I do not own the Fifty Shades Trilogy characters – those belong to E.L. James.
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I finally make it out of Grey House and enjoy the late afternoon warmth. Wow, meeting Christian Grey was intense. He is so young, and successful, and so handsome. I can't think of him like that as he had a sexual affair with my sister. A secret affair. I wonder why? I bet there are probably dozens or may be even hundreds of other woman he's had affairs with. A secret playboy. I can totally see that, as he is rich, young, and handsome.
The sun is still out and I get swallowed up by the people on the sidewalk, rushing off to their next destination. My next destination is to meet up with Kate and Ethan for dinner. Kate was leaving work early and Ethan is not doing much until he starts his master's program in August at the University of Washington here in Seattle. I normally don't go for drinks but I'm allowing myself this opportunity as I need to relax. Maybe I'll have two, but either Kate or Ethan will have to escort me home. After that incident on campus last year, I don't trust anyone on the streets, especially after I had alcohol.
When I finally find the restaurant, I immediately see Ethan at the bar waiting. He already has a fresh cocktail in front of him and he looks good. He is wearing dark jeans with a white t-shirt that shows off his broad chest and a beige blazer on. He still has his tan from his family trip to Barbados and his blond hair seems lighter from the sun exposure. I finally make way over to him as the bar area seems a bit crowded.
"Hey sweetheart", and he wraps both arms around my waist and nuzzle his face in my neck. Since the death of Leila, Ethan has been there for me and has been my rock. All the Kavanaghs have taken care of me, but it seems that Ethan and I have grown closer over the past couple of months. There is an attraction between us, but neither one of us has acted upon our desires. We did kiss recently, but we both were reluctant to take it further and I just don't have enough experience with men to take it any further. I also don't want to jeopardize our friendship as I'm so afraid to lose him.
"Hey, Ethan. Have you been here long?", and I hold him at arms length.
"No, I just got here about ten minutes ago. Kate should be here soon. She probably hasn't gotten out of work yet. What do you want to drink?", and he tucks a loose tendril behind my ear.
"Um, just a glass of white wine".
"Sure thing Ana", and he keeps one arm around my waist so I can tuck myself under his arm. He gestures for the bartender and orders my glass of wine.
Because Kate and I are so close, Ethan and I are close too, so he knows about my meeting with Christian Grey.
"How was your meeting?", he finally asks.
"It went better than expected".
"Did he tell you anything?"
"Um, very little. I'll explain when Kate gets here so I don't have to tell it twice", and I snuggle in a little closer to him and I'm rewarded with his dazzling smile.
"Oh look, the happy couple", and we both turn and see Kate next to us at the bar. She finally gives us a smile, so she's not upset that we were cozy together. I told Kate about my kiss with Ethan and she suspected that we liked each other. She was happy for us but didn't want us to hurt each other. I told her that Ethan and I were friends first, but we are attracted to each other.
"Hi Kate. How was work?", I ask her.
She blows a breath of air that shoots her bangs from her forehead. "Over, thank goodness. Busy week. How was your meeting?", and she raises an eyebrow.
"Not too bad. Once we get our table, I'll tell you both how it went".
"Do you want a drink?", Ethan asks his sister. "It will be about another ten minutes for our table".
"Sure, I'll have whatever Ana is drinking, if it's not water".
"Nope, I got real wine tonight", and I raise my glass to her.
We final make it to our table so we can enjoy a nice dinner out as friends. But of course, the topic of discussion is my meeting with Christian Grey and without skipping a beat, Kate is already firing away. I think of Kate as another sister, but the complete opposite of me. While I have brown hair and no style sense, she is the perfection of contemporary style with the latest designers living in her closet and strawberry blond hair. With her quick wit and tenacity, she can get anyone to talk. Of course she will be a great reporter in her chosen field of journalism.
"So, he is a good-looking son of a bitch, isn't he", she comes out as soon as our asses hits the seat. Not really wanting to agree with her in front of Ethan, I just nod my head.
"Yeah, he's not bad looking".
"So, what did he say?" As I promised him that I wouldn't go public and spill the beans, I have to think of a way to word this with Kate. I know that she wouldn't publish anything, but she does work for the media and I know it will come back to me if anything was ever leaked about Leila or Christian Grey's personal life.
"First, do you promise that whatever I tell you doesn't leave this table?", I point my finger directly at Kate.
"I pinkie swear, Steele", and she puts out her right pinkie finger and I lock onto it with mine.
"Well, he confirmed he did in fact have a relationship with Leila, that lasted six months about three years ago. He said that he wasn't looking for anything serious and was upfront about it with her. But, apparently she fell in love with him and it ended. It's just so weird, though, that they would keep it a secret. I mean, he is rich and powerful, but he shouldn't have any shame in being a playboy. It makes me wonder if they were hiding something".
"Steele, do you know how big of a story this could be? I mean, this man could have bedded hundreds of women". I put my hand up to stop the questions.
