A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
"Would you look at this. According to my weather app, the weather is going to be picture perfect in New York all weekend." Kate holds her phone in my face as we're arriving home from work. "It's supposed to do nothing but rain here. You'd be out of your mind if you chose dreary Seattle over sunny New York." I shake my head and turn my key in the lock. Once inside, both pairs of eyes land on the umbrella in the corner of the room. "You wouldn't need that in New York."
"Need what in New York?", my mom asks as she walks out of my bedroom.
"An umbrella. I've been trying to convince Ana all day that she should go and see Christian while he's there on his trip. There's a round trip flight leaving in about two hours. I checked."
"Of course you did.", I murmur.
"Ana, I know part of the reason, actually a lot of the reason you didn't go was because of me.", my mom says. "I appreciate that you want to be here with me and want to help get our relationship back on track, but you need to focus on your relationship with Christian as well. I'm not blind to the fact that your time with him has been limited since my arrival. You should take Kate's advice and got to New York. Besides, I'm not going to be here tonight."
"Where are you going to be?"
"On my way to the interview with Christian yesterday, I stopped by Starbucks for some coffee. I was in line when Brenda Edwards, an old friend from when I was married to Ray, stopped me. It was the first time in years that we've seen each other, but we chatted for a few minutes. She's now divorced and living here in Seattle. We exchanged numbers before I left. She called me this afternoon and asked if I'd like to get together for dinner. I told that I wasn't sure but would get back with her."
"You should have told her yes.", I say while looking through the mail.
"Although friends have been far and between in recent years, I didn't want to take leave you since you stayed here because of me, but I think you should definitely go to New York."
"It'll be very late when I get there, and Christian's going to be busy with work. He already made the comment that we wouldn't be able to spend as much time together as we should."
"A little is better than nothing.", Kate interjects. She does have a point. Maybe I should take a chance and go for it.
"You know what, I'm going to go. I could just show up and surprise him, but I'm going to call and let him know." I flash them a smile and my bedroom where I grab my suitcase from the closet. I pull my phone from my pocket and hit the speed dial button for Christian. My heart is beating a million miles an hour as it rings.
"Ana, I was hoping it was you.", Christian says upon answering.
"You're in luck. It's me. Are you busy?"
"Not at the moment. Are you home from work?"
"Yeah. I got home a few minutes ago. I've got some good news for you. As we speak, I'm about to start packing a suitcase for my weekend in New York with you." I hear him blow out a deep breath on the other end which isn't the reaction I was expecting. "You don't want me to come."
"It's not that.", he mutters. "I want to see you, but some more issues have risen so our time together would be more restricted. I wish I could snap my fingers and make things better, but I can't. I can promise to see you on Sunday. I won't be arriving back as late as I thought. How about you go to Escala a little before I get back and make yourself comfortable?"
"Sunday, ok.", I reply. In the background, I hear another voice. At first it's difficult to make out, but I'm soon able to tell it's a female as it becomes louder.
"Sir, I'm waiting.", the female says while Christian growls.
"It sounds like you're needed, and I've got some things to do around here. I love you and will talk to you later."
"I love you too baby.", he replies, giving no explanation about the voice I heard.
I pick up my suitcase and carry it back to the closet as questions dance in my head. I trust Christian. He wouldn't betray me. I open the bedroom door and head back into the living room where Kate and my mom are in the middle of a conversation.
"I bet Christian could barely contain his excitement about your visit.", Kate grins while rubbing her hands together.
"I'm not going.", I shrug. "He's busier than he thought he was going to be so I'm going to stay here." I turn to my mom who's giving me a sympathetic look. "What time are you heading to dinner?"
"Brenda wanted to meet up at seven, but I'm going to decline.", she answers. "You and I can have dinner."
"Mom, you had gotten excited about going. I want you to have friends so go to dinner with Brenda. Kate, are you seeing Elliot tonight?"
"Not tonight. He's going to a bachelor party for one of the guys at work, but I'm not going to sit home. I'm going out for some drinks. It's been a while since just the two of us have hung out. You're coming with me.
"Shouldn't that be a question?", I ask.
