Upper East Side, Manhattan
Saturday, March 28th, 3:00 AM
Ethan
Ethan stretched out under the cool linen sheets, feeling more relaxed than he had in weeks. Mind-blowing sex. That’s all it had taken to make everything seem right with the world again.
Belmont. Grieves and Choi. He’d left that baggage behind. Even Callie was fading in the rearview mirror. Thank God he’d caught himself in time. Kissing her would have been a disaster.
What the hell was I thinking? This is where I belong.
Jess slept beside him, the curve of her body turning the plain white sheets into something erotic. A foot peeked out from under the blanket, toenail polish glistening in the moonlight. He ran his hand up and down her thigh and she spooned against him, moaning softly when he eased inside her again.
Afterward, the rhythm of their breathing synchronized, in and out. Slow. Steady. Deep. Blissful exhaustion lapped over his limbs like warm water and he floated away.
As night turned to early dawn, he dreamed of a girl who was Jess but who wasn’t. Naked and perfect, she rocked against him, then gasped beneath him, then moaned on top as she rode him like a wave. As she brought them to a shared climax that went on and on and on.
A girl with black hair, then blonde hair, then black again.
A girl with sparkly green eyes that darkened to midnight whenever she came.
*
Someone stroked his chest. “Hey, babe. It’s eight AM. Time to wake up.”
He opened his eyes to see Jess standing over him. She was dressed in black leggings and a purple NYU T-shirt, her hair pulled back in a high pony tail. Perspiration beaded on her forehead like dew drops on a pink rose petal.
Wow, he thought as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Even her sweat looks pretty.
She grinned in that casually sexy way. “Finally. I was about to pour ice water on your head. We’ve got an appointment at Tiffany in one hour. Wedding registry, remember?”
“Ugh.” He yawned and stretched his arms above his head. “Don’t tell me you finished your run already.”
“Five miles, around the reservoir. I let you sleep late.” She leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. “You already got your workout last night.”
He smiled, remembering some of the highlights. It was hard to pack a month of pent-up sexual frustration into one night, but they’d come close. Conveniently, Jess’s roommate Skyler was away visiting her boyfriend for the weekend. Knowing Jess, that had been planned.
“Hey,” he said, remembering something about her sister. “Weren’t we supposed to meet Madison for brunch this morning?”
“Yeah, but she bailed. Texted that she had some huge last-minute story to work on.” She puffed out her cheeks. “Made it sound like she was covering an international crisis for the New York Times or something. I mean, Maddie writes for a gossip blog. What could possibly be so important?”
“I don’t know.” He arched a brow. “Heard a rumor that this incredibly sexy woman broke into a Boston law firm last weekend and pleasured her fiancé on the conference room couch. Then he returned the favor.”
“Nah. Sounds lame.” She crinkled her nose. “Who’d do something cheesy like that?” She crossed the room to retrieve a Vineyard Vines box with a blue bow. “Found the perfect shirt for you, babe. You look so hot in pink. Now get dressed.”
She handed him the box, then stripped off her T shirt and sports bra in one graceful motion. When she saw how he was looking at her, she covered her breasts and shook her head with a pout.
“Sorry. No time for that. You snooze, you lose. I Just need to take a quick shower and we'll be ready to go.”
“I can join you.”
“Then it won’t be quick, will it?” She pulled him to his feet. “We’ve got a gazillion things to do before we meet Bethany and Jace for dinner tonight.”
Ethan’s eyes widened. “But that’s, like, ten hours away.”
“Exactly.” Jess stripped off the rest of her clothes and headed to the bathroom, calling out over her shoulder, “We’re already behind schedule.”
*
Ethan sat next to Jess on the steps of Washington Square Fountain, sipping coffee and basking in the sunshine. After a morning of non-stop shopping, he deserved this brief pit stop. The warm spring weather had brought out a crowd of NYU students, skateboarding teens and office workers on lunch break. Steel drum music lilted through the air, giving a rhythmic beat to the city soundscape of traffic, construction noise, and boisterous conversation.
Jess reached over to rub his knee. “I’m obsessed with that china pattern we picked. It’ll go perfectly with Mom’s antique cherrywood table. And the Christofle flatware with that sparkly Waterford crystal.” She grinned like a kid on Christmas Eve, mentally unwrapping the presents waiting for her beneath the tree. “Don’t you love the way our registry’s shaping up?”
“It’s great.” Ethan tossed the rest of his croissant to a fat pigeon at their feet. “Now all we need to find is a place to put all that stuff.”
“That’s next on the agenda.” Jess pointed to a cream-colored brick apartment building right behind Washington Square Arch. “Two Fifth Avenue. All the corner apartments have balconies, and one just went on the market. Two bedrooms. Fourteenth floor, facing the park. It’ll be snapped up, but the owner knows my dad, so…” She jumped up and did a cute little dance, yellow sundress twirling. “We get first dibs.”
