jamespotterthefirst

[jamespotterthefirst]

You're very sweet, my friend ♥️ Thank you!

Yes, he's not forgetting the kiss. That one is going in a special bank in his mind 😉

Call it What You Want (Ethan x f!MC)

Book: Open Heart

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey and MC (Lilac Allende)

Word Count: 2.2K

Rating/Warning: T/ Some Language

Summary: After their kiss, they both agree to take a break enjoying the city of Miami. Set after the events of 1.10.

Note: Two things about me: I will always write about Miami and I am manifesting Reputation (TV)

A faint pink glow seeped through the drawn curtains that morning, indicating it was right before sunrise. Lilac rolled over on the mattress, groaning. Her head felt like lead as she struggled to find comfort on the fluffy hotel pillow. Her stiff muscles protested as she moved, a side effect of a long and restless night. She had lost track of the time when the rolling waves outside had finally lulled her to sleep. It couldn’t have been more than three hours ago.

Now, she lay awake in the rosy-hued and desolate hotel room. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop her gaze from wandering to the closed door. Every nerve in her body was too aware of the fact that just on the other side, Ethan lay on the living room’s couch, most likely awake too. 

Was he replaying their kiss from the previous night like she had been doing all night? Did his thoughts stray to the way their bodies fit so perfectly or to how their hearts shared the same frenetic beat? 

With a resigned sigh, Lilac decided to start her day. There was no use lying in that cold bed, thinking of the sting of Ethan’s rejection. Temples pulsing, she hastily got dressed and quietly padded to the common area. The couch where he had slept was empty, his blanket already neatly folded. Something akin to relief flooded her at the prospect of avoiding him altogether. 

The universe, however, had other plans. A few steps further and Lilac saw his tall frame by the kitchen counter. He was in the middle of pouring himself a cup of coffee when he froze, sensing her.

He turned to face her and their eyes met, paralyzing them both.

The silence stretched for so long that Lilac thought he would opt for not speaking to her. 

“Morning,” he said at last. 

His tone was imperceptible, but Lilac could see the remnants of tension in his expression. The bags under his eyes told her he didn’t sleep well either.

“Morning,” she replied, careful to keep her voice neutral. 

There was more loaded silence, neither of them sure how to be around each other. A strange instinct in her gut screamed at her to say something… or run away— either option would be preferable to this awful limbo they were stuck in. At long last, Ethan set his cup down and cleared his throat.

“Our flight isn’t until tomorrow morning. I was thinking of heading downstairs and attending a few seminars.”

Lilac paused, unsure how to reply. The professional thing to do was letting him go his own way. Hell, she would probably benefit from burying herself in work. But the thought of sitting in long presentations or wandering the show floor made her muscles heavy with dread. There was something stubborn and unresolved between them and she knew she would know no peace until she addressed it head on.

“Actually,” she said before she lost her resolve. “I was thinking of taking a break from the conference…”

Ethan said nothing, waiting for her to continue. Lilac, meanwhile, gestured toward the floor-to-ceiling window framing the stunning Miami skyline. As the sun rose, it cast the sky into a mosaic of orange, pink, and blue. In the silence, they could hear the faint sounds of the city slowly coming to life to greet the day.

“I’ve never been to Miami before and today’s weather is supposed to be nice. Enjoying the city sounds a lot more enticing than being indoors all day.”

Ethan nodded once but said nothing more.

Swallowing, Lilac mustered the last dregs of her bravery. “Want to come with?”

He paused at that.

“Do you think that’s a good idea given…”

More of that unbearable silence ensued after he trailed off.

“Given what happened last night?” she finished for him. 

Ethan’s face flushed with color and she would have found it adorable in any other situation. He remained stoic and silent nonetheless. 

Lilac sighed. “Look, you don’t have to join me if you don’t want to,” she began. “But if we’re going to forget what happened last night, avoiding each other is not going to help.”

“Forget?” he asked quietly. 

Their eyes met. His gaze pinned her in place, something intense swirling in their depths. Lilac looked away, unable to handle it.

“Move past it,” she amended. Then she rushed through—“We will still have to see each other everyday and for that to work, we need to learn how to be around one another again.”

Ethan nodded, considering her words.

“A reset,” he said.

Lilac shrugged. “If you want to call it that. I see it more as a break.”

He seemed on the verge of being convinced.

“When was the last time you took one of those?” 

“I admit it’s been a while.”

“Then let’s change that.”

