"He looks just like him, too," he says before starting to walk towards the dog and the boy.
Wait. Is he going to pet the dog?
I keep my distance, watching and hoping that nothing goes wrong. The boy looks a little scared. The dog, however, looks interested.
Ethan kneels in front of the dog and starts to speak to the boy in German. I don't hear half of it and don't understand the rest because Ethan is talking too fast. I guess he asked the boy permission to pet the dog, because moments later he tries to do exactly that. He extends his fist. I hold my breath. The dog sniffs it, then gives it a lick as it wags its tail. I let out a breath of relief.
The dog climbs onto Ethan and licks his forehead. Ethan laughs. I smile. Somehow, I feel like I'm catching a rare glimpse of how he was as a boy, carefree and adventurous.
And even more lovable.
Suddenly, the boy cries. The dog goes back to him and licks his face. Ethan approaches him, too, but backs off when two adults arrive. I'm guessing they're his parents.
They talk in German but only briefly, the child's parents in a hurry to whisk him and the dog away. Ethan lets out a sigh.
I stand by his side and touch his arm. "Are you okay?"
He says nothing. He doesn't look okay. In fact, he seems upset. Is it because the dog's gone?
I squeeze his arm. "Hey. It's fine. You can get a Samoyed when you get back to Chicago."
He can probably afford a hundred of them.
"I don't have time for a dog," he replies.
Right. If I don't have time to take care of a dog, Ethan has even less.
"Well, at least you were able to pet this one," I say. "And he seemed to really like you."
Or was it a she? I wasn't able to tell.
"But the boy cried."
I look at Ethan with arched eyebrows. Is that what he's worried about?
"That wasn't your fault," I tell him.
He doesn't look convinced. In fact, he looks like he's about to cry next. He's bothered by such a small thing? I find it both surprising and amusing.
I stand in front of him, place my hands on his shoulders and hold his gaze. "Hey. You asked the boy if you could pet his dog, right? And the boy agreed?"
He nods.
"Then you didn't do anything wrong."
"He cried, though," Ethan says.
Why does it bother him so much?
"Maybe because his dog liked you and he doesn't want it to like anyone else," I answer with a shrug as I stroke his hair. "He probably didn't want you to pet his dog but didn't have the courage say no. Or he changed his mind. At any rate, he said yes, so you didn't do anything wrong. You didn't hurt him or bully him."
Ethan looks away and says nothing.
Don't tell me he still doesn't believe me.
I cup his face so he's looking into my eyes again. "Children cry all the time. Even boys. He'll be fine. He has his dog and loving parents."
Still nothing.
"And you have me," I add playfully as I touch my forehead to his.
As soon as I do, I feel something sticky. I step back, frowning as I realize my mistake.
"The dog did lick my forehead," Ethan reminds me.
"Yeah." I wipe mine with the back of my hand. "I remember."
And now, the drool is on on me. Yuck.
Ethan chuckles. Well, at least he seems to be in a good mood again.
I look at my hand. "I think I'll go wash."
I head to the unisex restroom I saw earlier and step in. I'm about to close the door with my clean hand when Ethan stops me and slips inside. I give him a puzzled look.
"I need to wash my forehead, too," he says as he locks the door behind him.
Okay. I guess that's true. Couldn't he wait for his turn, though? Oh well. I just hope no one saw him come in after me. I know the Swiss mind their own business and are rather discreet, but I still don't want to cause a scandal in a foreign country.
I wash my hands and my forehead. Ethan does the same. I grab a paper towel to dry my hands with and then toss it into the trash can.
"I'll go out first."
I'm about to grab the doorknob, but Ethan grips my wrist. He pulls me towards him and seals my lips with his.