"Not when it's meant to be an order.", Kate smirks.
"You heard her.", my mom giggles. I wave my hands in defeat.
"Fine. I'll go. Sawyer's going to be with us as well."
"Perfect. Maybe we can use him to scare away the creeps."
"Miss Steele, is Mr. Grey aware that we're here?", Sawyer asks as we walk past the bouncer at Volume.
"I texted him.", I reply. I would have rather been in New York with Christian, but like Kate, I'm not going to sit at home and mope. I'm determined to have a good time and the lingering questions about the mystery woman and Christian behind me. Kate and I have our hands conjoined so we don't get separated in the large crowd that's gathered.
"I don't know if I want to get a drink first or get out on the dance floor.", Kate says over the music. She sways her hips to a song that I've never heard. "I love this song so I'm going with the dancing. Come on Steele. Let's shake what our mothers gave us."
"Kate, you know that I'm not a good dancer, a trait I got from my mother.", I giggle. "I'm going to get a drink but will watch and wish I had your moves." She shrugs her shoulders and begins dancing in an empty spot near the bar. "Sawyer, I'm going to get a drink."
"Ok. Make sure you stay in my line of sight at all times tonight." I give him a thumbs up and take a seat on a stool at the end of the bar while he remains standing to my right. The bartender finishes making a cocktail for a woman in the middle, but he then ignores me and starts wiping off the counter behind him.
"Excuse me!", I shout. He remains in his own little world until Sawyer pounds his fist on the counter.
"Can I get you something?", the bartender finally asks.
"I'll have a tequila sunrise." I glance at Sawyer, knowing that he's not allowed to drink while on the job. "Do you want a soda or something?"
"Water.", he answers. The bartender walks away and begins working on our drinks. "Are you positive that Mr. Grey knows you're here?"
"I cross my heart. I also promise to be on my best behavior tonight." Minutes later, the bartender slides our drinks in front of us. "Thanks." He nods and starts waiting on a newly arrived group of women who are dressed in revealing mini dresses. "Maybe I would have gotten more attention if I were dressed like that.", I joke. Sawyer, however, doesn't find the humor. "I'm kidding."
"I know you were, but I'm hoping tonight goes as smooth as possible." I'm about to take a sip of my drink when a dark-haired guy, dressed in a black suit swoops on to the newly vacated stool next to me. Sawyer tilts his head and looks at the guy.
"Hi there."
"Um, hi." I wave at Kate whose body is flowing with the music.
"I bet you're wondering what my name is.", the guys asks with a smirk.
"Not really.", I mutter.
"It rhymes with my favorite and largest part of my body."
"Funny because I can't think of a name that rhymes with ego." Sawyer practically chokes on his water as he continues watching the guy like a hawk.
"Ah, no. It's Brock which rhymes with..." I shove my hand in the guy's face and shake my head.
"There's no need to finish. I get where you're going with it."
"Good then how about we get going to my place.", he winks.
"Ana, did you see me shaking it out there?", Kate asks when she joins us. She glares at Brock who's undressing her with his eyes. "Who is this?"
"I'm Brock which coincidentally rhymes with..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you think you're going to score with either me or my friend, you're mistaken. We are in committed relationships with guys who know how to treat women properly."
"And where are these guys now?"
"You've spent enough time here so move along.", Sawyer tells Brock. "Shoo." Brock jumps from his stool and starts towards Sawyer but immediately stops when he sees that he's outsized.
"Fine.", he grumbles. "I see some hotter chicks any way." He saunters over to the half dressed women who surprisingly seem to be enjoying his pickup lines.
"I'm going to call Elliot to see how the bachelor party is going. The guy, Nick, is convinced they hired a stripper, but the joke is on him because they didn't.", Kate giggles.
"Or Elliot's telling you they didn't just to keep you happy.", Sawyer teases. Kate grits her teeth at his theory. "So when I tell a joke it's not funny."
"I'll be back."