They strolled the streets of the city, admiring the vibrant colors of Miami. Everywhere Lilac looked, the air bloomed with color— the iconic art deco buildings they passed, the array of fruits in vendor stalls at the outdoor market, the vibrant art murals of Wynwood Walls. The city came alive in blooms of pinks, yellows, and blue. The bustling streets moved to the sounds of traffic, mixed with the rhythmic music drifting from the outdoor cafes they passed— salsa, merengue, bachata. It was all too familiar to Lilac yet new at the same time. 

Ethan walked beside her, in complete silence at first. The vibrant promise that the city painted for them, however, eventually melted the tension between them. 

“We have to go to Racoon Island,” Lilac said hours into their tour. 

“No.”

“Come on! It’s an island full of racoons,” she insisted, turning her phone's screen for him to see the pictures.

“I gathered that,” Ethan said, unimpressed. “That is precisely why I want to stay as far away from it as possible.”

“You’re no fun,” she said with mock disappointment. In reality, Lilac didn’t care what they did next. She was just so relieved their dynamic felt almost back to normal. 

They walked for a few more minutes before neither of them could resist the enticing smell of Cuban coffee wafting from the cafes all around. Soon, they found themselves seated in the outdoor patio of Café del Sol, a lively place facing the oceanfront. As they waited for their server, Ethan looked out at the waves, a pensive expression on his face.

“Where did you go?” Lilac asked quietly.

Ethan glanced at her, offering her a soft smile.

“Just... thinking. It’s been a while since I took time to do something like this. I’ve forgotten what it feels like to just... be.”

Lilac nodded, feeling a sense of connection that was almost painful. Their daily lives demanded so much from them that it was easy to completely lose all sense of self in the job. She too had forgotten what it was like to just enjoy the present moment without constant movement. 

“It’s nice,” she agreed. “Just living in the moment.” 

Ethan mulled over her words carefully. She could practically see the gears of his mind working. Almost as if by instinct, she knew he was thinking about last night and the road that had led to their kiss— living in the moment, forgetting about rules or duty.

“I’m enjoying it,” he finally allowed. “But things are still complicated. You and I—”

There it was. 

“Please,” she said in an almost whisper. “I understand we need to be careful. And there’s a lot we need to figure out. But maybe … we don’t have to have all the answers yet.” She sighed. “Maybe just for today, we can just… exist.”

For the first time since last night, Ethan visibly relaxed. “I can do that.”

A woman in her mid-50s approached them with a warm smile. She had short, dark hair, a patterned apron tied neatly around her waist, and eyes that crinkled at the corners with the warmth of hospitality.

“Good morning,” she greeted in accented English, holding a small notepad in one hand. “What can I get for you two today? Café con leche, perhaps? Best in town.”

Lilac smiled politely. “Buenos días,” she replied, switching seamlessly into Spanish. “Sí, un café con leche suena perfecto. ¿Y también un cortadito para él?”

The woman’s eyes brightened immediately, a wide smile spreading across her face. “¡Ah! ¡Hablas español!” she exclaimed, clearly delighted. Her words flowed faster now, full of warmth and energy. “Qué bien, mi niña. Entonces, dos cafés, uno con leche y un cortadito para el caballero. ¿Algo más?”

Realizing just how hungry she was, Lilac ordered more food than the two could finish—tostones, ropa vieja, empanadas, croquetas, maduros. 

Ethan leaned back in his chair, watching the interaction with amusement.  When the woman left to put their order in, he said, “I didn’t know your Spanish was that good.”

Lilac gave him a teasing glance. “Really? I’ve helped patients in Spanish right in front of you.”

He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if searching his memory. “Yes, but… this is different,” he said, his voice softening. “You look happy. Relaxed. You look good.”

Lilac paused, the compliment catching her off guard. The weight of the last few days seemed to momentarily lift as she felt the warmth in his gaze. Despite her plea to just enjoy the moment, her foolish heart could not be dissuaded. Not when Ethan had a tendency to see her—truly see her.

An hour later, Ethan sat back in his chair, watching as Lilac playfully mocked his Spanish for the third time since their food arrived. He allowed himself a smile, the teasing, light banter a welcome change from the tension that had hovered between them. She was right, of course. Her Spanish was flawless, flowing effortlessly as she ordered from the café earlier, while his was more… functional. He could get by in medical settings, communicate well enough, but nowhere near her level of ease.

