Page 43 of Maybe in Another Life

Ethan laughs. “Now that you mention it, yes. All right, well, there you go, Charlemagne it is. Tomorrow, Charlemagne, we’re going to find your owner and make someone very happy. But tonight you belong with us.”

When we get through the front door of Ethan’s apartment, I finally let her go. She immediately starts running around, zipping through the rooms. We watch her, stunned by her energy, until she finally gets a running start and jumps onto the bed. She curls up in the corner.

“I can’t keep her,” he says to me. “Not that you’re saying you think I should, I just... want to be clear about that. I can’t have pets in my building.”

I shake my head. “No, I know. We’ll find her real owners tomorrow. Maybe I’ll take a bus to a vet first thing.”

“I can give you my car,” he says. “I could get a ride from someone.”

“It’s OK,” I say. “Since I’m going to take this job with Carl, I have to get a car anyway. I’ll turn her in at the vet in the morning and then maybe take a cab or a bus to a few dealerships, see about buying a car.”

“You’re taking a job,” he says. “You’re buying a car.”

“Yeah,” I say.

“You’re putting down roots.”

“I guess I am.”

He smiles at me, holding my gaze much longer than necessary. “With a dog in the bed, I’m guessing we’re not gonna get busy,” he jokes.

“Probably not.”

He shrugs. “Well,” he says, his eyes focused on me, “I guess this relationship will have to be about more than just sex. Are you OK with that?”

I smile. I can’t help myself. “I suppose I could focus on your mind for once.”

He laughs and takes off his shirt. He unzips his pants and flings them onto a chair. “This is as unsexy as I get,” he says. “Now, I know it’s still really sexy, but...”

“I’ll try to control myself,” I say.

“That’d be best.”

Ethan pulls back the covers and gets into bed wearing just his boxers. I undress and pick up his T-shirt from the floor. I slip it over my shoulders and get in next to him.

“You’re not sexy at all,” Ethan says. “Not one bit.”

“No?” I ask doubtfully.

“Pssh, if you think I’m thinking about how great your breasts look in my T-shirt, you are dead wrong. Not having sex with you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

I laugh and curl up into him. Charlemagne is nestled somewhat in the middle. We can barely fit, the three of us. But we make it work.

“Oh, wait,” I say just as Ethan turns out the light. “Turn the light back on.”

“OK?” he says, and he does.

I hop out of bed and find the list I made earlier this afternoon. I grab a pen and cross out “Get a job.”

I hold it up for him. “Only two more to go.”

“Ugh,” he says, looking at me. “Please get your legs underneath the covers where I can’t see them. They’re even nicer than your boobs.”

Iwake up at around two in the afternoon to an unexpected treat.

“Surprise!” Tina says as she and Carl walk into the room. Gabby trails in behind them with an apologetic look on her face. Tina has brought a vase full of some of the nicest flowers I’ve ever seen.

Flowers, flowers, flowers. Would it kill someone to bring me chocolates?

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