Page 31 of Ansel

ANSEL

You didn’t go to Celestine on any odd Tuesday for a meal, you came here for special occasions. Nestled along the Brooklyn waterfront, the restaurant had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the East River. It was intimate without being stifling, refined without being pretentious—perfect for a celebration, like when your girlfriend receives her Master of Business Administration degree.

When I called Sanya and Penny to plan the dinner, they’d been excited—so much so that they insisted on splitting the bill. But I put my foot down. I had more than enough money, earned over the past few years in no small part because I had a kickass assistant who had kept me on top of my game. Covering this dinner was the least I could do.

It had been three months since Neha said we could date, and we were. I’d never had this much fun in a relationship. We were taking it easy, spending time together, getting to know each other and our families—but not yet jumping into bed. Though we made out plenty, and unexpectedly, the escalating sexual tension was sweet in its intensity.

Neha sat next to me, radiant, the kind of happy that settled into a person’s bones, made them feel lighter, like the world had finally shifted in their favor. And not just because she finished her MBA and had a great new job, she was happy because ofme. She’d told me that, several times. But she still hadn’t told me she loved me, which for me was a prerequisite because I wanted her trust, all of it before we took that next step. I was waiting—hell, I’d wait forever as long as she was with me. I’d die of blue balls, but I’d be there until the bitter end with her.

“You did good, baby sister. Mummy would be proud.” Sanya held up a glass of champagne.

I slipped an arm around Neha when I saw her eyes fill. The sisters still talked about their mother Leela all the time, and I knew they missed her.

“To living up to Leela’s legacy,” Penny added, raising her glass alongside Sanya’s. “And to Neha, who’s making her own.”

Neha let out a soft, watery laugh, blinking quickly as she lifted her glass. “To Mummy,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. "And to all of you—for believing in me."

We clinked our glasses together.

Neha nestled against me, and I gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’m so fucking proud of you, baby,” I whispered.

She laughed, her fingers curling around the stem of her wine glass. The sound hit something deep inside my chest.

This was new and cherished—not just the dinner, not just my being here with her family and friends, but the dynamic between us.

She hadn’t forgiven me overnight—hadn’t been able to stop being afraid as she’d confided in me. It took a while before she agreed to date, before I stopped getting the death glare from Penny every time I walked into Sun & Chai, before Neha laughed with me.

We were building our relationship, and I knew it was more than I deserved.

I was one lucky son of a bitch.

“You must be relieved to be done.” Sanya reached for some bread and dipped it in olive oil. “I remember when I finished my master’s—I slept for two days straight.”

Neha let out a soft laugh. “Oh, believe me, I plan to. I told Leon I’m taking a few days off.”

“I hear so is Ansel,” Penny remarked. “What are your plans, Mr. Tyler?”

“My plans are to be at my woman’s beck and call.”

Neha’s eyes softened with affection. I held her gaze for a moment before she said, “Now that sounds interesting. You’ll doanythingI want?”

“Please, everyone keep it fucking PG around here,” Devlin joked.

It was a fabulous evening. After saying our goodbyes to everyone, I led Neha to my car. “Come back to my place for a drink?”

Tribeca was a good half-hour from Brooklyn, so she wasn’t under any illusions about what I was asking for.

I had expected hesitation, a reason why she couldn’t. But instead, she held my gaze for a beat and then nodded. “Yes.”

When I saw her in the middle of my minimalist Tribeca apartment, looking out through floor-to-ceiling windows at the city skyline, I felt like all my prayers had been answered.

The space was built for presentation rather than comfort, and for the longest time, I hadn’t minded that, but now I did. I was going to sell this place, I decided as I cupped Neha’s cheek. I’d find a home for us where we could live and have babies. “You surprised me tonight,” I confessed.

“How?”

“By saying yes.”

“I want this,” she said without hesitation.

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