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My phone pings again.
Ethan: You still there?
Me: Yes, sorry. Actually, I was thinking about leaving soon anyway. I just need to finish this glass of champagne.
Ethan: How many glasses have you had?
Me: This is my third. Don’t worry, Ethan, I’m not drinking and driving. We took an Uber, and I planned on calling one to take me home as well.
I wait for his response as I see the dots dancing around on my screen.
Ethan: You are not taking an Uber after you’ve been drinking, Amelia. Are you stupid? That’s like asking to get assaulted.
“Jesus. Someone has a temper,” Noelle says over my shoulder as she continues to watch our text exchange.
“This is how he is, so hot and cold. One minute he’s charming and relaxed, and the next, I want to punch him for trying to boss me around.”
“Unless you’re fooling around, right? I mean, then a little bossiness isn’t the worst thing.”
“Agreed.” I turn back to my phone.
Ethan: I’m coming to pick you up. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.
“And then he says stuff like this.”
Noelle arches a brow at me. “Sounds like he’s a little more invested than you think he is.”
“Really?”
She shrugs. “I could be wrong, but if you two are really just fooling around, why would he be texting you outside of work where you normally converse and also care to pick you up from here?”
“I don’t know…but is it horrible that I really want to see him too?”
“No, Amelia.” She places her hand on my shoulder. “You like the guy. And I’m beginning to think that maybe he likes you more than he’s aware of too.”
I glance down at my screen again.
Ethan: You said you’re at the Night Gallery, right?
Me: Ethan, it’s really okay. You don’t have to come get me. I can share a ride with Noelle or just wait for all of us to leave together.
Ethan: Too late. I’m already in the car. Stay put. I’ll be there soon.
Me: You’re not the boss of me, Ethan. I’m a grown woman and can handle myself.
Ethan: I know, Amelia. That’s not what this is about. Just please…let me come get you for me, so I know you’re safe.
Well, how am I supposed to argue with that?
“Guess we all get to meet Ethan finally,” Noelle teases beside me, handing me my glass of champagne back as I send a simple ‘OK’ text back to Ethan.
“Joy. This will be fun.”
* * *
“There he is.”
After I accepted that Ethan was on his way, Noelle and I went to find Charlotte and Penelope, letting them know that Ethan was coming to pick me up.
My three best friends and Damien, who Charlotte brought with her, twist to watch Ethan stride into the gallery, scanning the room for me. It doesn’t take long before his eyes lock on mine, and then he starts heading in our direction.
“No wonder you want to screw the man,” Penelope states as her eyes move up and down Ethan’s body. And he does look incredible—dark blue jeans, a plain black T-shirt, and sneakers, his sandy-blond hair in disarray. I don’t ever think I’ve seen the man out of a suit until now, and I can’t say that I hate the sight. Apparently, Ethan Fuller looks good in anything.
“Hey, man.” Damien reaches out to shake Ethan’s hand as all of us girls stand by, confused as all hell at the casual way they’re acting.
“Wait. You two know each other?” I ask.
Ethan turns to me. “I met him about a month ago when I went out with your brother. Jeffrey was there too.”
“Oh, Jeffrey. If the man weren’t so terrified of me, I’d show him what a real woman was like in the sack.”
“You must be Penelope.” Ethan reaches out to shake her hand.
“Heard a little about me, huh?”
“Just that you were the mastermind behind the three hundred dildos that were delivered to my office.” Everyone laughs, including Damien.
“Don’t fuck with my friend again, or else the next delivery will be much worse.”
“Noted.”
“I told you, man, these women can be a handful,” Damien adds with a wink in our direction.
“But you like us—particularly me—that way, don’t you, babe?” Charlotte says, staring up at her man. “Life would be boring with a woman who doesn’t talk back or have an opinion.”
“Oh, I agree. Doesn’t mean you all aren’t still a handful though.”
“Perhaps Damien needs a little delivery to his office to show him how out of line we can act as well?” Penelope teases.
“Whatever you do, just please don’t use my credit card this time,” I mutter, which has everyone laughing again. “Ethan,” I say, gesturing to my friends. “These are my girls, Noelle, Charlotte, and Penelope, of course.” He takes turns greeting all of them.
