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“Um… Thanks?” I say as she gently closes the door.
Left alone, I realize my shoulders are tense and try to relax them, letting out a deep breath. Only then do I proceed to the first floor and wait for Mia in a mostly empty piano lounge.
I take a seat and the waiter immediately walks over to me, takes my order, and promptly leaves to fulfill it. While I wait, I take a look around. There’s no one there except me and a couple sitting at the edge of the darkened tables, so deep into a breakup conversation I can hear the guy crying at some point.
My order arrives— five ice-cold ones inside a freezing aluminum bucket. I’m so busy cracking one open that I don’t see Mia’s arrival.
She’s gorgeous. Nothing has changed since I last saw her. She’s still in the same business suit, still has dark circles under her eyes. However, the way she looks at me, smiles, and leans over the table to kiss me, makes her the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
“Hum, red ales!” She holds one of the bottles by the neck and reads the label.
“I ordered it for us,” I say, tipping my bottle to hers.
She opens it and takes a sip. I put an arm around her shoulders, squeeze them, then kiss her on the temple. I then keep on kissing her, trailing my way down her lovely face until I reach her lips.
She surprises me by licking my ear. “Now, how about we take these beers to your room, huh?”
“Check please!” I instantly call out.
Chapter Fifteen
MIA
I’ve never been this nervous for a date in my life. It’s not like I’ve been on many, and the only serious relationship I had was with Ethan’s brother. But this feels different—more important somehow. Maybe it’s because it’s Ethan, and everything with him feels bigger, more intense.
Ethan and I have an evening free, and he’s been talking about taking me on a real date. He insisted on picking the place and keeping it a surprise.
When he shows up at my hotel door, he looks effortlessly handsome in a casual blazer and jeans. His smile when he sees me makes my heart skip a beat.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he greets me, pulling me into a hug that feels just right.
“Hey, yourself,” I reply, my nerves easing a bit.
We drive to the restaurant he’s chosen—a quaint little place near the hotel, far enough from the hustle and bustle to feel intimate. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with soft lighting and gentle background music. It’s perfect for a first real date.
“So, how did you find this place?” I ask, scanning the menu.
“A teammate recommended it,” Ethan replies with a grin. “Figured it’d be nice to try something new together.”
We order a couple of dishes to share and settle into an easy conversation. It’s surprisingly comfortable, talking to Ethan like this. We discuss everything from work to our favorite movies. He has me laughing so hard at one point that I nearly spill my drink.
“You have a great laugh,” he comments, grinning at me.
“Thanks,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat up. “You’re pretty funny.”
“I try,” he says, winking. “Life’s too short to be serious all the time.”
There’s a moment of comfortable silence as we enjoy our food. Then, I bring up Senna.
“How’s Senna doing?” I ask, genuinely curious.
Ethan’s face lights up immediately. “He’s great. He loves the racing games best. I hope he’s either going to be a Formula 1 driver or play hockey one day.”
“He’s such a sweet kid,” I say. “You’re doing a great job with him, Ethan.”
“Thanks,” he says, his expression softening. “It’s not easy juggling the NHL and being a single dad, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
“I can’t imagine,” I say, genuinely impressed. “You make it look effortless.”
