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.