Page 67 of Ignite

“Got a minute?” Rose leaned over. I’d been so busy making sure I hadn’t been looking their way every five seconds, I jumped at her hand on my arm.

“What?” Because clearly I needed lessons in how not to be a bitch.

“I got a call and need to head up to Wollongong to deal with an issue in one of my cafés.”

When I didn’t respond, she added, “We should talk. Outside.”

Pretending like I had nothing to lose, I quickly skolled the last of my bourbon and followed Rose out to the parking lot.

“He’s crazy about you,” she said, nodding towards where Ethan stood, arms crossed and his blue eyes firmly fixed on me. Not us, not even glancing towards Rose. Ethan only had eyes on me.

My throat clenched and I couldn’t answer even if I wanted to. Not even in single word, stupid responses. If I answered, someone might see how much I cared.

“I won the auction because I’d been trying to get Ethan to see me, notice me and it seemed my best chance would be to flash the cash and see if it won him over.”

I swallowed my ego, pride and tears, but remained quiet.

“It took less than our first date to realize.” She came closer, even though no one else was close enough to hear her over the live music. “Even when I was sitting opposite Ethan, as far as he’s concerned, I wasn’t even in the same zip code or room.”

“You don’t have to say that.”

“Oh, Rylee,” she said, brushing a hand through her perfectly styled hair. “The man only sees you. When are you going to open your eyes and see him?”

“He doesn’t.”

“Well, I’m going out of town and I don’t expect him to still be single when I get back. Open your eyes and do us all a favor. Lock that man down because that body shouldn’t be going to bed alone each night.”

“It’s complicated.” I didn’t explain why or how.

“Only if you want it to be. Give Ethan a kiss from me, and use heaps of tongue.” Rose squeezed my hand before unlocking her latest model BMW and leaving me to stand in the dirt parking lot.

Everyone had been encouraging me to give Ethan a chance. But what if he didn’t want me anymore?

I walked back into the front bar just in time to hear Ethan calling out his toast to freedom. “Rose isn’t going to hold me to the final date. I’m free and drinks are on me.”

Hours later and most of our friends had left. Ethan had moved to the chair next to mine and I sipped my fourth or fifth drink. I wanted the buzz to be louder than the voices in my head when I realized the buzzing was my phone.

“Hey, Shar … wait … hold on.”

I covered my other ear and waited for Shar Curren to repeat herself.

“Can you come out? It’s Milly, it’s Milly.” Shar sounded in a panic.

“What happened?”

“Breathing … she’s not breathing right. I’ve done everything but I can’t wait until they send an ambulance out from Beringi.”

I looked to Ethan. “I’ve been drinking all afternoon. I can’t drive out there.”

“Thanks, I’ll call Flick or Zoe.”

I sucked in my bottom lip, trying to think of anyone we knew who hadn’t spent the afternoon drinking. “Wait … um … let me think. Seriously, everyone I know has been at the pub and would be over the limit. It’s not just about driving out there but looking after Lily.”

Ethan mouthed, “What’s going on?”

“How much have you had to drink?” I asked Ethan, covering the phone mouthpiece. “Don’t ask questions, just …”

“Two. I switched to soda after Rose left. What do you need?”

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