New Year in Manhattan(20)

The tears started to fall. I couldn’t stop them and Ethan pulled me closer. “You don’t think that do you? That I’d feel pressure if you quit your job?”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Fuck that. If you want to come to New York, you’ve made me the happiest man in Manhattan. But if you want something else—”

“I don’t, I want to be here with you.”

“Do we have champagne in that cellar?” I heard Mandy ask as Ethan pulled my chin up. When I was finally looking at him he pressed his lips against mine.

“I can’t believe it,” Ethan said as he pushed his hands through his hair. “I thought, I don’t know, I thought we’d have this long discussion about everything, and that I’d end up moving to London. I’d have to rebuild my practice and get new clients and it would be a complete ball-ache. You’ve just waved a magic wand and made everything so much easier. I mean, are you sure? You’re okay with this? You’re not going to change your mind?”

I couldn’t stop myself from grinning at him as he scanned my face, waiting for me to tell him it was a big joke. I was so happy that he wanted me in New York, that he wasn’t angry, that he didn’t feel backed into a corner.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m really, really sure.”

“Where’s that fucking champagne, Andrew?” Ethan bellowed.

“So, when are you moving?” Mandy asked.

“Well, I’ve only just been invited, so you know as much as I do,” I replied, still beaming at Ethan. “I have to work my notice though. Three months.”

“Three months my ass. There’s no way you’ll have to work that if you don’t want to.”

“Well, I’ll need to plan and do things in London before I leave, so I can’t just stay here.”

“Please, beautiful, I can’t wait three months. Say you’ll be here quicker than that.”

I reached up and stroked his handsome face. “I’ll speak to the partners when I get back and see what I can do. Maybe they’ll let me go earlier.”

“This is so exciting,” Mandy said. “I can show you round Manhattan properly. It’s such a shame you don’t live up town, there’s the most fabulous nail bar three blocks from here.”

“We could move if you wanted?” Ethan looked at me expectantly.

“Wow, this is all a lot to take in,” I said.

“You’re not smothering her are you, Mandy?” Andrew asked, emerging from the basement. “She probably wants to concentrate on getting a job rather than getting her nails done.”

“You know, you don’t have to worry about that,” Ethan said. “But of course, if you want to work, I can speak to my contacts. I’m sure I can find something for you.”

“Maybe I have my own contacts . . . and of course I want to work.” I play slapped him on his arm. “Actually, Daniel might have something for me. He’s hiring a lawyer based here in New York.”

“Jesus, what other secrets have you been keeping from me?”





Chapter Eight


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.