“I swear, it doesn’t get easier than café con leche,” Lilac teased, shaking her head, but there was nothing but warmth in her voice.

He chuckled. “You make it look easy, Rookie.”

Her laughter filled the space between them, and for a moment, it felt like everything had settled back to normal. They were just two colleagues, sharing a meal, enjoying a break from the usual demands of their field. But as he watched her smile and the way her green eyes sparkled when she was at ease, the weight of everything that had happened between them pressed down on his chest.

Last night. 

God, last night.

He had wanted her for longer than Ethan was willing to admit even to himself. Somewhere along the line, the beautiful, intelligent, and intriguing Lilac Allende had woven herself into the fabric of his every thought. To this day, Ethan still couldn’t pinpoint the moment everything changed. For so long, he had kept himself in check, keeping his distance, hiding behind his professionalism. And yet, all those efforts crumbled the moment they kissed. 

They finished their meal, the laughter and teasing slowly giving way to a comfortable silence. 

Eventually, they wandered toward the beach, too full and drowsy from their meal to make much conversation. Ethan found he enjoyed the easy silence as they walked barefoot down the soft sand, shoes in hand. The peace of the moment served as a balm, soothing the restless thoughts that had been gnawing at him all night. 

“Thanks for convincing me to go out,” Ethan finally said, breaking the silence. “We needed this… the break. Just… being.”

Lilac smiled, recognizing her words from earlier. “Yeah. I think we both did.”

For a while longer, they walked side by side, neither in a rush to leave the moment behind. But eventually, the weight of their restless night and the early morning flight that awaited them began to settle in. They turned back toward the hotel, the reality of their return looming closer with each step.

When they reached their hotel room door, Ethan paused. His hand hovered over the handle, his body still, as if frozen in place. He didn’t know why he stopped—he just knew that something inside him wasn’t ready to cross that threshold yet.

Lilac glanced at him, her brow furrowing slightly. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer right away.

Ethan knew, the second they stepped through that door, this brief, blissful reprieve would be over. Their lives—complicated, professional, and full of boundaries—would unpause, and they’d go back to pretending nothing had happened between them.

Lilac seemed to understand, even without him saying it. 

“It’ll be okay,” she said so quietly that Ethan thought he had imagined the words. “It has to be.”

But as Ethan stood there, watching her green eyes read his face, the realization hit him hard. It was foolish to think they needed a reset, a way to move past that kiss, to put it behind them. No matter how many boundaries and defenses he put up, there was no going back to the way they had been. At least, not for Ethan. 

Stealing a day for themselves only strengthened the roots of Ethan’s admiration for her. Watching her today, seeing her so at ease, hearing her laugh, seeing her face lit up by the sun—it had only made him want her more.

More than he ever should.

And he knew that no matter how much they tried to pretend, no matter how hard he tried to pull away, he was far too gone now.

Note: I don't know what that was! I'm just getting myself back in the habit of writing. Thank you for joining me on this ride!

[jamespotterthefirst]

ANA DE ARMAS

[jamespotterthefirst]

Call it What You Want (Ethan x f!MC)

Book: Open Heart

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey and MC (Lilac Allende)

Word Count: 2.2K

Rating/Warning: T/ Some Language

Summary: After their kiss, they both agree to take a break enjoying the city of Miami. Set after the events of 1.10.

Note: Two things about me: I will always write about Miami and I am manifesting Reputation (TV)

A faint pink glow seeped through the drawn curtains that morning, indicating it was right before sunrise. Lilac rolled over on the mattress, groaning. Her head felt like lead as she struggled to find comfort on the fluffy hotel pillow. Her stiff muscles protested as she moved, a side effect of a long and restless night. She had lost track of the time when the rolling waves outside had finally lulled her to sleep. It couldn’t have been more than three hours ago.

Now, she lay awake in the rosy-hued and desolate hotel room. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop her gaze from wandering to the closed door. Every nerve in her body was too aware of the fact that just on the other side, Ethan lay on the living room’s couch, most likely awake too. 

Was he replaying their kiss from the previous night like she had been doing all night? Did his thoughts stray to the way their bodies fit so perfectly or to how their hearts shared the same frenetic beat? 

With a resigned sigh, Lilac decided to start her day. There was no use lying in that cold bed, thinking of the sting of Ethan’s rejection. Temples pulsing, she hastily got dressed and quietly padded to the common area. The couch where he had slept was empty, his blanket already neatly folded. Something akin to relief flooded her at the prospect of avoiding him altogether. 

