by Louise Bay
“I didn’t want to put pressure on us. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do anything,” I replied.
“What do you mean pressure?” Ethan asked.
“You’re being such a guy, Ethan,” Mandy said. “She doesn’t want you to feel like she’s pressuring you into inviting her to New York. And you need to stop being such a girl, Anna,” she continued. “Ethan wants you in New York. He’s desperate for you to move here, but he’s been running around trying to work out how he can move to London, so you don’t have to give it all up for him.”
The tears started to fall. I couldn’t stop them and Ethan pulled me closer. “You don’t think that do you? That I’d feel pressure if you quit your job?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Fuck that. If you want to come to New York, you’ve made me the happiest man in Manhattan. But if you want something else—”
“I don’t, I want to be here with you.”
“Do we have champagne in that cellar?” I heard Mandy ask as Ethan pulled my chin up. When I was finally looking at him he pressed his lips against mine.
“I can’t believe it,” Ethan said as he pushed his hands through his hair. “I thought, I don’t know, I thought we’d have this long discussion about everything, and that I’d end up moving to London. I’d have to rebuild my practice and get new clients and it would be a complete ball-ache. You’ve just waved a magic wand and made everything so much easier. I mean, are you sure? You’re okay with this? You’re not going to change your mind?”
I couldn’t stop myself from grinning at him as he scanned my face, waiting for me to tell him it was a big joke. I was so happy that he wanted me in New York, that he wasn’t angry, that he didn’t feel backed into a corner.
“Yes, I’m sure. I’m really, really sure.”
“Where’s that fucking champagne, Andrew?” Ethan bellowed.
“So, when are you moving?” Mandy asked.
“Well, I’ve only just been invited, so you know as much as I do,” I replied, still beaming at Ethan. “I have to work my notice though. Three months.”
“Three months my ass. There’s no way you’ll have to work that if you don’t want to.”
“Well, I’ll need to plan and do things in London before I leave, so I can’t just stay here.”
“Please, beautiful, I can’t wait three months. Say you’ll be here quicker than that.”
I reached up and stroked his handsome face. “I’ll speak to the partners when I get back and see what I can do. Maybe they’ll let me go earlier.”
“This is so exciting,” Mandy said. “I can show you round Manhattan properly. It’s such a shame you don’t live up town, there’s the most fabulous nail bar three blocks from here.”
“We could move if you wanted?” Ethan looked at me expectantly.
“Wow, this is all a lot to take in,” I said.
“You’re not smothering her are you, Mandy?” Andrew asked, emerging from the basement. “She probably wants to concentrate on getting a job rather than getting her nails done.”
“You know, you don’t have to worry about that,” Ethan said. “But of course, if you want to work, I can speak to my contacts. I’m sure I can find something for you.”
“Maybe I have my own contacts … and of course I want to work.” I play slapped him on his arm. “Actually, Daniel might have something for me. He’s hiring a lawyer based here in New York.”
“Jesus, what other secrets have you been keeping from me?”
Chapter Eight
Ethan
It felt like my chest was going to explode. I wanted to pepper her with questions about what else she’d been thinking and planning. It was all too good to be true. I was sure that she wouldn’t have to work her full three months’ notice. Maybe she’d have to do a month and then she’d be here, with me, in New York.
“We should move,” I blurted out.
“Ethan,” her hand was on my leg, “we don’t have to decide everything now. Let’s have a nice evening with Andrew and Mandy.”
“Don’t you get it?” Mandy asked. “Ethan is our oldest friend. You can’t make this evening any better than you have. He’s been waiting for you his whole life.”
“Mandy, you’re going to make me cry,” Anna said.
“I mean it. He didn’t even know it himself and it took the longest time, but you’re the bit that’s been missing from his life. Now that you’re here, ready and willing to move to New York, I think you love him as much as he deserves and that makes me very, very happy.”
I turned to Anna and her eyes were welling with tears. “Don’t cry, beautiful.” I cupped her face in my hands and brushed my lips against hers. “We’re celebrating.”
“Time for a toast,” Andrew said, raising his glass. “To the newest member of our family.”
“You’re killing me,” Anna croaked out.
During the course of the evening, every now and then I pulled back and looked at the four of us as if I were an unobserved stranger, peering through a window. There was so much love and laughter, we looked so happy, all of us. Mandy was right, whether or not I’d known it, I’d been waiting for Anna my whole life. Right then, I knew how I was going to make New Year’s Eve special—I was going to propose. I squeezed Anna’s hand under the table, wanting to get closer to her, if that was even possible. She turned that beautiful smile on me and squeezed my hand back.
We’d only just climbed into the cab to start the journey downtown when she turned to me. “Why did you suggest moving, I thought you loved your flat and your neighborhood?”
I shrugged. “I do. But I want you to be happy. You might prefer a house? Or maybe to move closer to Mandy and Andrew or just get a place that’s not been mine first, that we can start in together.”
She grinned at me. “What?” I asked.
She laughed. “Nothing, it’s just, I think you’re the sweetest, most romantic, thoughtful man, ever.”
