Leah was right. It was impossible to think about anything else, and Ben in particular, while I was with Ethan. Maybe I could fly to New York every time I got heartbroken. Ethan was almost worth getting heartbroken for.
***
“Are you mad?” I asked Leah as we sat down at a table at a coffee shop on Prince Street.
“What about?”
“Me spending time with Ethan.”
“Yes, I’m super-mad that you are happy and having fun and being distracted from Ben the Bastard while I get to have super-hot and very loud sex with my super-hot and very loud boyfriend.”
“Well, when you put it like that.”
“Are you seeing him again tonight?”
“Err.” How had we left it? He had dropped me at Daniel’s on his way to work, but he’d left some of his stuff in the suite; he was in a fresh suit this morning, not wearing the same clothes from last night like I was. But he’d just kissed me and told me he’d see me later. “We didn’t make any plans,” I said, trying to sound breezy but I felt a pit in my stomach. I hoped that wasn’t it. I hoped I would see him again. I reached into my bag and to find my phone. Nothing.
“Daniel has this reception thing at the hotel tonight and I said I would go with him. You should come.”
“Sounds fun.” I was trying to seem enthusiastic.
“But if Ethan calls, then go do your thing.”
I smiled tightly. I shouldn’t want to see him this badly. “You are the most awesome friend in the world.”
“Uh uh.” Leah shook her head. “No, that title belongs to you.”
My phone rattled against the table.
SG: What are you wearing?
A warm spread across my chest at his text and I laughed.
“Ethan?” Leah asked and I nodded as I typed a response.
Me: My oldest jeans, and a T-shirt with a hole under the arm. Super sexy.
SG: You’d make a garbage bag look super sexy.
Me: Shut up.
SG: No bullshit.
SG: I can leave work by 6 p.m. tonight. Meet me at the hotel?
I laughed. He was all for getting down to business. No dinner and drinks tonight. Well, it was fun, not romance that I signed up for.
Me: Only if you promise to be naked when I arrive.
SG: You drive a hard bargain. See you then.
I looked up to find Leah looking at me and my wide grin. She wiggled her eyebrows. “We need to go underwear shopping.”
“We do?”
“We need to get something to seduce our sexy men with.”
“Well, A, he’s not my man, and B, I think he’s a sure thing. But ok, let’s go.”
Leah took me to an amazing lingerie boutique. She’d been there before when shopping alone in New York, thinking of ways to distract Daniel. She warned me it could be expensive, but assured me it was worth every penny. When we walked in and were handed a glass of champagne, I knew there was some serious money going to be spent.
Going through the racks I realized I hated shops like this. There was not a single item in the boutique that I didn’t want to try on. As I started to select items, an assistant took them to a changing room. Dangerous. I couldn’t remember how many I’d selected.
“Hey,” Leah loud-whispered at me. “Come look.” She held up a bra that I could sue the owner of the boutique for misrepresentation over. It was no more than a few strips of material, none of which would cover an actual breast.
“Kinky,” I said.
“I have this one. It always goes down well … or ensures Daniel does.”
“Leah Thompson. I’m shocked. I thought you were going to be a virgin until your wedding night.”
We both giggled.
My eyes darted to the rack next to her. This was clearly the kinky section. I picked up even more things to try on and finally made it to the changing rooms.
I could imagine Ethan ripping off everything I tried on. That was a good thing, but an expensive thing. The beautifully soft lighting that made me feel like Heidi Klum didn’t help. I tried a very simple black bra and panties, which were entirely sheer. I loved them and decided I had to have them. I was sure Ethan would love them, too. I grabbed my bag to find my phone so I could text him and tell him what I was doing, and then the champagne suggested that showing him might be even more fun. I arranged myself so I was leaning on my side in front of the mirror, one hand reaching up against the wall. I then snapped a photo. Was I really going to do this? I typed out a message.
Me: I’m doing a little retail therapy. What are you up to?
I hadn’t even changed into the next set when my phone buzzed.
SG: Charge it to my card and don’t take it off. Wear them tonight. I’m in an all-day meeting and now I’m hard and want to be inside you.