"Kate, this conversation doesn't leave this table. I met with him to find out what he was to Leila, not to uncover some juicy gossip about the man. Who cares if he has bedded hundreds of women, and if his relationship with my sister is any indication of his sex life, than he probably has. But I'm not going down that road and neither should you".
"Yeah, Kate, don't start with the questions", and Ethan is on the defense. "Ana needed this closure about Leila. Please don't try to use this to further your career".
"Ethan, that's not what I'm trying to do, but this would be a hot story. Sorry, I didn't mean to come off as some sleazy journalist. That is not how I am".
"I know Kate, but I don't want it be some sort of fascination about his sex life. I couldn't give a shit about it, I just needed to know who he wast to Leila. I got my answer, and I'm done with the man".
We get through dinner without further talk about Christian Grey or about Leila. At this point, I'm tired and just want to get to bed. Daddy wants me to visit him this weekend, so I'll make the drive down to Montesano tomorrow and spend the night down there. Ray Steele isn't much of entertainer or host for that matter, but he concerned for me, especially after Leila's death. At least at his house, I can take long walk or a run without fear of someone attacking me. Plus, I like to go fishing with Daddy. It's our bonding activity as we both can keep each company without a lot of conversation.
Ethan walks me to my car and Kate leaves in hers. Ethan doesn't have his own car, and it's not like he can't afford one, he doesn't feel the need to have one living in the city. He usually borrows Kate's car or gets a ride from me or another friend.
"Do you need a ride home?", I ask him.
"Or I can go to your place", and his statement stops me in my tracks. "We can just hang and talk, nothing more", and he grabs my hand. "I don't like that you live in that apartment by yourself. I worry about you". I bite my lip as I think about whether I want to invite him back to my place.
Both Ethan and Kate were disappointed when I didn't move into their condo in the Pike Market District as it has three bedrooms, but I needed to take care of Leila and she couldn't live there. So, I got us a one-bedroom apartment and made the living room into my bedroom while she stayed with me. It had to be something I could afford on my own as Leila didn't have any money to contribute, but I don't live in the best neighborhood. But it is my little slice of heaven and I actually like living on my own as I spent my four years at college living with Kate. Besides, if this relationship I have with Ethan goes beyond a friendship, I like that I have my own space and that we aren't living together.
"Okay, but I'm going to see Daddy tomorrow and I won't be back until Sunday night". He gives me his dazzling smile and walks over to the passenger side of the car.
I always hate coming home in the dark, especially where I live. I have to park on the street and I never had a problem with vandalism, but I get nervous walking from my car to my apartment. Sometimes I'm lucky and I get a spot right in front, but since I'm home a little later than usual, I have to park down the street. I'm just glad that Ethan is with me tonight.
We make it up to my third floor apartment and I turn on all the lights when I get in. Ethan doesn't comment on my strange habits because he knows that it makes me feel safe. I kick off my shoes and throw my light sweater on the chair in the bedroom.
When Leila lived with me, she had the bedroom, so I kept all her stuff in there, not that she had a lot. After leaving David, he kept most of their possessions except her clothes and some personal items. I like having her stuff in my room as it gives me a sense that she is still with me in a way.
I make way to the small eat-in kitchen and grab myself a bottle water and beer for Ethan. When I make way to the living room, Ethan has taken off his blazer and shoes and is sitting on the couch with one leg over other knee. I hear some bassanova music going, so he must have put his iPhone on the docking station. I hand him his beer and plunk on the couch next to him.
As I lean my head on his chest, he takes a swig of his beer and then rubs my head with hand that is draped behind me.
"Are you going to be okay, sweetheart?", and I feel his words when he says them. I love his endearment for me and when he calls me his sweetheart in public, I'm sure others would think I was. I probably am, but he is really just my good friend and I don't mind it.
"Yeah, actually I feel really good. I feel like meeting Christian Grey was the missing piece to Leila's puzzle. I mean, I know that she has been with many guys, but it seems just odd for to have had a relationship with someone for six months and not know anything about it".
"If that is what they arranged, then it wasn't odd or strange to them. I'm just glad that he explained the relationship to you and that you feel better about it". Ethan is stroking my hair in a soft, rhythmic pattern that I'm starting to close my eyes.
"Yeah, I guess so", I tell him sleepily.
"Don't go crazy trying to figure out their relationship. It was in the past. When do you see Klein again?
"Tuesday evening. Why?"
"Just asking. It's best you talk to him if you can't get it out of your head by the end of the weekend. If you want, we can meet for dinner afterwards?"
"Sure". Dr. Klein is my therapist and I have mixed feeling about seeing a therapist. Since psychology is Ethan's major, he suggested I see one to help the anxiety of moving to Seattle and the grief of Leila's death. It has helped to talk to someone that isn't biased or knows me personally, but I feel like I'm a nutcase for seeing a therapist.
"Let's get you to bed", and he nudges me off of his chest and grabs my hand and then leads me to my bedroom.