“But maybe you’d be dating Ethan by then?” I added. It was mean and I shouldn’t have said it but I couldn’t resist.
“That’s a good point. I’d probably be busy accompanying him to parties or dinners. I’m sure I could squeeze you in at some point.”
“Well, you just let me know, Lucy. You’ll have to excuse me, I have to make a call.”
Lucy spun around and stalked out of my office.
I spent the rest of the day workinghard. My heart and mind were somewhere else now and I wanted my body to catch up.
When I left at seven thirty, there were few people left. Most of my colleagues were making the most of their clients still being distracted by the holiday season and leaving the office early.
I was headed to dinner with Leah. London was cold but not as cold as New York. The thought made me realize I’d still not heard from Ethan. I pulled out my phone and dragged off my glove so I could more easily dial his number.
He didn’t answer, so I hung up without leaving a message. Then I decided that maybe I wanted to leave a message and tell him that I’d spoken to Paul, so I dialed him again.
He answered on the second ring. “Anna? What is it?”
“Nothing, I was expecting your voicemail. I just called and you didn’t pick up.”
“I’m in the middle of a meeting. I can’t just pick up.” He sounded pissed off and stressed.
“I know. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” I paused, wanting him to say something but he didn’t. “I was just going to leave you a message.”
“Well, I’ve picked up now, so what is it?”
He’d never been so short with me. So cold. It winded me and left me grasping for words. “Nothing, I just . . . I spoke to Paul and I think he was open about my notice period. But it’s not urgent. We can talk about it this evening.”
“Fine. I’ll call you later if I get a chance. Today’s going to be very busy. I gotta go.”
“Okay, bye, I love you.”
“Later.”
“Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, busy.”
“Okay,” I said, and then he was gone.
I found that I’d stopped walking and I was standing with commuters rushing each side of me. What had just happened? Even when Ethan was busy and stressed with work he was never like that with me. He was never rude or snappy. Maybe Al had reported him for breaching the frat policy? But why would he be mad at me?
Something felt wrong.
I typed out a text.
A: I’m worried about you. You sound stressed. Would a naked picture help?
That would cheer him up surely? I smiled to myself and buried my phone back in my pocket and continued my walk to meet Leah at the restaurant.
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.
