chapterfourteen
theattentionoftheentirerestaurantistrainedonkateandelliot,waitingas
onewithbatedbreath.theanticipationisunbearable.silencestretcheslike
atautrubberband.theatmosphereisoppressive,apprehensiveandyet
hopefulthroughouttheroom.
katestaresblanklyatelliotashegazesupather,hiseyeswidewithlonging
—feareven.holycrap,kate!puthimoutofhismisery.please.jeez—he
couldha一veaskedherprivately.asingleteartricklesdownhercheek,though
sheremainsexpressionless.shit!katecrying?thenshesmiles,aslow
disbelievingi-think-i’ve-discovered-the-fabled-lost-city-of-el-doradosmile.
“yes,”shewhispers,abreathy,sweetacceptance—notkate-likeatall.for
onenanosecondthere’sapauseastheentirerestaurantexhalesacollective
sighofrelief—andthenthenoiseisdeafening.spontaneousapplause,
cheering,catcalls,whooping—andsuddenlyiha一vetearsrollingdownmy
face,smudgingmybarbie-meets-joan-jettmakeup.
oblivioustothecommotionaroundthem,thetwoarelockedintheirown
bubble.fromhispocketelliotproducesasmallbox,opensitandpresentsit
tokate.aring...andfromwhaticansee,anexquisitering,butineeda
closerlook.ohno—isthatwhathewasdoingwithgia?choosingaring?
shit!oh,i’msogladididn’ttellkate.katelooksfromtheringtoelliotthen
throwsherarmsaroundhisneck.theykiss,remarkablychasteforthem,and
thecrowdgoeswild.elliotstandsandacknowledgestheapprobationwitha
surprisinglygracefulbowthen,wearingahugeself-satisfiedgrin,sitsback
down.ican’ttakemyeyesoffthem.takingtheringoutofitsbox,elliotgently
slidesitontokate’sfinger,andtheykissoncemore.christiansqueezesmy
hand—ididn’trealizei’dbeengrippinghissotightly.ireleasehim,alittle
embarrassed,andheshakeshishand,mouthing,“ow.”
“sorry.didyouknowaboutthis?”iwhisper.
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fiftyshadesfreed
christiansmiles,andiknowthathedid.hesummonsthewaiter.
“twobottlesofthecristalplease.the2002ifyouha一veit.”
ismirkathim.
“what?”heasks.
“becausethe2002issomuchbetterthanthe2003,”itease.helaughs.“to
thediscerningpalate,anastasia.”
“youha一veaverydiscerningpalate,mr.grey,andsingulartastes.”ismile.
“thatido,mrs.grey.”heleansinclose.“youtastebest,”hewhispers,and
hekissesacertainspotbehindmyear,sendinglittleshiversdownmyspine.
iblushscarletandfondlyrememberhisearlierdemonstrationofthequite
literalshortcomingsofmydress.miaisthefirstuptohugkateandelliot,
andwealltaketurnscongratulatingthehappycouple.iclutchkateinafierce
hug.
“see?hewasjustworriedabouthisproposal,”iwhisper.
“oh,ana.”shegiggle-sobs.
“kate,iamsohappyforyou.congratulations.”
christianisbehindme.heshakeselliot’shand,then—surprisingbothelliot
andme—pullshimintoahug.icanonlyjustcatchwhathesays.
“waytogo,lelliot,”hemurmurs.elliotsaysnothing—foroncestunnedinto
silence—thencautiouslyreturnshisbrother’shug.lelliot?
“thanks,christian,”elliotchokesout.
christiangiveskateabrief,ifawkward,almostarm’s-lengthhug.iknowthat
christian’sattitudetokateistolerant,atbest,andambivalentmostofthe
time,sothisisprogress.releasingher,hesayssoquietlyonlysheandican
hear,“ihopeyouareashappyinyourmarriageasiaminmine.”
“thankyou,christian.ihopeso,too,”shesaysgraciously.thewaiterhas
returnedwiththechampagne,whichheproceedstoopenwithan
understatedflourish.
christianholdshischampagneflutealoft.
“tokateandmydearbrother,elliot—congratulations.”
weallsip,well,iglug.hmmm—cristaltastessogood,andi’mremindedof
thefirsttimeidrankitatchristian’sclubandlater,oureventfulelevator
journeytothefirstfloor.
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eljames
christianfrownsatme.“whatareyouthinkingabout?”hewhispers.
“thefirsttimeidrankthischampagne.”
hisfrownbecomesmorequizzical.
“wewereatyourclub.”iprompt.
hegrins.“ohyes.iremember.”hewinksatme.
“elliot,ha一veyousetadate?”miapipesup.
elliotgiveshissisteranexasperatedstare.“i’veonlyjustaskedkate,so
we’llgetbacktoyouonthat,’kay?”
“oh,makeitachristmaswedding.thatwouldbesoromantic,andyou’d
ha一venotroublerememberingyouranniversary.”miaclapsherhands.
“i’lltakethatunderadvisement,”elliotsmirksather.
