Free Autumn in London by Louise Bay Page A

again,” he said, calmer but still resolute.
    “Okay,” I said, meaning it. I liked that he cared enough to want to protect me. It felt nice. It felt safe. He smiled at me and squeezed my hand.
    “Wow,” Jessica said and we both snapped our heads ’round to her voice at the same time.
    “What?” Ethan asked.
    She shrugged and started to clear the plates from the table. I stood up but Ethan pulled me back down, not letting go of my hand.
    “Let me help,” I said, trying to get up again. Ethan pulled me and my chair toward him with one hand, his other not leaving mine.
    “You two sit here. James and I will get this,” Jessica said.
    I leaned my head on Ethan’s shoulder. “Do you work with him?” he asked after a few beats.
    “No, god no. He wasn’t . . . just no.”
    “Do you still see him?”
    I shook my head. “No, not at all.”
    “Talk to him?”
    “No, Ethan. Please. We can talk when we get home, but drop it while we’re here.” I smiled at him stiffly, aware Jessica and James would be back any minute.
    “I don’t like it,” he snapped.
    “Clearly.”
    James came back in with two bottles of wine. “I thought we might need extra supplies. I say, if in doubt, get pissed.”
    “It’s the only thing we have in common anymore,” Jessica said as she came in with a tray of chocolate mousse. “Getting wasted to block out reality.”
    “I hear it’s the only way to deal with children,” I said.
    “Absolutely,” James and Jessica chorused and then laughed.
    I smiled and turned to look at Ethan who was staring at me as if he’d not heard any of the interaction. I squeezed his hand and he blinked and looked away.
    “What is this crap you’re drinking?” He grinned and threw back a glass of whatever it was, clearly not too concerned.
    “So, what do you do?” Jessica asked me.
    “Oh, I’m a lawyer. I work at the firm that Ethan’s firm just took over.”
    Jessica looked at her brother and then back at me. “So, you met working together? Is that allowed?”
    “We met in New York, in the summer. It was coincidence that we work together. We didn’t know,” Ethan said.
    It was clear, Ethan hadn’t said much to his sister about me.
    “So you didn’t come to London to spend time with your sister and niece. Typical.” Jessica was obviously joking.
    “No, I came to do a job. I didn’t know where Anna worked until we bumped into each other at work.”
    “Oh, wow,” she said. “That sounds kinda romantic.”
    “It is what it is.” Ethan sat back in his chair, his hand still not releasing mine.
    “So, when are you going back to work?” Ethan asked. “Jessica’s a dentist. She’ll make a fortune in this country.”
    I elbowed him in the ribs.
    “Yeah, I’m going to see a few practices next week actually. I’m a bit scared about going back. I’ve probably forgotten everything. It’s been over a year.”
    “Hey, you’re great at your job. You won’t have forgotten anything.” Ethan turned to me. “Jessica is as smart as a whip. Top of her class.”
    It was cute to see him so proud of her. I grinned. “I’m sure it runs in the family. What do your parents do?” I asked.
    “Dad is a dentist, too. Mom stays at home. They have the perfect life. Did you hear about Uncle Alec?” Jessica asked Ethan.
    Ethan nodded. “I spoke to mom yesterday.”
    I excused myself to pop to the restroom while they caught up on family stuff. This was a new Ethan. Family Ethan. Loyal, proud. It was nice. But I didn’t need a reason to like him more.

Chapter Eight
    Ethan
    I was mad. She’d finally told me about the ex. But despite me asking a number of times in New York and her refusing to discuss him, she casually tells my sister everything at dinner. And he turns out to be a total prick and she’s not safe in her own home. I’m mad at her, I’m mad at her ex and I’m mad at myself for not getting this information out of her sooner.
    I’d managed to push it to one side during dinner but