The universe, however, had other plans. A few steps further and Lilac saw his tall frame by the kitchen counter. He was in the middle of pouring himself a cup of coffee when he froze, sensing her.

He turned to face her and their eyes met, paralyzing them both.

The silence stretched for so long that Lilac thought he would opt for not speaking to her. 

“Morning,” he said at last. 

His tone was imperceptible, but Lilac could see the remnants of tension in his expression. The bags under his eyes told her he didn’t sleep well either.

“Morning,” she replied, careful to keep her voice neutral. 

There was more loaded silence, neither of them sure how to be around each other. A strange instinct in her gut screamed at her to say something… or run away— either option would be preferable to this awful limbo they were stuck in. At long last, Ethan set his cup down and cleared his throat.

“Our flight isn’t until tomorrow morning. I was thinking of heading downstairs and attending a few seminars.”

Lilac paused, unsure how to reply. The professional thing to do was letting him go his own way. Hell, she would probably benefit from burying herself in work. But the thought of sitting in long presentations or wandering the show floor made her muscles heavy with dread. There was something stubborn and unresolved between them and she knew she would know no peace until she addressed it head on.

“Actually,” she said before she lost her resolve. “I was thinking of taking a break from the conference…”

Ethan said nothing, waiting for her to continue. Lilac, meanwhile, gestured toward the floor-to-ceiling window framing the stunning Miami skyline. As the sun rose, it cast the sky into a mosaic of orange, pink, and blue. In the silence, they could hear the faint sounds of the city slowly coming to life to greet the day.

“I’ve never been to Miami before and today’s weather is supposed to be nice. Enjoying the city sounds a lot more enticing than being indoors all day.”

Ethan nodded once but said nothing more.

Swallowing, Lilac mustered the last dregs of her bravery. “Want to come with?”

He paused at that.

“Do you think that’s a good idea given…”

More of that unbearable silence ensued after he trailed off.

“Given what happened last night?” she finished for him. 

Ethan’s face flushed with color and she would have found it adorable in any other situation. He remained stoic and silent nonetheless. 

Lilac sighed. “Look, you don’t have to join me if you don’t want to,” she began. “But if we’re going to forget what happened last night, avoiding each other is not going to help.”

“Forget?” he asked quietly. 

Their eyes met. His gaze pinned her in place, something intense swirling in their depths. Lilac looked away, unable to handle it.

“Move past it,” she amended. Then she rushed through—“We will still have to see each other everyday and for that to work, we need to learn how to be around one another again.”

Ethan nodded, considering her words.

“A reset,” he said.

Lilac shrugged. “If you want to call it that. I see it more as a break.”

He seemed on the verge of being convinced.

“When was the last time you took one of those?” 

“I admit it’s been a while.”

“Then let’s change that.”

They strolled the streets of the city, admiring the vibrant colors of Miami. Everywhere Lilac looked, the air bloomed with color— the iconic art deco buildings they passed, the array of fruits in vendor stalls at the outdoor market, the vibrant art murals of Wynwood Walls. The city came alive in blooms of pinks, yellows, and blue. The bustling streets moved to the sounds of traffic, mixed with the rhythmic music drifting from the outdoor cafes they passed— salsa, merengue, bachata. It was all too familiar to Lilac yet new at the same time. 

Ethan walked beside her, in complete silence at first. The vibrant promise that the city painted for them, however, eventually melted the tension between them. 

“We have to go to Racoon Island,” Lilac said hours into their tour. 

“No.”

“Come on! It’s an island full of racoons,” she insisted, turning her phone's screen for him to see the pictures.

“I gathered that,” Ethan said, unimpressed. “That is precisely why I want to stay as far away from it as possible.”

“You’re no fun,” she said with mock disappointment. In reality, Lilac didn’t care what they did next. She was just so relieved their dynamic felt almost back to normal. 

They walked for a few more minutes before neither of them could resist the enticing smell of Cuban coffee wafting from the cafes all around. Soon, they found themselves seated in the outdoor patio of Café del Sol, a lively place facing the oceanfront. As they waited for their server, Ethan looked out at the waves, a pensive expression on his face.

“Where did you go?” Lilac asked quietly.

Ethan glanced at her, offering her a soft smile.

“Just... thinking. It’s been a while since I took time to do something like this. I’ve forgotten what it feels like to just... be.”