After she's stomped away, I open my clutch to see if I have any messages from Christian. I've got a missed call from an hour ago. It somehow got switched to silent. I turn the volume back up and consider whether I should call him back. It's already nine here, meaning it's midnight there. The last thing I want to do is wake him. Maybe he's not alone in bed! I'm being silly for even thinking such a thing. But what if it's true? I down the rest of my drink and look for the bartender to bring me a second one. Another bartender is now helping the other so I don't have to scream for service.
"Another for the lady coming right up.", the new bartender grins. He quickly has the drink ready and in front of me. "Enjoy."
"Elliot is playing poker.", Kate sighs when she comes back to the bar. "Did you get another drink or is that the same one?"
"It's my second.", I reply. Kate orders a martini, her first drink of the night.
"Are you all right? You seem off tonight?"
"I'm fine. I'm out with my best friend and having a good time." Once her drink is brought, I raise my glass. "To a good night."
"To a good night.", she repeats.
"Ana, dear." Loud noises, bright lights. Why? I open one eye and see my mom standing by the fold out. "I probably shouldn't have woken you, but your phone has rung several times."
"What time is it?", I mumble.
"Noon." Damn! I never sleep this late. I try to raise up, but my splitting headache makes it difficult. "You're a little hung over, huh?"
"I'm not hung over. I just had more to drink than..." Before I can finish my sentence, I'm hit with a wave of nausea. I'm somehow able to get to my feet and run to the bathroom where I empty my stomach. My mom comes beside me and hands me a wet cloth. "Thank you." I lean my back against the tub and close my eyes. "I wanted to have a nice time."
"Did you?", she asks.
"I did, but I could have done it without so much alcohol. Is Kate still asleep?"
"She woke up about an hour ago and went to Ethan's." The roles are usually reversed with Kate being the hung over one. I bring myself to my feet and wash my hands and face.
"How was dinner with Brenda?"
"It was good. We had dinner and talked for what seemed like hours. It was nice catching up with her. I was already in bed when you and Kate got home."
"I think I know who was going my phone.", I murmur as I pad back into the living room and grab my phone from the coffee table where I placed it last night. I now have four missed calls and two voice mails from Christian, not to mention almost ten texts. "I'm going to call Christian back."
"I'm going to go and get some clothes ready for laundry.", she says on her way out of the room. I feel terrible for not answering the phone when Christian called.
"Ana, thank goodness.", he mutters. "I've been trying to call you. Even though Sawyer said you haven't left the apartment, I was worried."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I just now woke up."
"Just now? I suppose it's from all the drinks you had last night." He sounds irritated and pissed.
"Did Sawyer report back to you with the number of drinks?", I snarl to let him know that I'm irritated as well.
"He didn't give me a specific number. He merely said that you had several. One positive thing is that he kept an eye on you to make sure nothing happened, specifically with that guy who kept harassing you and Kate."
"Sawyer may have scared him away for good, but I was doing more than ok handling him on my own."
"Which is what Sawyer said. Still Ana..." I rub the side of my head to help ease my headache.
"Still what Christian? I went out and had a nice time with my best friend. We may have had some drinks, but last I checked I'm an adult who doesn't have to answer to anyone. Wait...are you upset that I didn't answer your call right away?"
"No.", he answers. "I don't expect you to sit around and wait on my calls, but when you don't answer after the several calls, I get worried." He raises his voice more with each word. "Excuse me for caring."
"How about we change the subject here for a minute? Who was the woman in the background when I called yesterday? You know the one who said she was waiting. Is she the reason why you didn't want me to visit you?"
"Really? I told you that I wouldn't be able to spend as much time with you as I'd like. Another thing, I asked you the other day to come with me, but you said no. Do you think I would invite you to New York with the intentions of fucking another woman?"
"Maybe not at first." Wait, what am I doing? I'm accusing him of cheating. He wouldn't. But he still hasn't answered about the woman. "Simply answering the question as to who the woman was will help put things to rest. Was she a waitress at a restaurant?"
"No she wasn't.", he murmurs. "Fuck Ana. You have to believe me when I tell you that nothing happened. I swear baby."
"I want to believe you...so much.", I say as I sit on the end of the sofa. "But you're evading a simple question."
"Her name is Leila, and she was my sub."