casey McMillin - Free Book Online

into Josh again. The first thing out of his mouth when he caught sight of me walking up with Meredith was, "I haven't heard from him."
    "Who?" Meredith asked. Even though it was obvious he'd directed the comment to me.
    "Ethan," Josh said.
    "Erickson?" Meredith asked.
    Josh looked at her with over exaggerated patience. You could tell from the exchange that they behaved like siblings. "Yeah Erickson. What other Ethans do you know?"
    "Shut up Josh. I know plenty of guys named Ethan."
    "Name one."
    "Ethan Allen."
    Josh laughed.
    Meredith looked at me and asked, "Why do you want to talk to Ethan?"
    "I don't," I said.
    Josh looked at me with surprise, almost injured for his friend.
    "I know where he is," Meredith said. "He's on Marissa's yacht with Leona Marsh and a bunch of other rich kids. Jemma Nelson instagrammed a bunch of photos. Ethan was in several of them."
    "How's she on instagram if there's no service?" Josh asked.
    "Oh, they have service. I've been texting Jemma and another girl too. They both said Marissa's freaking crazy, but I've never partied with her. Why'd you think they don't get service? Oh, Ethan? Did you try to reach him? I doubt he's answering texts. I think everyone's pretty wasted. You should see the photos she posted on instagram."
    I knew that asking Meredith to see the photos was risky business. It was a safe bet that I'd see something I didn't want to see. I decided not to ask.
    "I can't believe he wouldn't respond," Josh said.
    "He's probably too faced to care about his phone," Meredith said.
    "Speaking of being faced," I said, "I'm going to get a glass of champagne."
    "I thought you weren't drinking," Meredith said, her head whipping around to look at me. I'd said I wasn't having anything several times already, so she had the right to be a little surprised.
    "I just dec ided to have one," I said. "Why? Will your parents care?"
    "No they won't care. They won't even notice. Plus, you look old enough," Meredith said. "Let's go out by the pool," she added, pulling on my arm. "You can get a drink out there, and the music's louder."
    We'd been talking to a group of people by the pool for a few minutes, and I'd nearly finished my drink when I heard someone say, "Erickson!" I turned toward the person who said it, and followed his gaze to the far side of the pool. Ethan had just come out of the house, and was scanning the patio. I saw his gaze move across faces in the crowd, smiling when he saw someone he recognized, but continuing pass over the different groups of people.
    I got nervous when I realized he'd soon be coming to the group I was standing with. I was by about five other people including Meredith, who'd apparently also heard the guy call Ethan's name. She looked up and caught sight of Ethan just like I did. The others in our group were totally unaware of all this. Meredith elbowed me and said, "Hey, Ethan's here," as if I hadn't been acutely aware of that fact.
    Ethan's gaze continued to scan the pool area at a painfully slow pace. Meredith and I were both looking at him when his eyes passed over our group. His eyes met mine, and he instantly froze. His shoulders relaxed, and he gave me a relieved smile before beginning to walk in my direction. "Oh snap," Meredith said, elbowing me again. I think she said something like "He's coming this way," but I really couldn't hear her anymore with the sound of my pounding heart so loud in my ears.
    The sight of him in casual boat clothes next to all these people who were all dressed up made my heart skip a beat. Confidence oozed out of him. He had on khaki cargo pants, and a white button up shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, and it was unbuttoned far enough to see the wife beater underneath. His light brown hair was perfectly messy. He might as well have been walking in slow motion, what with the music, the outfit, and the way he didn't take his eyes off me the whole time.

 
    Chapter 8
    Ethan
     
     
    I'd been on Marissa's dad's boat for three hours when I