As they walked beneath the grand marble arch, Ethan wrapped his arm around her waist. “How do you feel about a romantic dinner in Little Italy,” he whispered into her ear, “followed by a redo of last night?”
“Hmm.” She squeezed his hand. “Rain check on Little Italy, but I’m totally down with that second part. We’re meeting Bethany and Jace for dinner in SoHo, remember?”
Ethan’s shoulders stiffened.
“What?” She stopped walking and turned to face him. “Why are you looking at me like that? I told you about our dinner plans this morning. Bethany’s been my best friend since kindergarten. I’m not blowing her off tonight.”
“I wouldn’t want you to. Bethany’s great. I’ll hang out with her any time, but Jason…” He trailed off, letting Jess fill in the blanks.
“Yeah, I get it. Jace has a big mouth. But he’s totally harmless.”
“I’m not so sure about that. Last time we got together, he was all over you. And that joke about a threesome with you and Bethany?” He jammed his fists into his pockets. “He’s lucky I didn’t break his jaw.”
“Wait.” Jess covered a laugh with her hand. “Don’t tell me you took that seriously? Oh my God, Ethan! That’s just Jace’s sense of humor. The guy’s from Long Island. What do you expect?”
“I don’t know. Maybe for him to spend more time talking to his fiancée and less time hitting on mine.”
Jess’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “That’s hilarious. Don’t tell me you’re jealous of Jace.”
“Not really. He’s not exactly GQ cover material. But the dude thinks he is, and that’s a problem. Especially for Bethany. I wish you’d warn her.”
They started walking, heading toward Fifth Avenue. Jess held Ethan’s hand as they crossed Washington Square North. “Jace talks a big game, but that’s it. He can be really sweet, just not when you’re around. Probably because you intimidate him.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Really?” She crinkled her forehead. “Like you said, Jace isn’t exactly GQ material, but you are.”
“Thanks, but I don’t know about that.”
“Of course you don’t. Jeez, Ethan. Gorgeous guys can be so clueless. Remember this morning, at Tiffany? I bet you didn’t even notice how that counter girl was all over you.”
“She was just trying to make a commission.”
“Yeah, right. With those goo-goo eyes and that bedroom smile.” She batted her eyelashes. “Little Miss Tiffany played with her hair so much I thought she had head lice. And she kept giving me these bitchy looks whenever you weren’t watching, like I’d stolen you away from her or something.”
He laughed. “Now who’s being jealous?”
“That’s the point. I don’t need to be.” She stopped at the corner and held up her engagement ring. “And neither do you. Of Jace, or anyone else.”
She gave him a soft peck on the lips, then another longer one, then a deep, open-mouthed kiss that sent blood rushing to all the right places.
When they finally came up for air, she smiled as if to say, “I rest my case.”
Ethan felt sorry for any future lawyer who would have to face Jess in court. The girl knew how to make a point, and she never lost an argument.
Hand in hand, they entered the luxurious foyer of their potential new home.
*
The Prince Street Bistro was packed like a subway car during rush hour; hipsters and college kids spilled out of the trendy SoHo restaurant and onto the sidewalk. Bethany and Jason had made the dinner reservation for six PM, and Jason threw a hissy fit when their table wasn’t ready on time. Probably the reason they were seated at a high-top table squeezed in between the bar and coat check room. Dim lighting, sawdust on the floor and blaring techno music completed the shitty ambiance.
“Awesome place, right?” Jason shouted into Ethan’s ear. “You’ve got no fuckin’ idea what strings I had to pull to get this reservation!”
Ethan gave him a thumbs up and glanced longingly at Jess. After a full day of wedding registries, reception planning and apartment hunting, he was spent. All he wanted to do was crawl into bed with her.
Instead, he had to listen to an endless stream of bravado and bullshit. How much Jason was killing it in the bond market (his holiday bonus was more than Ethan would make in the next five years). How he had just won a bidding war to buy this sweet townhouse in Brooklyn Heights (a steal at two million dollars). How much the Red Sox were going to suck that year (lucky if they finished twenty games behind the first place Yankees).
Ethan nursed his Allagash White and feigned interest, shouting “Uh-huh!” and “Right!” and “That’s great!” to fill in the rare gaps in Jason’s monologue. Across the table, Jess and Bethany sipped their apple martinis, deep in conversation. Jess caught his gaze and smiled, then flipped her hair and laughed at something Bethany was saying into her ear.
Damn, she looked amazing tonight. Cowboy boots, skinny jeans and a low-cut metallic top that shimmered and hugged her body like liquid gold.
