Page 63 of Ewan

“I’ll be outside,” he says, undeterred.

I stare at him.

“I’ll take you home,” he says in response to my baffled expression.

“What if I’m not going home?”

“You’re going home,” he says, the edge in his voice making me smile.

“You can’t boss me around.”

He sets himself in motion and walks past me.

“Outside,” he reiterates, not flinching, before he pushes the door open and leaves me alone in the room.

15

SCARLETT

We never talkafter having our contentious conversation or lock eyes again, and he leaves after nine.

The people around the table stay behind, having dinner and more drinks.

That’s what makes me think he might return.

About twenty minutes pass, and I grow uncertain about him coming back.

There’s no way he’ll be outside when I finish work.

The party dwindles down after ten, but it takes a while for the people to leave and us to get our money, put on our coats, and walk out.

Sammy insists on having a glass of wine with me before heading out.

She was right about the tips.

We’ve made a lot of money, so I indulge her, and we have a drink at the bar, standing.

I try to come up with a ploy and not stroll out of the restaurant with her.

Hope dies last, right?

So I still hope I might see Ewan again, although, frankly, at this point, it feels more like wishful thinking.

His people are gone.

And he’s been gone for more than an hour. So many things could’ve happened since he left.

“Okay. I should go now. I’ll get a cab. No way, I’m taking the train now.”

“Good thinking,” she approves, grinning. “I’ll do the same. Too bad we’re not going in the same direction. We could share a cab.”

“Yes, too bad,” I murmur, spotting an opportunity to step out before her.

Without wasting another moment, I thank her again and head out.

I smoothly move through the doors, set foot on the sidewalk, and take in Manhattan.

The view is cinematic, steam vapor rising from the vents, lights glimmering along the trees, cars moving in a blur.

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