New Year in Manhattan(33)
Chapter Twelve
Ethan
I’d snapped at Anna and I hated myself for it. I was being an asshole. But I couldn’t shake the black cloud that had settled over me, and part of me blamed her for it. I kept telling myself that it was my hangover, but I knew better. Was it such big deal that she didn’t want to marry me? It shouldn’t be. We could be happy together without being married, surely. But somehow and suddenly, it had become a big deal.
Anna
“Daniel’s just popped to the loo. Is it okay that he came?” Leah asked as she poured white wine into an empty glass opposite me at the restaurant.
“Of course.” I would have preferred just Leah and me for dinner. Not that I didn’t adore Daniel, but it was always slightly different when it was the three of us.
“Are you okay?” Leah asked.
“Yeah, I just—Ethan’s stressed and he was a bit snappy with me on the phone. I know I’m being over sensitive, he’s just never been like that with me and it just makes it worse when he’s so far away.” My throat began to thicken and I took a sip of my wine. “Maybe it’s all getting a bit too real for him and he’s having doubts?”
“He’s crazy for you. He’s not having doubts. It will be fine. Talk to him later.”
Daniel came back to the table and kissed me on the cheek. “What’s going on?” he asked. Have you got a moving date?”
“I’m still waiting to hear. I spoke to Paul earlier and he’s going to come back to me, but he sounded positive about it.”
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Leah said.
“God, Leah don’t. The mood I’m in, I’ll start bawling and you’ll have to carry me home.”
Daniel pulled a glum looking Leah toward him. “I go to New York all the time—you can just come with me. You’ll see plenty of each other.”
“The mood Ethan’s in, he’ll probably call it all off and I’ll be stuck here anyway.”
“Don’t be silly,” Leah said. “He was going to propose, I’m sure of it.” Leah then proceeded to tell Daniel about our New Year’s Eve and how Ethan had hired out the top of the Empire State Building. “Don’t you think it’s the sort of thing you do when you propose?” Leah asked him.
“He didn’t though?” Daniel asked.
I shook my head. “Just because he did something thoughtful and romantic doesn’t mean he was going to ask me to marry him. And anyway, I have no interest in getting married.”
“You don’t?” Daniel looked surprised.
“No, not really. I’ve never seen the point. So many people end up unhappy or divorced. Isn’t it more romantic to stay together because you want to, rather than because you signed a bit of paper?”
Daniel looked at me, almost as if he were concerned.
“And anyway, guys hate the idea of marriage,” I continued.
“Well, I’m a guy and I don’t hate the idea of marriage,” Daniel said. “I think it’s important to be able to say to the world and each other that you love someone, and you’re committing the rest of your lives together. I don’t know how I’d feel if Leah didn’t want to marry me. It’s true, I don’t care at all for the wedding, but the wedding and being married are two different things.”
“Yeah, but you’re Daniel Armitage. You’re not most guys.”
“Is Ethan most guys?” Leah asked.
“I don’t even know why we’re talking about this. He hasn’t asked me. We didn’t talk about it and after our conversation today we’re never likely to.” I surreptitiously checked my phone. He’d not even responded to the naked photo offer. Something must be up.
“Well, the top of the Empire State building for just the two of you on New Year’s Eve sounds like he wants you to be happy,” Daniel said. “And that can only be a good thing.”
* * * * *
Back at the flat, I’d still not heard from Ethan. I wanted to call him but I didn’t want to disturb him again. I decided to give Mandy a call instead. It would be about six in New York, so she was likely to be home and Andrew would still be at work.
“Hey, soon-to-be New Yorker,” Mandy squealed as she answered the phone.
I couldn’t help but smile. “Hey, I called to wish you happy New Year. Is now a good time?”
“Of course. Happy New Year. I’m so pleased you called. How’s the jetlag? Have you got a date for moving yet?”
“No date, but I’m hopeful I won’t have to work the full three months. I should hear in the next few days. I’ve started to pack things up in the office though, and I’ll start on the flat tomorrow.”