I texted a quick message.
A: I love my gift. And I love your obsession with nakedness. Oh, yeah, and I love you.
Still grinning, I turned my attention to the handwritten envelope that had been on my desk with the courier package. It wasn’t Ethan’s writing and I couldn’t think who it could be from.
Inside was a handwritten letter. It started “Dear Anna” but I still didn’t recognize the writing, so I skipped to the end.
It was from Ben. Ben the Biker. Ben the Bastard. My ex-boyfriend who had been responsible for my flat being broken into, putting me in danger. What on earth was he writing to me for?
Chapter Four
Anna
“Have you got it with you?” Leah asked. I had called an emergency wine meeting to discuss the letter from Ben the Bastard.
I handed it over and she began to read from the beginning. I concentrated on my wine.
For the next five minutes all I got was “God”, “Oh, wow” and “Well that makes sense.” And then I got a question. “And you had no idea?” she looked up at me.
I shook my head. “Like it says, he got very good at hiding it.”
She nodded, like she understood. Like it was understandable that I hadn’t realized he was an addict. I wasn’t sure it was. What did that say about my ability to read people?
Leah continued to read. “Oh and this is him making amends. I see. It’s brave.” She looked up and I nodded. It was brave.
When she got to then end she exhaled dramatically. “What did Ethan say?”
“I’ve not told him yet. I’m going to call him when I get back. Anyway, this was all pre-Ethan. Before we met.”
“So it doesn’t change anything?”
“What? Between me and Ethan?” I looked at her to check she wasn’t high on something. “Of course it doesn’t change anything. What could it possibly change? Ethan and I are together.”
“Okay, I just wondered if . . . well, whether you may still have feelings that might come back now you have an explanation about things.”
“Leah!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from her. She knew, she must know, how I felt about Ethan. He wasn’t just another boyfriend to me.
“What? I’m just asking.”
“You know what it’s like between Ethan and me. How can you ask me that?”
“All I know is that you’re three thousand miles away from each other without a plan.”
“I have a plan. I have a fucking plan, Leah.” My voice started to tremble a little and from her expression that she hadn’t expected me to react as strongly as I had.
“I’m sorry. Anna, please, I didn’t mean to upset you. I want you to be happy.”
“I know, look, I’m going to go. I want to go home and speak to Ethan.”
“I’m really sorry. Please don’t go, I feel terrible.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Really. I just need to go.” I was standing already. I had to be at home. But I didn’t want to make Leah feel worse than she clearly already did, so I sat down and topped up our glasses.
“I’m pleased you’ve found Ethan.”
I stayed silent. I didn’t want to carry on this discussion.
“And I’m glad you have a plan,” she continued. I didn’t really have a plan, other than I was determined that Ethan and I would be together.
“Maybe we’ll end up having a double wedding!” Leah said, clearly trying to make me laugh.
“Fuck off Leah.” She knew how I felt about the whole wedding thing.
“What? I think it would be a brilliant idea.”
“We’re not getting married.”
“Ever?”
“You know how I feel about getting married. It’s silly and outdated and married people end up hating each other but staying together anyway. And I can’t bear the thought of wearing some meringue of a dress and having members of my family trying to hide their disdain for each other while eating over-priced chicken.”
“Okay, so no double wedding. But when you’re bridesmaid at mine, I’m making you wear a meringue. And you’re going to be eating chicken. The rest of us will have venison.”
I laughed despite myself.
Ethan
The whole world was literally talking out if its asshole. No one had made any sense since I’d gotten into the office. It was like someone had infected everyone with a virus. Clearly I was immune, but the rest of them had it bad.
“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. It doesn’t take into account the fact that the value in this business has not been nailed down.”
Fuck, this was obvious fucking stuff. Why was I having to make these points?