Page 52 of Never Without You
Both Lopez and I are yelling at civilians toget out of the park, as we’re running in the direction of thescreams. A shot is fired, and we’re cutting south. I see themounted cops heading toward what looks like a castle, and peopleare fleeing a pavilion next to the castle. Goddammit. We’re goingto be sitting ducks. The gunmen are heading to higher ground. Imotion to Lopez to follow me and I head to the other side of thecastle. Which means climbing steep rocks, but it’ll get us aroundback, and might give us an advantage to neutralize theseassholes.
It’s not easy going, and I hear more shots.I’m guessing the mounted police got there first, and the gunmenwere trying to pick them off. Finally, we get to the half wall andpeer over. We’re on the other side of the castle and there’s nosightline to the pavilion. We go over and frog walk, keeping ourbacks to the wall. We come to an open space and crouch-run to ashort wall where there’s a walkway. I can see into the pavilion,and two of the gunmen are facing away from us, their vantage pointover the park. The third gunman is watching their backs and ispacing, looking in our direction.
Do these guys really see a happy ending tothis?
No sooner do I have the thought than a NYPDhelicopter is flying toward us, a sharpshooter hanging out the sideof the chopper.
All three gunmen hunker down in the pavilionas the chopper circles overhead. Lopez looks at me and I nod. Wepop up and fire on the gunmen. Neither of our weapons have therange to hit any of them, but the purpose is to flush them out sothe sharpshooter in the chopper has a chance to take them down.
From above I hear, “This is the New York Citypolice department. Put your weapons down and come out with yourhands clasped behind your necks.”
One of the gunmen takes a shot at thechopper, and the sharpshooter wings the asshole, who drops like astone. The other two turn their weapons on us, but their bulletscan’t reach us either. Out of the corner of my eye I see a line ofcops edging up toward the pavilion, and the chopper is stillcircling.
In a suicide move, one of the gunmen rushesout of the pavilion shooting at me and Lopez. He gets close enoughfor the bullets to whizz by us, then I feel a bullet shatter bonebefore I see the asshole go down. My right arm is dangling at anodd angle and I know I have a few minutes of shock before the painsets in.
With weapons drawn, the line of copssurrounds the remaining asshole, who lowers his gun and lays it onthe ground, then kneels and locks his fingers behind his neck.
It’s not the pain that has me worried, it’sthe blood pooling next to my boots. Lopez is telling me to liedown, but I’m dizzy and can’t seem to make my feet work. I think Ihear the chopper landing, and then the ground is coming up to meetmy face.
New York City
Theresa
Unexpected New Friends
About ten cop cars go speeding by as I headout of the hotel to get into a taxi the doorman hailed for me. As Islam the door close, I ask the cabbie, “You know what’s goingon?”
He gives me a half shrug and says, “New York.There’s always something going on. Where to?”
After I give him the address of the hotel inSoHo, I lean back and hold out my left hand to admire myengagementring. The ten best hours of my life play in slowmotion in my brain. From his letters, I knew Ethan had to be sexy.But when I “met” him in Boston, I couldn’t believe the guy I fellfor has an Olympic swimmer’s body, is cologne model gorgeous, andis into me in a big way.
He kisses like it’s sex. Yes, I know it canbe a lead-up to sex, and is definitely a part of sex, but I’msaying the kiss itself is orgasmic. And he means it to be. Someguys go with the flow, let the mood take them through the act. Someguys put on a show, and everything is positioned and practiced. ButEthan has focus. Each and every kiss, caress, touch, stroke getshis undivided attention. When he’s moving inside me, he’s intensein a way I’ve never known. It’s like his whole reason for beingalive is to ensure my pleasure.
And he’s sweet. Loving. Tender.
After months of telling him all kinds ofstories, I know he’s attentive and intuitive, but I expected a manwho was less in touch with his emotions. Sure, his caveman DNAquotient is high, but he lets it all hang out. If he feels it, heshows it. If something needs saying, he doesn’t hesitate to lay itout. He’s an excellent communicator even if sometimes he uses onlyone well-chosen word or sound. His grunts have different meanings,and I have about five down already.
He loves me, and he tells me in a variety ofways. Exhibit A, this engagement ring. Classy, not flashy. Elegantand timeless. How he knew what I would’ve chosen for myself, I haveno idea, but early indications are, when it comes to me, my manpays close attention.
Him leaving today broke my heart. Our timetogether was too good, and neither of us wanted it to end.
“Here you go, lady.”
I look out the window and we’re in front ofmy hotel. I pay the cabbie, thank him, and get out of the taxi.Back to life with Ethan being away, and me carrying on until hecomes home.
As promised, I’d called Laura after Ethanleft, and didn’t say much more than I’d meet her in the lobby ateleven-thirty. I’m in my room long enough to get out of yesterday’sclothes and into the hotel’s thick terrycloth robe when there’s aknock at my door.
Before I can askWho’s there? mysister yells, “Open up, Ter.”
She knows me well. If I tell her I’m meetingher at eleven-thirty, it means I need an hour to get ready. I lookat the clock on the nightstand, and sure enough, it’s tenthirty-five.
I open the door, and she barges in whileordering, “Details. Now.”
No words are necessary. I wiggle the fingersof my left hand, and she lets out a screech. Then she grabs my handand gives the ring a serious going-over.
“Ho-lee shit. He’s not fooling around.”
“Nope.”