“afterthechampagne,pleasecanwegoclubbing?”miaturnsandgives
christianherbiggest,brown-eyedlook.
“ithinkweshouldaskelliotandkatewhatthey’dliketodo.”
asone,weturnexpectantlytothem.elliotshrugsandkateturnspuce.her
carnalintenttowardherfiancéissoclearinearlyspitfourhundred-dollar
champagnealloverthetable.
zaxisthemostexclusivenightclubinaspen—orsosaysmia.christian
strolls,hisarmwrappedaroundmywaist,tothefrontoftheshortlineandis
immediatelygrantedaccess.iwonderbrieflyifheownstheplace.iglanceat
mywatch—eleventhirtyintheevening,andi’mfeelingfuzzy.thetwoglasses
ofchampagneandseveralglassesofpouilly-fuméduringourmealare
startingtoha一veaneffect,andi’mgratefulchristianhashisarmaroundme.
“mr.grey,welcomeback,”saysaveryattractive,leggyblondeinblacksatin
hotpants,matchingsleevelessshirt,andalittleredbowtie.shesmiles
broadly,revealingperfectall-americanteethbetweenscarletlipsthatmatch
herbowtie.“maxwilltakeyourcoat.”
ayoungmandressedentirelyinblack,fortunatelynotsatin,smilesashe
offerstotakemycoat.hisdarkeyesarewarmandinviting.iamtheonlyone
wearingacoat—christianinsisteditakemia’strenchcoattocovermy
behind—somaxonlyhastodealwithme.
“nicecoat,”hesays,gazingatmeintently.
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fiftyshadesfreed
besidemechristianbristlesandfixesmaxwithaback-off-nowglare.he
reddensandquicklyhandschristianmycoatcheckticket.
“letmeshowyoutoyourtable.”misssatinhotpantsfluttershereyelashes
atmyhusband,flicksherlongblondhair,andsashaysthroughtheentryway.i
tightenmygriparoundchristian,andhegazesdownatmequestioninglyfor
amoment,thensmirksaswefollowmisssatinhotpantsintothebar.
thelightingismuted,thewallsareblack,ithink,andthefurnishingsdeep
red.thereareboothsflankingtwosidesofthewallsandalargeu-shaped
barinthemiddle.it’sbusy,giventhatwe’rehereoff-season,butnottoo
crowdedwiththewell-heeledofaspenoutforagoodtimeonasaturday
night.thedresscodeisrelaxed,andforthefirsttimeifeelalittleover...
um,underdressed.i’mnotsurewhich.thefloorandwallsvibratewiththe
musicpulsingfromthedancefloorbehindthebarandlightsarewhirlingand
flashingonandoff.inmyheadystateiidlythinkit’sanepileptic’snightmare.
satinhotpantsleadsustoacornerbooththat’sbeenropedoff.it’snearthe
barwithaccesstothedancefloor.clearlythebestseatsinthehouse.
“there’llbesomeonealongtotakeyourordershortly.”shegivesusherfull
megawattsmileand,withafinalflutterofeyelashesatmyhusband,sashays
backfromwhereshecame.miaisalreadyjiggingfromfoottofoot,itchingto
getontothedancefloor,andethantakespityonher.
“champagne?”christianasksastheyheadoffhandinhandtowardthe
dancefloor.ethangiveshimathumbs-upandmianodsenthusiastically.
kateandelliotsitbackonthesoftvelvetseating,handinhand.theylookso
happy,theirfeaturessoftandradiantintheglowfromthetealightsflickering
incrystalholdersonthelowtable.christiangesturesformetosit,andi
scootinbesidekate.hetakesaseatbesidemeandanxiouslyscansthe
room.
“showmeyourring.”iraisemyvoiceoverthemusic.iwillbehoarsebythe
timewelea一ve.katebeamsatmeandholdsupherhand.theringis
exquisite—asinglesolitaireinafineelaborateclawwithtinydiamondson
eitherside.ithasaretrovictorianlooktoit.
“it’sbeautiful.”
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eljames
shenodsindelightand,reachingover,squeezeselliot’sthigh.heleans
downandkissesher.
“getaroom,”icallout.
elliotgrins.
ayoungwomanwithshortdarkhairandamischievoussmile,wearing
regulation,blacksatin,hotpants,comestotakeourorder.
“whatdoyouwanttodrink?”christianasks.
“you’renotpickingupthetabforthis,too,”elliotgrumbles.
“don’tstartthatshit,elliot,”christiansaysmildly.despitetheobjectionsof
kate,elliotandethan,christianhaspaidforthemealwejustconsumed.he
simplywa一vedthemasideandwouldnothearofanyoneelsepaying.igaze
athimlovingly.myfiftyshades...alwaysincontrol.
elliotopenshismouthtosaysomethingbut,wiselyperhaps,closesitagain.
“i’llha一veabeer,”hesays.
“kate?”christianasks.
“morechampagne,please.thecristalisdelicious.buti’msureethanwould
preferabeer.”shesmilessweetly—yes,sweetly—atchristian.sheis
incandescentwithhappiness.ifeelitradiatingoffher,andit’sapleasureto
baskinherjoy.
