A Week in New York(28)

“Why are all bankers dicks?” I asked. “Do you think banking turns them into dicks or that they only employ dicks to begin with?”

“An interesting philosophical question, Miss Anna. Why don’t we go back to the house and debate it. In bed. Naked. Me between your legs?”

I looked up at him and grinned. “Later. We have plenty of time.”

But we didn’t have plenty of time. We had exactly two nights before I flew back to London. My skin prickled at the thought. It wasn’t enough time. I wanted another week with him. Or maybe just a few more days.

Before panic could overwhelm me, we were confronted by a mass of people. It felt like they were all looking at us. Ethan squeezed me closer to him as we made our way through the crowd toward the bar that had been set up at the other end of the pool. Ethan briefly shook hands with a couple of over-tanned, middle-aged men, but kept us moving.





Ethan

Jesus, I really didn’t want to be here. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t insisted that we stay at home. Having her in that skimpy red dress, pressed up against me, knowing she wasn’t wearing underwear—it was almost painful. Even though I’d spent more time inside her today than not, I still wanted her. I wanted her to myself, without all these people getting in our way.

She didn’t fit in in this environment. She didn’t have to try so hard. I was so sick of this scene. I didn’t understand why Andrew and Mandy were still doing it. Andrew was almost as well connected as I was, so it couldn’t be for business, and Mandy certainly didn’t fit in with these women—her face still looked normal and not like a frozen Pillsbury Doughboy.

Andrew and Mandy were heading toward us.

“Hey guys, you made it,” Mandy said, hugging first Anna and then me.

“Yeah, we did it for a good cause—Andrew’s balls,” I said. Anna elbowed me in the ribs.

“Fuck you, dude,” Andrew said.

“I was excited to come. Thanks for inviting us,” Anna said.

Mandy clasped her hands together like an over-excited seal. “I’m so pleased you’re an ‘us’ and you’re here!”

I rolled my eyes at her excitement. I hoped she wasn’t making Anna uncomfortable. She didn’t want pressure to be an ‘us,’ I knew that for sure.

“To be honest, I’m not sure why we come to these parties. Although I like to see the women’s faces. It’s so bizarre,” Mandy said.

“I’ll go and get us some drinks,” I offered. “Andrew?”

“Yeah, a beer, thanks.”

“No, you dick, you’re coming with me.”

“Fuck you.”

“Stop being children and go and get your ladies some drinks,” Mandy instructed.

“She’s great, man,” Andrew said as we headed toward the bar.

I grinned and nodded.

“You like her.”

I nodded. “Yeah, of course.”

“So when does she go back to London?” I didn’t want to think about it. I’d promised her uncomplicated, and I didn’t go back on my promises.

“Monday.” I felt my jaw tense. “Can we get a beer, a whiskey, a Manhattan, and a glass of champagne?” I said to the bartender.

“She is your perfect woman if she drinks whiskey.”

I grinned and raised my eyebrows.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I turned, I was faced with Julie … or Julia, or something.

“Hey, handsome,” she drawled. I cringed—I didn’t remember fucking her, but I knew we’d fucked. And I cringed that she had her hand on my shoulder when the only person I wanted touching me was Anna. I moved to the right to encourage her to remove her arm, but she just moved with me. Fuck. I hoped Anna wasn’t watching this. Would she care? I wasn’t sure, but I cared.

“Hey. This is my friend Andrew,” I said. I couldn’t introduce them properly when I couldn’t remember her fucking name.

“Hey, Andrew,” she said dismissively and turned back to me. “So, you should give me a call sometime. We could hang out again.”

Fucking hell. I put every effort into never having to have these conversations. I was always clear that they would have no call from me. Ever.

“I don’t think so. I’m with someone.” I wasn’t sure if I said it to soften what I was saying or because I wanted it to be true.

“I won’t tell if you don’t.”

Jesus, that made my stomach churn. As if I’d ever fuck her again.

“I’m not interested,” I said. It was rude, but I didn’t care. And it got the result I wanted: She removed her hand from my shoulder, called me an asshole, and walked away. Thank fuck for that. I turned to see if Anna had caught any of that, but she was talking to Mandy and that bitch Clarissa. Fuck, why had I agreed to come to this shitty party?