Page 97 of Unless It's You
“I thought you’d adopted that polar bear?”
“Shut up.” I open my eyes to glare at Ethan, which he doesn’t see as he’s driving, but smirks in response anyway.
Could I really kick ass in four of Evelyn’s bucket list items, then haveI donated fifty quid to London Zoofor number two?
There’s only one solution to this, and my cheeks scrunch up in a broad smile.
“What are you thinking about?” Ethan asks.
“Nessie.”
Ethan risks our lives for just a second to turn to me. “Really?”
I nod. “I’m not promising to adopt her. But I can foster her for now.”
He turns back to the road, a sweet smile on his face. “I think we’ll have enough time to get her over to your flat tonight.”
That’ll finish the list off just perfectly.
38
ETHAN
After sending Stella to her flat from Heathrow Airport, I’m back at The Boar and The Bear, my backpack strewn over my shoulder, still filled with things from the past three nights. I head to the table in the corner with two full pints.
I’m nervous. Nervous to talk to Ben, to tell him everything. Well, maybe not everything, but about me and Stella. It must be done, because if I’m not honest with him, it’ll throw a shadow over my new relationship with Stella.
“Here you go, mate.”
“Thanks, mate,” Ben says, gratefully gulping down the pint. He’s got no idea what’s about to hit him.
“How are things?” I slide down into the cushioned chair, gulping half my pint.
“I had quite the night last night.” Ben raises his eyebrows suggestively.
“Did you?”
“Guess who agreed to meet up?”
Um, this is an unexpected twist. I know it’s not Stella, because she was in my arms at the B&B in Skye.
“Ulrike?”
“Yes! Ulrike.”
“No way.”
“Since I reached out to her two weeks ago, we’ve texted nonstop. I asked her out for a proper date.”
“Really?”
“Took her to dinner at a nice restaurant, then we had a drink after, then walked along the Thames.”
Honestly, this is not how I imagined this conversation starting, but there’s a spark of hope that maybe it’ll make my news less dramatic.
“Did you take her home?”
He shakes his head. “I was a gentleman and got her home, then left her at her flat. We’re going to see each other again for a lunch date tomorrow.”