Lilac nodded, feeling a sense of connection that was almost painful. Their daily lives demanded so much from them that it was easy to completely lose all sense of self in the job. She too had forgotten what it was like to just enjoy the present moment without constant movement. 

“It’s nice,” she agreed. “Just living in the moment.” 

Ethan mulled over her words carefully. She could practically see the gears of his mind working. Almost as if by instinct, she knew he was thinking about last night and the road that had led to their kiss— living in the moment, forgetting about rules or duty.

“I’m enjoying it,” he finally allowed. “But things are still complicated. You and I—”

There it was. 

“Please,” she said in an almost whisper. “I understand we need to be careful. And there’s a lot we need to figure out. But maybe … we don’t have to have all the answers yet.” She sighed. “Maybe just for today, we can just… exist.”

For the first time since last night, Ethan visibly relaxed. “I can do that.”

A woman in her mid-50s approached them with a warm smile. She had short, dark hair, a patterned apron tied neatly around her waist, and eyes that crinkled at the corners with the warmth of hospitality.

“Good morning,” she greeted in accented English, holding a small notepad in one hand. “What can I get for you two today? Café con leche, perhaps? Best in town.”

Lilac smiled politely. “Buenos días,” she replied, switching seamlessly into Spanish. “Sí, un café con leche suena perfecto. ¿Y también un cortadito para él?”

The woman’s eyes brightened immediately, a wide smile spreading across her face. “¡Ah! ¡Hablas español!” she exclaimed, clearly delighted. Her words flowed faster now, full of warmth and energy. “Qué bien, mi niña. Entonces, dos cafés, uno con leche y un cortadito para el caballero. ¿Algo más?”

Realizing just how hungry she was, Lilac ordered more food than the two could finish—tostones, ropa vieja, empanadas, croquetas, maduros. 

Ethan leaned back in his chair, watching the interaction with amusement.  When the woman left to put their order in, he said, “I didn’t know your Spanish was that good.”

Lilac gave him a teasing glance. “Really? I’ve helped patients in Spanish right in front of you.”

He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if searching his memory. “Yes, but… this is different,” he said, his voice softening. “You look happy. Relaxed. You look good.”

Lilac paused, the compliment catching her off guard. The weight of the last few days seemed to momentarily lift as she felt the warmth in his gaze. Despite her plea to just enjoy the moment, her foolish heart could not be dissuaded. Not when Ethan had a tendency to see her—truly see her.

An hour later, Ethan sat back in his chair, watching as Lilac playfully mocked his Spanish for the third time since their food arrived. He allowed himself a smile, the teasing, light banter a welcome change from the tension that had hovered between them. She was right, of course. Her Spanish was flawless, flowing effortlessly as she ordered from the café earlier, while his was more… functional. He could get by in medical settings, communicate well enough, but nowhere near her level of ease.

“I swear, it doesn’t get easier than café con leche,” Lilac teased, shaking her head, but there was nothing but warmth in her voice.

He chuckled. “You make it look easy, Rookie.”

Her laughter filled the space between them, and for a moment, it felt like everything had settled back to normal. They were just two colleagues, sharing a meal, enjoying a break from the usual demands of their field. But as he watched her smile and the way her green eyes sparkled when she was at ease, the weight of everything that had happened between them pressed down on his chest.

Last night. 

God, last night.

He had wanted her for longer than Ethan was willing to admit even to himself. Somewhere along the line, the beautiful, intelligent, and intriguing Lilac Allende had woven herself into the fabric of his every thought. To this day, Ethan still couldn’t pinpoint the moment everything changed. For so long, he had kept himself in check, keeping his distance, hiding behind his professionalism. And yet, all those efforts crumbled the moment they kissed. 

They finished their meal, the laughter and teasing slowly giving way to a comfortable silence. 

Eventually, they wandered toward the beach, too full and drowsy from their meal to make much conversation. Ethan found he enjoyed the easy silence as they walked barefoot down the soft sand, shoes in hand. The peace of the moment served as a balm, soothing the restless thoughts that had been gnawing at him all night. 

“Thanks for convincing me to go out,” Ethan finally said, breaking the silence. “We needed this… the break. Just… being.”

Lilac smiled, recognizing her words from earlier. “Yeah. I think we both did.”

For a while longer, they walked side by side, neither in a rush to leave the moment behind. But eventually, the weight of their restless night and the early morning flight that awaited them began to settle in. They turned back toward the hotel, the reality of their return looming closer with each step.