He wasn’t the only one to notice. Jason’s eyes kept straying to Jess’s chest, his gaze becoming hungrier as the evening wore on.
An hour after seating them, the waitress finally took their order. Jess and Bethany both picked kale and edamame salads, then excused themselves to go to the bathroom. As they crossed the crowded restaurant, Jason peered after them, eyes lingering on Jess’s backside. When they were out of sight, he turned to Ethan and winked.
“Congrats again on the engagement, bro. She’s a hard ten. Don’t know how you did it, but you bagged one of the hottest chicks in Manhattan.”
He raised his beer bottle, which Ethan reluctantly clinked.
“Congratulations to you too, man. Bethany’s amazing. We’re both lucky men.”
“Yeah, Beth’s cute.” Jason jutted out his lower lip, like he was appraising a boring but safe investment. “Dynamite in bed. Tight little body, and that curly red hair.” He leered. “All natural on the top and the bottom, if you know what I mean.”
Ethan cringed and took another swig of beer. His addiction counselor Vic wouldn’t approve, but how else was he supposed to survive the evening? Maybe he could try to redirect the conversation. He owed that to humanity.
“Jess told me Bethany works in advertising.”
“For now.” Jason’s eyes prowled the bar area. “But it’s not like she’s gonna keep up with that shit once we have kids.”
“What if she wants to?”
Jason snorted. “Dude, I make two mill a year. Why the fuck would she want to work?”
Ethan set down his beer. “Because Jess says she’s really talented.”
“Seriously?” Jason stared at him, cockeyed. “You really think high-maintenance chicks like Bethany and Jess want to work?” He coughed out a laugh. “One day, when they’re at the country club lounging by the pool, they’ll wanna be able to say they had a career. Gotta check off that box. But a friggin’ supermodel like Jess? Dude, I gotta be honest. You’re one lucky son of a bitch. She’s way out of your league. I hope you’ve got a plan for how to keep her.”
Ethan scanned the crowd for their waitress. He definitely needed another drink.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong. You’re a good-looking guy. I mean, Bethany thinks you’re, like –” Jason imitated his fiancée’s high voice with a breathy falsetto – “totally gorgeous. But that shit doesn’t carry as much water for us. Am I right?”
“As usual.”
They clinked empty bottles, Ethan’s sarcasm going over the arrogant tool’s head.
“Let me tell you something.” Jason wiped the sweat off his balding scalp, which was pink from eighteen holes of golf that morning. “Ninety-nine percent of women these days care more about the size of your paycheck than the size of your dick. Money’s the great equalizer. Smart move to choose plastics, bro. You’re gonna need plenty of green to hold onto a girl like Jess.”
Ethan flagged down their waitress and ordered a scotch on the rocks. Jason ordered another pint of Guinness. Had to feed that beer gut.
“How much do plastic surgeons make, anyway?” he asked as the next round of drinks arrived.
“Enough.” Ethan swirled the amber liquid around the ice cubes. What harm could come from one hard drink? Besides, alcohol had never been his problem. “I don’t think Jess cares about my earning potential. Her parents are billionaires, so it’s not like she’s a gold digger.”
“Then what’s your secret? No offense, but how did you seal the deal with that girl?”
“I don’t know.” Ethan took a sip, savoring the familiar burn. A strong buzz was building, but he didn’t really care. He knocked back the rest of the scotch and gave Jason his best fuck you grin. “Guess she’s part of that one percent who still care about dick size.”
***
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This was an excellent chapter. You cored a basket in showing how hard it is to be social with a loudmouth. Jason reminds me a lot of a business associate I once had.
Jess clearly has “bridal brain.” It always amazes me how some women obsess over lists, flowers, et., to completely unaware how bored their men are. Nice New York touchstones and locations for your readers to identify with, too.
No nits to pick.
Thanks, Lawrence! Sorry I’ve been missing for a week. Tropical Storm Isiasis really did a number on CT, and we were without power or internet for close to a week. Makes me wonder (and dread) what 2020 has in store for us next.
Jason is definitely a caricature, but it’s amazing how many guys in that age and demographic really act this way. I very much appreciate your reading on. I’ve got some catching up to do with Back from the Black.
Cheers,
Gray
Yeah, Jace is a clown. Amazing he makes all that money!! Sure hope Ethan doesn't get into trouble with the booze!! About the last he needs :-0 I were him, I'd excuse myself, go somewhere and crank out some push-ups! Sweaty or not, better than Otis Campbell drunkenness. Booze wouldn't be enough for me if I had to deal with Mr. Tweezers and his bragging used to cover his...and his other insecurities.
I expect something's gonna burn up 'tween Ethan and Jess and soon...!
The last few lines are classic!!
CHEERS!!
Mike
Lawrence Burdick