"I'm connecting you with someone who needs your skills. What you do with that opportunity is up to you."
This is huge. This is the break I've been working toward for years. If I do a good enough job maybe he’ll refer me to someone else and they to someone else and…
"When can I meet him?"
"Monday. If you're interested."
"Of course I'm interested. Thank you, Ethan. This is?—"
"Don't thank me yet. You still have to land the client." But he's smiling. "Though I have complete faith you will."
We spend the morning in bed, talking about everything and nothing. He tells me about his worst day in surgery. I tell himabout my most nightmare customer from Instacart. We laugh until our sides hurt.
It's easy. Natural. Like we've been doing this for years instead of days.
Around noon, my phone starts buzzing with texts.
Madison: Status report: Did you survive?
Lily: I'm alive. The party was perfect.
Chloe: And Doctor Mansion?
Lily: Is currently making me breakfast in bed.
The response is immediate chaos.
Holly: I'M SORRY WHAT?
Amber: BREAKFAST IN BED?!
Emily: Lily!
Maya: I need details immediately.
Madison: Lunch. My place. One?
I show Ethan the messages.
"You should go," he says. "They're your friends. They want to celebrate with you."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Besides, I need to check in at the hospital. Make sure everything's running smoothly." He kisses my forehead. "Go. Have fun. Tell them I said hi."
"They're going to grill me mercilessly."
"I'd expect nothing less."
Exactly at one, I'm sitting in Madison's living room with six pairs of eyes locked on me.
"Okay," Madison says, leaning forward. "We want every detail. Don't leave out a single thing."
I take a deep breath and tell them about the party. I start with the gifts and the way Diane cried over the necklace and how Claire screamed about the book.
"That's adorable," Chloe says. "But we want to know about after."
"After?"