When they reached their hotel room door, Ethan paused. His hand hovered over the handle, his body still, as if frozen in place. He didn’t know why he stopped—he just knew that something inside him wasn’t ready to cross that threshold yet.

Lilac glanced at him, her brow furrowing slightly. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer right away.

Ethan knew, the second they stepped through that door, this brief, blissful reprieve would be over. Their lives—complicated, professional, and full of boundaries—would unpause, and they’d go back to pretending nothing had happened between them.

Lilac seemed to understand, even without him saying it. 

“It’ll be okay,” she said so quietly that Ethan thought he had imagined the words. “It has to be.”

But as Ethan stood there, watching her green eyes read his face, the realization hit him hard. It was foolish to think they needed a reset, a way to move past that kiss, to put it behind them. No matter how many boundaries and defenses he put up, there was no going back to the way they had been. At least, not for Ethan. 

Stealing a day for themselves only strengthened the roots of Ethan’s admiration for her. Watching her today, seeing her so at ease, hearing her laugh, seeing her face lit up by the sun—it had only made him want her more.

More than he ever should.

And he knew that no matter how much they tried to pretend, no matter how hard he tried to pull away, he was far too gone now.

Note: I don't know what that was! I'm just getting myself back in the habit of writing. Thank you for joining me on this ride!

[jamespotterthefirst]

Let's do it bestie

You have totally convinced me to reread now that I have unexpected time on my hands. lol Thanks, Bree.

OMG BOOK CLUB TIME

[jamespotterthefirst]

YES PLEASE

You have totally convinced me to reread now that I have unexpected time on my hands. lol Thanks, Bree.

OMG BOOK CLUB TIME

[jamespotterthefirst]

You have totally convinced me to reread now that I have unexpected time on my hands. lol Thanks, Bree.

OMG BOOK CLUB TIME

[jamespotterthefirst]

Yes! Everytime I reread I catch something new 😍

We don't talk enough about this:

You push Ethan up against the railing, pinning him. You gaze at him, half-silhouetted by the field of stars. MC: Let them see. You kiss him again. He wraps his arms around you once more, holding you tight as if clinging to life itself. He hikes your dress up around your waist, hands roving over your backside.

Our man was grabbing that ass like his life depended on it (bare, too)

I love my little freak

[jamespotterthefirst]

Omg okay! It might be pure crack though 😂

Since I was away when this all went down I just know somewhere out there Bryce Lahela and Elijah Greene are living for the Kendrick/Drake beef

[jamespotterthefirst]

We don't talk enough about this:

You push Ethan up against the railing, pinning him. You gaze at him, half-silhouetted by the field of stars. MC: Let them see. You kiss him again. He wraps his arms around you once more, holding you tight as if clinging to life itself. He hikes your dress up around your waist, hands roving over your backside.

Our man was grabbing that ass like his life depended on it (bare, too)

I love my little freak

[jamespotterthefirst]

Ana De Armas

[jamespotterthefirst]

And if it had been me rejected on that balcony in Miami, Ethan would've had to get the rescue team together and look for me at sea I can tell you that much

“We can't go further.”

You can go further up the coast to look for me

[jamespotterthefirst]

Since I was away when this all went down I just know somewhere out there Bryce Lahela and Elijah Greene are living for the Kendrick/Drake beef

[jamespotterthefirst]

I love you, Amiga

Rereading Open Heart after all this time away and remembering how the Ethan route made me feel is a lot like waking up in a hospital with amnesia and the hot guy there telling me he's my husband

[jamespotterthefirst]

Thank you so much for reading, babe ❤️

And also for reminding me I have to finish YBF after 293939291 years

Dress (Ethan x F!MC)

Book: Open Heart

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey and MC (Lilac Allende)

Word Count: 1.5K

Rating/Warning: T/ Some Language

Summary: Loosely based on the events in Book 1, Chapter 9. After dinner with her roommates, she runs into Dr. Ramsey at the bar.

Note: Because Ethan never saw my MC in that hot dress. Inspired by Dress by Taylor Swift. Longer note at the end (meep).

The dimly lit bar thrummed with excitement, the energy as palpable as the plethora of glasses leaving the bar. All around, overworked medical staff in various degrees of inebriation laughed and talked over the loud music, making the most of the rare moments of freedom at their disposal. It was undoubtedly karaoke night—and if the neon sign flashing from above the small stage didn’t clue him in, the awful singing, the ruckus laughter, and the smell of fried bar food definitely would. Still, the tension pinching Ethan’s muscles knew only one remedy.  

