Free Autumn in London by Louise Bay

can trump anything she’s got on me. Bring it on,” I replied.
    Jessica laughed. “This is going to be fun.”

Anna
    Ethan’s sister was pretty. Beautiful even. I suppose that should be no surprise given Ethan’s god-like features. You could definitely see the resemblance. What was more interesting to me was the relationship he had with her. It was playful and teasing and sweet. Being with them reminded me of being in the Hamptons, he was relaxed and happy—Ethan’s life was full of good people who loved him. Happy couples living happy lives. I wondered why he’d not dated before—didn’t he want that too?
    “I bet you still have all the books out, like you’re trying to intellectualize a boyhood obsession,” Jessica taunted him. Jessica had explained all about Ethan’s James Bond obsession. There were worse obsessions to have.
    “They’re valuable. First editions,” he replied looking slightly wounded. “At least it’s more intellectual than the Boys II Men obsession you had.”
    “Yeah, but I don’t still have my Boys II Men posters on my wall. They came down when I started dating for real. Although I should have left them up. Rock star fantasies are so much better than the reality of dating grabby teenage boys.”
    “Or dating any aged men. It’s not just teenage boys that are grabby,” I said, forgetting my filter. “Present company excepted, of course.” I cringed and Jessica laughed.
    “You’re probably right. The last date I went on before I met James not only made me pay for dinner but spent the night texting an ex-girlfriend, which he excused by saying she was upset over a break-up.”
    I nodded. “I went on a date once and came out of the loo at our restaurant to find him taking the number of the waitress.”
    “Jesus.” Ethan recoiled.
    “And in college my long-time boyfriend ended up cheating on me with my best friend. Same thing happened to Leah before she met Daniel. I’m a shit magnet, what can I say.”
    “So what does that make me?” Ethan asked.
    “Hmmm, a knight on a white horse, his colors flying?” I grinned at him and he grinned back.
    “OMG, are you quoting Pretty Woman?” Jessica asked, grinning at me expectantly.
    I nodded. “I hear you’re a fan of the film, too?”
    “I love it. Seen it a million times. I used to make Ethan watch it over and over.”
    “It paid off,” I said. “Did he tell you what he did in New York?”
    “Holy hell, Anna, you’re not telling that story.” Ethan groaned. “I think I preferred the ex-boyfriend talk.”
    “You have to tell me now,” Jessica squealed.
    “No, Anna. Jessica doesn’t want to hear about what her brother does naked,” Ethan interjected.
    “That’s true,” Jessica said. “No sex stories. Not ever. Well, not about my brother anyway. If they’re about a sexy man I’m not related to, then dish! I’ve completely run out of my own stories and I need to live vicariously!”
    “I don’t want to hear about you naked either, for Christ’s sake.” Ethan rolled his eyes.
    “Okay, more ex stories—my most recent ex owed money to someone he shouldn’t and they ended up breaking into my flat to scare me.”
    Ethan pushed his chair away from the table, the legs, scraping across the tiled floor. “Are you fucking serious?” I looked at him and his face was dark, his eyes boring into me. I was stunted by his reaction, and I didn’t have time to answer him. “The flat you’re in now?”
    “Ethan.” I reached across to him, taking his hand in mine. “I’m selling it, you know I am, and the police are involved.”
    “How could you not tell me?” He was scouring my face, as if looking for more information.
    “It hasn’t come up. And there’s nothing to tell.”
    “You’re not staying there,” he growled.
    “Ethan, I’ve stayed there since, it was months ago, and you’ve been there with me recently.” I grabbed his hand, trying to reassure him.
    “You’re not staying there on your own