“Fuck, don’t say that in public, ever. I’ve got a reputation to protect.” I laughed. “The nice stuff is reserved just for you. I’m an asshole to everyone else.”
“I like the asshole, too,” she replied as she moved closer to me in the cab. I tightened my arm around her. “Let’s not move. Not yet. I’d like to get to know your neighborhood and Manhattan a bit more.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you’re living in my apartment though, Anna. I want it to be your home.”
“My home is wherever you are.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
“So you’ll move in here for now and then we’ll think about moving when you’ve gotten to know the place a bit better.”
“So, live together straight away?”
“Of course live together straight away. I’m not letting you out of my sight if I can help it.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
She laughed. “Okay, good. I like that plan.”
“I’ll speak to the partners and get them to let you go early.”
“No, Ethan, I don’t want you to. I don’t think Al will say anything now that I’m working my notice, and there’s no point rubbing their nose in it.” But I wanted her as soon as possible. “I’ll speak to them when I get back. They asked me to think about it over Christmas, so it’s not common knowledge. I guess they think I might change my mind.”
“Did you agree to that?”
“What?”
“Not telling anyone. Are you thinking you might change your mind?”
“No, of course I’m not. I told you, me staying there doesn’t make sense for a hundred reasons. And you seem to be happy enough about it, so …”
“In case there is any doubt, I’m fucking ecstatic about it.” I grinned at her and couldn’t resist kissing the corner of her up-turned mouth. “Okay, I’ll leave it to you, but if you don’t negotiate them down to a month—max—I’ll be forced to intervene.”
“I’m an excellent negotiator, you’ll see.”
I got the feeling we weren’t just talking about notice periods any longer. I’d give her anything she wanted. There was no negotiation to be had as far as that was concerned.
“So, can we go back to spending all our time in bed now? I’m not sure I like this whole being clothed and in public thing,” I said.
“No, you have to do all the touristy things with me before I move. I can’t live here without having been to the Statue of Liberty or Washington Square Park. I’ve never even been on that bridge in Central Park.”
“Oh, god, really? You want me to show you the sights? My penis won’t do?”
“It is an either or? I want both.”
I chuckled. “Okay, I can live with that.”
“Tonight though, it’s all about your penis,” she whispered into my ear as she rubbed her palm against my dick and then trailed her tongue along my jaw.
*
The next morning, I woke before her, and as quietly as I could, grabbed my boxers, a t-shirt and my phone, and made my way into my study. I had plans to make, things to buy—a night to remember to organize.
I called Mandy first. “Hey, thanks for last night. It was a lovely evening.”
“It was a really great to see you both. You two are so awesome together. It’s so good to see.”
“Thanks. I need your help with something. I’m not good with this stuff, you know, the romantic shit …”
“You seem to be doing just fine.”
“Yeah, but this is different. I really can’t risk fucking it up when I propose to her.”
All I heard was squealing on the other end of the phone. “What can I do? What do you need?” Mandy finally asked when she’d calmed down.
“So you don’t think it’s too soon? That she’ll say no?”
“She’s given up her job and is moving continents for you. She’s not going to say no. When are you going to ask her?”
“This is what I wanted to ask you. Is New Year’s too predictable? I don’t know what girls want.”
“Oh, wow. So before she goes back.”
“Do you think it’s too much?”
“No. And I don’t think it’s predictable, I think it’s wonderful. And you shouldn’t be asking me. You know her and what she likes much better than I do. You’ve got all the answers to this stuff. You don’t need me to tell you.”
She was right. This shouldn’t be something Mandy planned and I went along with. This should be about Anna and me.
“Okay, you’re right. Thanks.”
When I put down the phone, I started scouting rings online. I was going to have to move quickly. I only had today. Tomorrow was New Year’s.
“Baby,” Anna shouted from the next room.
“In here,” I responded, clearing down my search history just as Anna poked her head around the door. “I was going to go for a run. Do you mind?”
“Good idea. I can do some yoga here and then have a bath if that’s okay?” She sat on my knees and looped her arms around my neck.
“This is your home now, Anna. You can do whatever makes you happy. There’s a mat in the closet in the small guest room. Or go to the gym downstairs.”
She kissed my shoulder. “No, a mat is good.” I could tell that it wouldn’t take much convincing for her to get her naked and back in bed, but unfortunately, I had to get moving.
I reached around her waist and stood up as she wrapped her legs around me. “You’re like a monkey.”
“A pretty monkey, though, right?” She mock scowled.
I laughed. “A very beautiful monkey.”
She hopped down, “Okay, enjoy your run.” She pecked me on the lips and ran off to retrieve her mat.
I quickly changed and managed to smuggle my wallet into the pocket of my Columbia University sweatshirt and headed out the door.
I hoped Harry Winston would be open.
Anna
Whenever I finished a run, I looked like I’d escaped a kidnapping attempt—red faced, sweaty, hair everywhere. Ethan on the other hand, looked like he was mid-way through a Gucci photo-shoot when he got back to the flat. He was all tan with a slight sheen to his skin that made him look all the more male. I was desperate to jump his bones. In fact, I’d been desperate before his run, but he’d seemed determined to exercise—a desire that never seemed to grip me, unfortunately.
