“You heard the man,” Ethan says, dusting his fingertips across the top of my shoulder from where his arm is slung over the back of my chair. The party’s still going strong, but it’s almost eleven now, and we’re going to get kicked out of here soon, anyway.
“I really can’t stay,” I insist, looking up at Ethan.
“Baby, it’s cold outside!” Desmond sings, then slams his palms down on the table. “Another round of karaoke?”
“No, Des.” Ethan laughs. “If my girl says she’s got to go, she’s got to go.” Looking at me, he asks, “Have you ordered a ride already?”
“Not yet.” Fishing my phone from my purse, I pull up the rideshare app and request a car. “Six minutes away.”
“You’re not going to drive her, Ethan?” a lithe woman named Ophelia asks, joining us from the next table over.
Our eyes meet briefly. “She’s fiercely independent,” he says, not knowing if it’s true.
But it is. I have no choice but to be.
“He’s right, plus I wouldn’t want to steal him from you guys. The night’s still young, as Desmond said.”
“Another round, boys?” Ophelia asks the table.
All the men cheer except for Ethan.
“Here, let me walk you outside,” he says, standing when I do.
I say my goodbyes to the people at our table, then lead the way to the doors.
When we’ve stepped just beyond the threshold of the restaurant, Ethan turns to me. “Thank you again, Holly. For everything.”
My phone vibrates, and I glance down at the notification from the rideshare, alerting me that my ride is about to arrive.
“You didn’t need me at all.” I smile. “They love you.”
He nods. “We’re like a family. It’s a blessing and a curse.”
My heart tugs at the mention of family. With a tight smile, I say, “I imagine it could be.”
Ethan steps closer to me, and I have to tilt my head back to look up at him. “You sure about the second stipulation in your bio?”
No strings. No sex.
It’d be so easy to go home with him, but that’s a complication I don’t need.
“I’m sure.”
Brushing a fallen piece of hair from my face, he nods. “It was nice to meet you, Holly North.”
“It was nice meeting you, Ethan Hanson.”
Getting into the back of the car, the driver confirms my name, and I close the door while Ethan watches me.
There’s a split second where I’m tempted to jump out of the car like I’m in a cheesy Christmas TV movie and leap into his arms to kiss him—let him take me home. But the thought is fleeting, and as the driver pulls back onto the street, I turn in my seat to glance at him one last time, and end up looking out the back window until Ethan is completely out of view.
Chapter Five
Message received
Subject: Holiday SOS
So, Walmart or Target?
