Chapter 7 #2
Ethan’s sister was pretty. Beautiful even.
I suppose that should be no surprise given Ethan’s god-like features.
You could definitely see the resemblance.
What was more interesting to me was the relationship he had with her.
It was playful and teasing and sweet. Being with them reminded me of being in the Hamptons, he was relaxed and happy—Ethan’s life was full of good people who loved him.
Happy couples living happy lives. I wondered why he’d not dated before—didn’t he want that too?
“I bet you still have all the books out, like you’re trying to intellectualize a boyhood obsession,” Jessica taunted him. Jessica had explained all about Ethan’s James Bond obsession. There were worse obsessions to have.
“They’re valuable. First editions,” he replied looking slightly wounded. “At least it’s more intellectual than the Boys II Men obsession you had.”
“Yeah, but I don’t still have my Boys II Men posters on my wall. They came down when I started dating for real. Although I should have left them up. Rock star fantasies are so much better than the reality of dating grabby teenage boys.”
“Or dating any aged men. It’s not just teenage boys that are grabby,” I said, forgetting my filter. “Present company excepted, of course.” I cringed and Jessica laughed.
“You’re probably right. The last date I went on before I met James not only made me pay for dinner but spent the night texting an ex-girlfriend, which he excused by saying she was upset over a break-up.”
I nodded. “I went on a date once and came out of the loo at our restaurant to find him taking the number of the waitress.”
“Jesus.” Ethan recoiled.
“And in college my long-time boyfriend ended up cheating on me with my best friend. Same thing happened to Leah before she met Daniel. I’m a shit magnet, what can I say.”
“So what does that make me?” Ethan asked.
“Hmmm, a knight on a white horse, his colors flying?” I grinned at him and he grinned back.
“OMG, are you quoting Pretty Woman?” Jessica asked, grinning at me expectantly.
I nodded. “I hear you’re a fan of the film, too?”
“I love it. Seen it a million times. I used to make Ethan watch it over and over.”
“It paid off,” I said. “Did he tell you what he did in New York?”
“Holy hell, Anna, you’re not telling that story.” Ethan groaned. “I think I preferred the ex-boyfriend talk.”
“You have to tell me now,” Jessica squealed.
“No, Anna. Jessica doesn’t want to hear about what her brother does naked,” Ethan interjected.
“That’s true,” Jessica said. “No sex stories. Not ever. Well, not about my brother anyway. If they’re about a sexy man I’m not related to, then dish! I’ve completely run out of my own stories and I need to live vicariously!”
“I don’t want to hear about you naked either, for Christ’s sake.” Ethan rolled his eyes.
“Okay, more ex stories—my most recent ex owed money to someone he shouldn’t and they ended up breaking into my flat to scare me.”
Ethan pushed his chair away from the table, the legs, scraping across the tiled floor. “Are you fucking serious?” I looked at him and his face was dark, his eyes boring into me. I was stunted by his reaction, and I didn’t have time to answer him. “The flat you’re in now?”
“Ethan.” I reached across to him, taking his hand in mine. “I’m selling it, you know I am, and the police are involved.”
“How could you not tell me?” He was scouring my face, as if looking for more information.
“It hasn’t come up. And there’s nothing to tell.”
“You’re not staying there,” he growled.
“Ethan, I’ve stayed there since, it was months ago, and you’ve been there with me recently.” I grabbed his hand, trying to reassure him.
“You’re not staying there on your own again,” he said, calmer but still resolute.
“Okay,” I said, meaning it. I liked that he cared enough to want to protect me. It felt nice. It felt safe. He smiled at me and squeezed my hand.
“Wow,” Jessica said and we both snapped our heads ’round to her voice at the same time.
“What?” Ethan asked.
She shrugged and started to clear the plates from the table. I stood up but Ethan pulled me back down, not letting go of my hand.
“Let me help,” I said, trying to get up again. Ethan pulled me and my chair toward him with one hand, his other not leaving mine.
“You two sit here. James and I will get this,” Jessica said.
I leaned my head on Ethan’s shoulder. “Do you work with him?” he asked after a few beats.
“No, god no. He wasn’t . . . just no.”
“Do you still see him?”
I shook my head. “No, not at all.”
“Talk to him?”
“No, Ethan. Please. We can talk when we get home, but drop it while we’re here.” I smiled at him stiffly, aware Jessica and James would be back any minute.
“I don’t like it,” he snapped.
“Clearly.”
James came back in with two bottles of wine. “I thought we might need extra supplies. I say, if in doubt, get pissed.”
“It’s the only thing we have in common anymore,” Jessica said as she came in with a tray of chocolate mousse. “Getting wasted to block out reality.”
“I hear it’s the only way to deal with children,” I said.
“Absolutely,” James and Jessica chorused and then laughed.
I smiled and turned to look at Ethan who was staring at me as if he’d not heard any of the interaction. I squeezed his hand and he blinked and looked away.
“What is this crap you’re drinking?” He grinned and threw back a glass of whatever it was, clearly not too concerned.
“So, what do you do?” Jessica asked me.
“Oh, I’m a lawyer. I work at the firm that Ethan’s firm just took over.”
Jessica looked at her brother and then back at me. “So, you met working together? Is that allowed?”
“We met in New York, in the summer. It was coincidence that we work together. We didn’t know,” Ethan said.
It was clear, Ethan hadn’t said much to his sister about me.
“So you didn’t come to London to spend time with your sister and niece. Typical.” Jessica was obviously joking.
“No, I came to do a job. I didn’t know where Anna worked until we bumped into each other at work.”
“Oh, wow,” she said. “That sounds kinda romantic.”
“It is what it is.” Ethan sat back in his chair, his hand still not releasing mine.
“So, when are you going back to work?” Ethan asked. “Jessica’s a dentist. She’ll make a fortune in this country.”
I elbowed him in the ribs.
“Yeah, I’m going to see a few practices next week actually. I’m a bit scared about going back. I’ve probably forgotten everything. It’s been over a year.”
“Hey, you’re great at your job. You won’t have forgotten anything.” Ethan turned to me. “Jessica is as smart as a whip. Top of her class.”
It was cute to see him so proud of her. I grinned. “I’m sure it runs in the family. What do your parents do?” I asked.
“Dad is a dentist, too. Mom stays at home. They have the perfect life. Did you hear about Uncle Alec?” Jessica asked Ethan.
Ethan nodded. “I spoke to mom yesterday.”
I excused myself to pop to the restroom while they caught up on family stuff. This was a new Ethan. Family Ethan. Loyal, proud. It was nice. But I didn’t need a reason to like him more.