“So, I thought we could go to the Met, or the Guggenheim,” Ethan said, breaking me from my haze of lust as he got dressed after his shower.
“Sounds good.”
“You don’t sound enthusiastic?”
“I am, I’ll get my stuff.” This was good. Normal things that normal couples did. I just couldn’t get enough of him, I wanted to drag him back to bed.
“Okay, I need to make a phone call, so I’ll be a few minutes.” He worked so hard but it was kinda hot. I liked his drive and determination.
I was rooting through my case when Ethan came into the bedroom.
“I’ll clear out my crap when you’re back in London, but there are some drawers free in the closet. Why don’t you unpack properly?”
My stomach flipped and I bit back a grin. There were some things I brought with me that I could leave. A couple of dresses and a pair of shoes at least. “Okay, I will, later.”
“Are you ready?”
I nodded as I pulled on my hat and followed Ethan out to the hallway with my boots in my hand.
“Fuck me, I didn’t realize you owned flat shoes. I’ve never seen you in anything other than heels, or naked. Sometimes in heels and naked.”
“You see, this is when reality sets in. Real life starts right here, with my flats. It’s not all nakedness and high heels, baby. Are you ready? Ready for taking out the garbage and buying me tampons? Ready for seeing me puking up and not wanting sex? I might wax my top lip tonight—are you ready for that?”
Ethan was laughing at me as I prodded his rock-hard stomach. “You’re fucking crazy and I’m more than ready. Come on shorty.”
“You see, I used to be beautiful and now I’m shorty and I’ve not even moved in yet.” I sighed dramatically as I followed him out of his building.
“You’ll always be beautiful, baby,” he said, snaking his arm around my neck and resting it on my shoulders.
He went to hail a cab, but I stopped him. “No, I want to take the subway.”
“Seriously? I’ve not taken the subway in a decade. It’s disgusting down there.” He winced as if he was in pain.
“Don’t be a baby. I’ve never done it and I have to do all the things you would expect a New Yorker to do.”
“Really?”
“Really. We have to do the unglamorous day-to-day stuff, Ethan. It’s good for us.”
“Okay, you get the subway and I’ll get a cab and meet you there. That feels like a day-to-day compromise.”
We stood on the sidewalk laughing at each other. “Oh baby, when did I say anything about compromise? Come on, we’re going on the subway.” I dragged the sleeve of his coat and started walking. He reluctantly followed.
“You know we’re going in the wrong direction for the subway.”
“Ethan!”
He grabbed me by my waist and kissed me hard.
*
“What was your favorite bit of the day?” I asked Ethan as we got home from several hours at the Met and what Ethan described as a reconnaissance trip of the Guggenheim.
“What do you mean? The day’s not over and I enjoyed all of it.”
“I’ve done favorite things since I was a kid, play with me,” I said. “What was your favorite bit, the favorite thing you saw or step you took or conversation you had.”
“Let me think. Just one?”
“We used to do top three.”
“Okay, my favorite three things of today … one, I like that I got to see you in flats.”
I grinned at him. Was he serious? Flat shoes sucked.
“And then I liked how I got to kiss you in the street.”
“Ethan! We�
�ve just seen some of the most beautiful art ever to have been created. Your top three things of the day can’t all be about me.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Do you get to choose, or do I get to choose?”
“I want a no-bullshit response.”
“The other two were no-bullshit responses, Anna. I won’t lie to you.”
“Okay.”
“The last of my top three is a painting. The Velasquez. The one of his Moor slave. It’s my favorite in there. I feel like he’s trying to tell me something from the canvas. How he captured that is incredible.”
His eyes softened as he spoke, but his face was serious.
“You like art?” I asked.
“What is fascinating about it was that it was a practice run for Velasquez’s portrait of the Pope at the time. He was just prepping and that’s what he came up with. Fucking brilliant.”
“Have you been to Madrid? To see, you know, the one that Picasso did as well …”
“Las Meninas.” He finished my sentence for me and looked at me as he nodded. There was something different in his eyes. “You like art?” he asked my question back to me.
“A bit. I’m spoiled in London, there’s so much. I like baroque stuff—Caravaggio, Rubens and your man Velasquez. Did you get to see the Boy Bitten by a Lizard when you were in London? God, I love that painting. It’s tiny, but wild.” I caught myself making shapes in the air with my hands and quickly dropped my arms self-consciously. I looked across at Ethan to see if he had that ‘is she crazy?’ look on his face that he sometimes wore.
“You couldn’t be any more beautiful to me than you are right now, Anna,” he said as our eyes met.
My cheeks heated and he closed the distance between us and slid his arms around my waist.
“Can we stay in tonight?” I asked. “Unless you had plans? I’d just like to be with you tonight.”
“That sounds perfect.”
He skimmed his hands down my back and began to harden against my stomach.
“Me talking about gay boys and lizards gets you hot?”
“Anna,” he growled in that disapproving tone he had that always made me laugh. He cupped my ass in his hands and he lifted me. I wrapped my legs around him. “Come on, pretty monkey.”