Page 37 of Champagne Nights

Rolling over, I pulled the sheet close to me and closed my eyes. After a few moments, I heard his feet hit the floor and thedoor open, and before I knew it, he was gone. I tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn’t. Whatever that dream he had was about, it rattled him, and I got the feeling that it wasn’t the first time he'd had it.

The next morning, I pushed the time app on my phone, and it alerted me that it was eight o’clock. I climbed out of bed, put on Ethan’s t-shirt, and headed downstairs to see if he was up. When I walked into the kitchen, I called for Ethan but got no response.

“Oh, hello,” a female voice from behind spoke.

“Hello.”

“May I help you with something?” she asked.

“I was looking for Ethan.”

“I’m sorry, but who are you?”

“I’m Aubrey.” I held out my hand.

“Nice to meet you, Aubrey. I’m Ingrid, Ethan’s housekeeper.” She placed her hand in mine. “Did you spend the night?”

“Yes. Upstairs in the guest bedroom. Ethan was kind enough to let me stay since there was a fire in my apartment building last night, and everyone was evacuated.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. Did you check in his office?”

“No. I came down here first.”

“Sometimes, he goes out for a run in the mornings. Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll make you some coffee?”

“Thank you. That would be nice.”

I ran my hand along the edge of the island until I felt the tall chairs that sat in front of it.

“Just in case you’re wondering, I’m blind,” I spoke as I took a seat.

“Really? I never would have—Okay, I didn’t want to ask. I’m sorry.”

I softly laughed. “Don’t be sorry. I kind of like to get that out of the way.”

“Well, just sit there and let me make you breakfast. I’ll get the coffee started right now.”

I folded my hands as I sat at the island and waited for the coffee to brew. I couldn’t stop thinking about last night. Not only the mind-blowing sex we had but also the nightmare that sent Ethan out of my room.

“So, how do you know Ethan?” Ingrid asked.

“We met at my best friend’s art exhibition, and then we ran into each other last night at a party. We were out in SoHo when I got the call about my apartment building.”

I heard a door open, and footsteps walk into the kitchen.

“Ingrid, what are you doing here? Today’s your one Sunday off a month.”

“I forgot my grocery list yesterday, and I just came back to get it when I met Aubrey.”

“Good morning, Ethan,” I spoke.

“Morning, Aubrey,” he spoke with a flat tone.

“Did you have a good run?” Ingrid asked.

“Yeah. It was okay. I need to go shower. I’ll be down after.”

“Do you want breakfast?” she shouted as I heard his footsteps running up the stairs.

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