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Reggie exclaimed with exaggeration at the sight of Ethan. “Hell must’ve frozen over if you’re here for karaoke night. What song should I queue up for you?”

“Very funny,” Ethan replied dryly, taking his usual seat at the bar. “No song, but I will take the usual.”

The bartender laughed his characteristic guffaw, one that he reserved for whenever he taunted Ethan. “Must’ve been one hell of a day if you need a drink badly enough to put up with all this.”

He nodded toward the stage where a group of interns belted the notes of some 90s song Ethan couldn’t place. They huddled around one microphone, swaying under the effects of half-priced pitchers of the night. One of the interns broke off in laughter, signaling at someone in the crowd to join them. 

“Hell of a week,” Ethan began to reply, but his attention lingered on the group. 

The more he watched them, the more recognition dawned on him. The one grinning broadly at the center, shorter than the rest, was Sienna Trinh. Beside her, Elijah Greene rapped the verse of the song expertly. On his right was a tall, lanky intern Ethan could not name if his life depended on it. 

If they were here, then so must—

“Lilac!” Trinh hissed into the mic, beckoning wildly from stage. “Get up here, now!” 

Jeers erupted as the crowd parted, revealing a laughing Lilac Allende. She shook her head enigmatically, but Trinh refused to give up. At long last, a pair of strong arms engulfed Lilac and easily picked her up. That arrogant surgeon that strutted through the halls of the hospital carried her on stage. 

Ethan looked away, annoyed. Lucky for him, Reggie had long since placed the glass of amber liquid in front of him. He took a swig, refusing to give in to the urge of glancing her way. 

It was no use, though. 

The last few months had proven that Lilac Allende was impossible to ignore. She had confidently taken reign of his senses from the moment her green eyes met his. Defeated, he glanced at the stage. The stage lights had brightened, matching the rhythmic Spanish song blaring from the speakers. One glance at the screens surrounding the small room told him it was a song by Selena Quintanilla.

“Anything for Selenas!” Lahela screeched through cupped hands. 

Lilac, meanwhile, made no use of the screens with the flashing lyrics. She sang the words confidently into the microphone, swaying and dancing, letting the music take over. Each sway of her hips commanded the space around her, all but hypnotizing anyone who watched. She was aware of how badly her voice sounded as she tried to hit the high notes, but the peal of laughter that rang out made Ethan’s chest feel weightless. 

At last, during a pause in the song, she shrugged off her long coat to the wild cheers of the crowd. 

“Get it, bitch!” Sienna cheered as she caught Lilac’s discarded coat. 

There was nothing particularly special about the dress Lilac wore. It was a shade of dark green Ethan could not specifically name if pressed. It could have even been modest or plain on anyone else, with long sleeves and a skirt that reached the floor. But on Lilac Allende the dress was nothing short of sinful. It caught the light as she danced and swayed to the music, captivating many in the room. The fabric hugged every curve and dip, flowing in a tantalizing rhythm as she danced. 

Ethan watched, clinging to his glass with unnecessary force. 

For one wild moment, he allowed himself to fantasize what it would be like to run his fingers along the leg slit. His lips would find her exposed shoulder, moving up her neck, and whispering in her ear, “Let’s get out of here.”

The song ended with a roar of applause. 

As though sensing his gaze on her, her green eyes found his from across the room, paralyzing him. 

Piercing blue eyes pinned her in place, making her body hum more than cheap alcohol ever could. Ethan Ramsey was watching her from his usual place at the bar, his expression unreadable but intense. Every instinct told her to stay away from him, her senses recognizing what grew heavy between them with each passing day.

Before she could think better of it, Lilac hopped off the stage and made her way to the bar, giving her friends some pretense about needing a drink badly. As she approached, Ethan’s posture stiffened, his attention on his glass of scotch. Though he stared at the amber liquid intently, it was nothing compared to the way he had watched her from across the room. 

“Didn’t expect to see you here, Doctor Ramsey,” she said by way of greeting. “It’s karaoke night.”

He looked up at last, though his posture still appeared tense. Lilac noticed his fingers flexed around his glass. 

“I’m aware,” he responded. “It looked like you were having fun.”

Lilac gave him a little shrug, sliding onto the barstool next to him. “Just blowing off some steam after a difficult day.”