“ana?”
“champagne,please.”
“bottleofcristal,threeperonis,andabottleoficedmineralwater,six
glasses,”hesaysinhisusualauthoritative,no-nonsensemanner.it’skinda
hot.
“thankyou,sir.comingrightup.”misshotpantsnumbertwogiveshima
gracioussmile,buthe’ssparedtheflutteringofeyelashesthoughhercheeks
reddenalittle.
ishakemyheadinresignation.he’smine,girlfriend.
“what?”heasksme.
“shedidn’tflutterhereyelashesatyou.”ismirk.heblinksatme.“oh.was
shesupposedto?”heasks,andicantellhe’samused.
“womenusuallydo.”mytoneisironic.
hegrins.“mrs.grey,areyoujealous?”
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fiftyshadesfreed
“notintheslightest.”ipoutathim.andirealizeinthatmomentthatiam
beginningtotoleratewomenoglingmyhusband.almost.christianclaspsmy
handandkissesmyknuckles.
“youha一venothingtobejealousof,mrs.grey,”hemurmursclosetomyear,
hisbreathticklingme.
“iknow.”
“good.”
thewaitressreturns,andmomentslateri’msippinganotherglassof
champagne.
“here.”christianhandsmeaglassofwater.“drinkthis.”
ifrownathimandsee,ratherthanhear,hissigh.
“threeglassesofwhitewineatdinnerandtwoofchampagne,aftera
strawberrydaiquiriandtwoglassesoffrascatiatlunchtime.drink.now,
ana.”
howdoesheknowaboutthecocktailsthisafternoon?iscowlathim.but
actuallyhedoesha一veapoint.takingtheglassofwater,idownitinamost
unladylikemannertoregistermyprotestatbeingtoldwhattodo...again.i
wipemyhandacrossthebackofmymouth.
“goodgirl,”hesays,smirking.“you’vevomitedonmeoncealready.idon’t
wishtoexperiencethatagaininahurry.”
“idon’tknowwhatyou’recomplainingabout.yougottosleepwithme.”
hesmilesandhiseyessoften.“yeah,idid.”
ethanandmiaareback.
“ethan’shadenough,fornow.comeon,girls—let’shitthefloor.strikea
pose,throwsomeshapes,workoffthecaloriesfromthechocolatemousse.”
katestandsimmediately.“coming?”sheaskselliot.
“letmewatchyou,”hesays.andiha一vetolookawayquickly,blushingatthe
lookhegivesher.shegrinsasistand.
“i’mgoingtoburnsomecalories,”isay,andleaningdowniwhisperin
christian’sear,“youcanwatchme.”
“don’tbendover,”hegrowls.
“okay.”istandabruptly.whoa!headrushandiclutchchristian’sshoulder
astheroomshiftsandtiltsalittle.
“perhapsyoushouldha一vesomemorewater,”christianmurmurs,awarning
clearinhisvoice.
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“i’mfine.theseseatsarelowandmyheelsarehigh.”
katetakesmyhand,andtakingadeepbreathifollowherandmia,perfectly
poised,ontothedancefloor.
themusicispulsing,atechnobeatwithathumpingbassline.thedance
floorisn’tcrowded,whichmeansweha一vesomespace.themixiseclectic—
youngandoldalikedancingthenightaway.iha一veneverbeenagood
dancer.infact,it’sonlysincei’vebeenwithchristianthatidanceatall.kate
hugsme.
“i’msohappy,”sheshoutsoverthemusic,andshestartstodance.miais
doingwhatmiadoes,grinningatthepairofus,throwingherselfaround.
jeez,she’stakingupalotofroomonthedancefloor.iglancebacktoward
thetable.ourmenarewatchingus.istarttomove.it’sapulsingrhythm.i
closemyeyesandsurrendertoit.iopenmyeyestofindthedancefloor
closemyeyesandsurrendertoit.iopenmyeyestofindthedancefloor
fillingup.kate,miaandiareforcedclosertogether.andtomysurpriseifind
i’mactuallyenjoyingmyself.ibegintomovealittlemore...alittlemore
bra一vely.kategivesmetwothumbsup,andibeambackather.
iclosemyeyes.whydidispendthefirsttwentyyearsofmylifenotdoing
this?ichosereadingoverdancing.janeaustendidn’tha一vegreatmusicto
movetoandthomashardy...jeez,he’dha一vefeltguiltyassinthathe
wasn’tdancingwithhisfirstwife.igiggleatthethought.
it’schristian.christianhasgivenmethisconfidenceinmybodyandhowi
canmoveit.
suddenly,therearetwohandsonmyhips.igrin.christianhasjoinedme.i
wiggle,andhishandsmovetomybehindandsqueeze,thenbacktomy
hips.
iopenmyeyes.andmiaisgapingatmeinhorror.shit...amithatbad?i
reachdowntoholdchristian’shands.they’rehairy.fuck!
they’renothis.iwhirlaround,andtoweringovermeisablondgiantwith
moreteeththanisnaturalandaleeringsmiletoshowcasethem.