Chapter 11 #3
He scooched a little closer, turning to face me.
‘Hey, no apologies necessary. Sure, it was incredibly embarrassing – like, at one point I thought I might actually throw up – and my folks are never going to let me forget it, I’m sure.
But, given the choice, I wouldn’t have changed anything that led up to that moment. ’
‘No?’
‘Nope.’
He took one of my hands and squeezed it, as if trying to erase the last half an hour and transport us back to the moment he’d inserted his key in the lock. My body was happy to play along, my consciousness rewinding as my face leaned towards his.
The brash sound of the apartment buzzer immediately undid our time-travel experiment, Saul’s voice crackling through the ancient intercom. ‘Sorry, son, I left my sweater up there! Could you bring it down?’
Ethan melted off the settee and grabbed his dad’s jumper from the bed. ‘I’ll be back.’
I rested my head on the back of the sofa and reached for my phone. Urgh, I needed Wi-Fi. I re-pocketed it and closed my eyes for a moment. This wasn’t going to happen, was it? My brain tried to rationalise the unexpected turn of events through a series of imaginary bullet points:
You shouldn’t get too close to him.
This isn’t you.
You’re not even on the pill.
At least you got some nice notebooks out of it.
My body told my brain to fuck off.
‘Hey,’ Ethan said, perching on the edge of the sofa and reaching for his glass to drain the final drops. It really was delicious champagne.
‘Howdy,’ I replied.
‘I think the gods have spoken, haven’t they?’
‘I suspect the moment may have passed, yeah.’
He threw his head back against the back of his end of the sofa. ‘Jeeeeeez, talk about calamitous.’
‘Nice word.’
‘It felt right.’
‘Lots of today has felt right.’
Careful, Flora.
‘Yeah, it has. It’s been really nice. Like, this is the best I’ve felt about myself in a long time, so… despite everything… thank you for reawakening me. Eww, that sounds gross. Ignore I said that last bit.’
‘Haha, it’s fine. I know exactly what you mean because it’s the same for me, too.
This is a great space, by the way,’ I said looking around, trying to switch my train of thought to a different track entirely.
The more I thought about it, the more I decided that sleeping with Ethan would have been a monumentally bad idea. I liked him too much.
‘Thanks, I’ve been here for about six months, but I can’t get too attached – a couple I know are subletting it to me while they travel.’
‘Where did you live before?’
‘A different part of Brooklyn.’
‘Alone?’
He set down his glass on the wooden coffee table and, in five twists, rotated it in a full circle by the rim before answering. ‘No.’
I squeezed his shoulder once in understanding, before extracting my phone again. ‘Hey, can I connect to your Wi-Fi?’
‘Sure, let me grab the passcode.’
He passed me a Post-it note from a drawer in the desk and I entered the code. Another message from Anneka appeared, but not on the group chat this time:
Anneka:
Hey, just an update: think the jetlag must have caught up with Mum as she’s out for the count!
I should probably stay here and keep an eye on her in case she voms again (!).
So, if you’re good to keep adventuring without us, that’s probably the best use of your time for now.
Please keep me posted on when you’re heading back! A x
Huh. I rarely got one-on-one messages from Anneka, so I could only presume she didn’t want Mum to know that Anneka was looking after her – she was notoriously resistant to any acts of care or kindness.
Flora:
All good. I’ve actually… met someone??! So I guess you could say the timing has worked out pretty well.
Anneka:
FLORA BELL! It’s that Instagram DM dude isn’t it?!
Flora:
Maybe…
Anneka:
I am so right. You’re safe, yeah?
Flora:
Yes, absolutely. He’s a gent. We’re currently in Brooklyn and we just bumped into his parents…!
I decided not to tell her that the encounter had taken place in his apartment.
Anneka:
Only you could end up meeting the parents on a first date…
Flora:
It’s not really a date. Well, it didn’t start out as one anyway. But, yeah, it was pretty awkward to say the least.
Anneka:
Can’t wait to hear all about it. Just keep me posted on timings, ok?
Flora:
Will do. And pleeeease don’t tell Mum!
Anneka:
I won’t. But allow me to channel her for a second…
Flora:
?!
Anneka:
Condom.
Flora:
ANNEKA!
Anneka:
Have fun ;)
‘Everything okay?’
‘Yep, just my sister checking in.’
The truth sneaked out. I mean, I could just tell him they’re in the city, too. But what was the point? After today, that would be that. Now that Anneka had effectively given me a free pass, I might as well keep up the charade that I’d come on this trip of my own volition.
‘Does she know you’re… with someone?’
‘Haha, she knows enough.’
‘Cool. Hey, if you still have time, do you fancy checking out one of my favourite bars? The cocktails are incredible, and it’s where I’m meeting my friends in a couple of hours anyway.’
‘That sounds ideal. Do you mind if I leave my rucksack here to collect after? My shoulders are killing me.’
‘Sure, the bar’s super close. Do you have photo ID?’
‘Yeah, but I’m thirty; I think I’ll be okay.’
‘Nah, this bar IDs everyone. Bring it with you.’
I extracted my passport from the backpack zip compartment and slotted it into the front pouch of my dungarees.
‘How old are you, by the way?’ I asked, as we exited the apartment and Ethan locked the door behind us.
‘I’m twenty-two.’
‘What?!’
‘I’m joking! I’m thirty-two. Thirty-three next month.’
‘Ethan! You were totally deadpan!’
‘Yeah, my colleagues – my actual colleagues – had to buy me a sign so I can indicate when I’m being serious or sarcastic.
And I’m officially banned from any kind of humour in client calls after the time I joked we should add a massive drop shadow to one of my logo designs and the client went with the idea. ’
We stepped outside into the near-dark street, an icy blast of wind practically blowing me down the steps to the pavement.
‘Fuck, it’s freezing.’
Ethan passed me his burgundy woollen beanie, which I pulled over my head gratefully. It was soft and fleecy inside.
‘Yeah, that storm is meant to hit overnight. We’ll have to get you back to Manhattan before then.’
‘No rush, though?’
‘No rush.’