Ethan’s shoulders stiffened slightly. She knew he was thinking about their earlier conversation regarding Mr. Platt. He opened his mouth, impassioned, as though ready to go toe-to-toe with her like before. Then, he seemed to think better of it. 

“Did you figure it out yet?” he asked instead. 

“Why you assigned him to me? No.”

“His diagnosis, Rookie.”

“Also no. That’s eluding me as much as your reasoning behind this.” 

She knew he was pushing him a little too hard. He could very well angrily shut down like he had done earlier, leaving her even more irritated and confused. Instead, he set his glass down on the bar top, sighing heavily. 

“I thought you could handle it.”

The inadequacy of this response made Lilac’s annoyance flare up.

“I must’ve miscalculated,” he added. 

“I can handle anything you give me,” she returned scathingly. 

“Surely not if this simple assignment is throwing you off.” “It’s not the assignment or the patient. It’s the reason why you did it.”

“The reason is simple. I'm your mentor. It's my job to push you.”

The busy bar around them continued to buzz with excitement. No one around them paid them any mind, and if they did, the look on Ethan's face alone was enough to make anyone glance anywhere else. Lilac, however, was not afraid of the icy glare fixed on her. Instead, she straightened her spine, her body imperceptibly closer to his. 

“I don't believe you,” she informed him. 

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You're not letting this go, are you?” 

“You already know the answer to that, Dr. Ramsey.”

Lilac watched him take a long swig of his drink. Truth be told, she was shocked he was still sitting there, humoring her. Any other time, he would have stormed off. 

Tonight was different. 

“If you're so sure there's some grand explanation, then enlighten me, Rookie.”

Lately, everything was different with him, as though the Earth shifted on its axis without their knowledge, leaving them swaying for balance. 

“I think…” she said, her voice quiet. She trailed off, entranced by his blue eyes on hers. Without her knowledge, she had leaned closer to him, their arms and thighs so close that she could feel the warmth of his body. For a breath, she allowed herself to imagine what that warmth would feel like pressed against her body, roaming every inch of her… The warmth of his hands on her skin, as he tugged her dress, pulled it, ripped it...

“I think…” she tried again, willing herself out of her haze. 

“Yes?” 

“You're deflecting.”

Ethan reeled back. “Deflecting? Deflecting what exactly?” 

How did she explain that she burned for him and a part of her believed he longed for her too? She couldn't bring herself to explain her deluded reasoning: that he wanted her just as badly as she wanted him. That there was something tangible between them that neither of them could ignore. That the reason Ethan assigned her an impossible patient was to prove that he didn't feel the same as Lilac— that she was just another intern. Saying the words out loud felt like giving up too much of herself. 

“There you are, Lilac!” Trinh exclaimed as she appeared by her side. “We need you. Landry and Elijah want to sing ‘Non-Stop’ but I have to sing ‘My Shot’. I have to or I will cry.”

Sienna's eyes fell on Ethan and she froze. “Sorry—Am I interrupting?” 

“Not at all,” Lilac assured her, hopping off the barstool. “Dr. Ramsey and I were done talking.” 

Ethan, on the other hand, looked as though he wanted to reach out to stop her. Lilac's body thrilled at the thought. 

“Enjoy your night, Dr. Ramsey.” 

“You, too, Dr. Allende.” 

Note: Hi. Hello. It's me. I'm the absolute problem, it's me.

There's so much to say. I always forget everything I want to say when I type these.

First, if anyone is still out there, and read this-- Thank you!

Second, to everyone reading and liking my old work while I was away, also thank you! You made my day when I would log on and see!

Third, I am working on a huge Open Heart project. As I re-read ch. 9 inspiration struck. Writing after all this time felt like rusty gears slowly starting to turn. It felt good, though. I hope I can do more of it!

I will definitely post old fics I wrote once upon a time but never posted.

Love you all. Missed you!

-Bree

[jamespotterthefirst]

Challenge accepted

Rereading Open Heart after all this time away and remembering how the Ethan route made me feel is a lot like waking up in a hospital with amnesia and the hot guy there telling me he's my husband

[jamespotterthefirst]

I know people here hate to see me coming with a replay 😂

Rereading Open Heart after all this time away and remembering how the Ethan route made me feel is a lot like waking up in a hospital with amnesia and the hot guy there telling me he's my husband

[jamespotterthefirst]

I love it! The separate rooms route is so good too

Editing chapter ten!!

giggling and kicking my feet