Chapter 16: Can't Stay Still

APOV

The past couple of weeks have been amazing for Christian and me. He even took me soaring. I loved every second of it. I felt weightless like a bird. He even came with me to Montesano to meet Ray. It was kind of funny to see how nervous Christian was. And Ray didn't ease up on his questioning even though Christian is a successful billionaire. I should have clued him in that Ray had experience as an interrogator in the army.

Tonight has been so much fun. We got to meet Jose's new boyfriend, Brady. The six of us are staying at Kate's and my apartment. Tomorrow Christian is taking us on his boat, The Grace. We ate pizza, drank beer, and played asshole. I haven't laughed this hard in a while. It felt so, normal.

EPOV

Tonight was the best. This was the most normal I have ever seen Christian. I can't believe that it took little Pipsqueak to do it. The only thing I ever wanted for my younger brother is to be happy.

Kate is sound asleep next to me dead to the world and I'm just about to close my eyes when I hear it coming from the room next to me.

"... Oh my God. Don't you have a gag reflex? … Shit, Ana. I'm going to come…"

I know it shouldn't make me laugh but it does. I never believed that crap about my brother being gay or celibate. He was just, very private.

Suddenly, I wake up not sure for how long I was sleeping. Then I hear the sound that woke me. Is someone knocking on the door?

I get up and go to the living room to see what's going on. At the same time Jose walks into the living room from the guest room.

Then I hear the knocking, it's coming from Ana's room. Then we hear it. "Christian, harder, please… oh, my God...yes!" The knocking on the door I heard is really Ana's bed banging against the wall.

I look at Jose and he says, "I can't even." And he walks back to his room. I go back to Kate's laughing to myself. I guess they are making up for lost time. I fall back asleep with a stupid grin on my face.

The next morning everyone is already around the table drinking coffee and eating pancakes. I look over at Christian and Ana and smirk. "How did you two sleep last night?"

Jose rolls his eyes and says, "More like not sleep. I now know that Annie Steele is a screamer." Everyone laughs and Ana's face turns bright red and she covers it with her hands. Christian laughs and pulls her close to him and kisses her head.

Kate laughs and says, "Don't be embarrassed Ana. You're making up for lost time."

About an hour later we're on The Grace. The girls are sunbathing on the lower deck. Damn. Kate looks hot. Jose and Brady are getting ready to go out on the jet ski and Christian and I are hanging on the upper deck.

Christian walks up to me and hands me another beer. "Thanks, bro. You know it's good to see you happy with Ana."

Christian smiles at me. "Actually, I've been doing some thinking, Lelliot. I'm going to ask Ana to marry me."

What? As far as I know this is his first girlfriend and Ana doesn't exactly have a long list of exes either. "Christian, don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see you and Ana together. But don't you think it's a bit too soon? You've only been together for a couple of months."

"Elliot, when I know what I want I don't waste time. It's one of the reasons I am so successful with GEH."

"Business is nothing like love. It's not as cut and dry. When people and feelings are involved it's a lot more complicated."

"Elliot, what about you and Kate? Don't you want to have a future with her?"

"Of course, I love the girl but I'm being realistic. Her parents' marriage is a sham. Her dad is a serial philanderer and her mom is using him to climb the social ladder. We just want to make sure we're 100% before we make that commitment, if we make that commitment."

"What about Mom and Dad? Look at them."

"Christian, I'm not telling you to not marry Ana. She's great and I can tell you both love each other. I'm just saying to take it slow. That's all."

CPOV

"John, I love her. I want to make sure I'm with her always."

"I understand that, Christian. I'm not questioning your love for Anastasia, I'm just trying to understand your urgency to marry her."

"I want to be with her forever. Why wait?"

Flynn crosses his legs and takes his glasses off. "Christian, I think the question is why can't you wait?"

I run my hand through my hair in exasperation. "What does it matter, Flynn? It's not like we have to save money for a wedding."

"Christian, just a few weeks ago we discussed taking this at Ana's pace. Why are you rushing? Has Ana told you she wants to get married?"

"No. She doesn't even know I'm thinking about it."

"Then why, Christian?"

If Ana is the most frustrating woman I have ever met then Flynn is the most frustrating man. "I was lucky enough to have someone like Ana, someone good and pure, to fall in love with me. I want to make sure I can hold onto her."

"Christian, marriage isn't going to change that. People fall in and out of love even when married. If you want your relationship to last you need to be open with Ana and cultivate your relationship. Christian, Ana loves you. She knows about your past, mostly, and she loves you in spite of how you view yourself. Just take in the moment. Don't worry about what you can't predict. Just be happy, Christian."