I don’t have my car or my clothes or my cat, Frankie, who wasn’t even my cat but my last roommate’s cat. But my roommate and little Frankfurter and I all knew he loved me the most.
I do have a billionaire husband, though, I remember as I am tucked into the back of a black Bentley. And I can admit it I’m excited to go see him in the city. Though it’s probably more about the Big Apple than it is about Ben.
Either way, for the first time in years, instead of exhausted, I’m feeling energized and eager on a Friday afternoon after work. I actually hope we go out tonight instead of stay in.
Wait, what?
Who am I and what’s happening to me?
25
BEN
“I mean, is there anything better than Fall in the city?” Janie sighs. “The leaves turning in Central Park, the cooler temps, people starting to buzz with excitement for the holidays.”
“Holidays? Who are you and what have you done with Janelle?”
“Ughhhh,”
“Sorry. Not Janelle, I forgot. What’s next on our agenda, wifey?”
“One, barf. Two, enough!” Janie says through another laugh.
Damn, she looks happy.
Perhaps City Saturdays should be a thing.
City weekends, rather. Walking around making fun of myself or saying whatever will get the biggest rise out of her.
She likes my place, I think. Seemed genuinely impressed with the art and the open design and colorful decor. I didn’t do it all myself, of course, but it has my eye, my guidance. My photos from my travels, different things I’ve collected overseas.
I like fine things, so that’s what I fill my flats with, both in New York and London. Including my sheets and guest sheets, which Janie waxed poetic about this morning. Coffee machine too.
“Enough what, darling?”
“We’ve done all my stuff, it’s your turn,” she links her arm through mine as we walk and I flex my bicep automatically, then fight a wince because I’ve been killing myself at the gym.
“Hardly.”
“Benedict. We stayed in last night with my favorite Thai, and watched the movieIchose, then we went tomyfavorite cafe for coffee this morning,myspot for lunch—”
“Yes, well you’re the one who’s been city-deprived, not me.”
“Come on, you don’t have anything you want to do?”
I lift my coffee to gesture around us, “Am doing it, at present.”
“You just shielded me from stepping in a puddle of what I’m pretty sure was human urine a minute ago. Walking through Midtown cannot be all you want to do today.”
“Caught that, did you? Wasn’t that so chivalrous of me?” She sighs like she’s upset even though she isn’t. I flex my arm again.
“Seriously, Benedict, What’s going on tonight?”
“It’s Ben, woman. Honestly. And you’ve not told me yet. I had planned on lounging around my flat in just my sexy gray sweatpants.” I say and she chokes on her coffee. I fight a smug smile.
“Your w-what?”
I glare down at her stunning face, “Men know things. I saw your collection of romance books being delivered to the house. Don’t ask mewhyplain gray sweats are like catnip for you lot but if I’ve a tool of seduction available to me, I use it.”
