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Thankfully, the sights and sounds of London were captivating, and the company was a distraction from my exhaustion. At 32, Niall had jet-black perfectly styled hair and a classic style. And his eyes, a deep-set, emerald, green shade, captivated me each time I looked into them.
Despite the intensity in his gaze, Niall had a warm and genuine smile that instantly put me at ease. His presence was calming, and I felt a comfortable relaxation being with him after a whirlwind past 24 hours.
After Ethan had shared his fucked-up story he’d peacefully drifted off, his arms wrapped tightly around me. I, however, laid there wide awake, thinking about the words he’d shared so openly.
When I’d met Ethan, I thought he’d been nothing more than an attractive, cocky American but it turns out he was layered like an onion, as most people were, and though he’d been confident up front, he showed a vulnerable side of him, peeling back a layer I hadn’t expected to see. His openness with me was sexy, and downright scary.
And so I did what I always did, left. I knew Ella was leaving early to catch a flight back to London for her niece’s birthday party, but I hadn’t planned on continuing my trip there. My plans changed when I realized she would be my out.
Creeping out of Ethan’s room into the living room I found Ella about to leave through the front door this morning.
“Take me with you.” I’d whispered, urgency flashing in my eyes.
She gave me a worried look but nodded, and we both climbed into the Uber that she’d ordered and had just pulled up.
Once we were safely on our way back to our hostel, she turned to me.
“What happened?” she asked. Concern etched on her forehead.
I sighed. “He was vulnerable. I ran.”
She nodded, biting her lip and looking out the window.
“I think I’m in love with Ryan.”
I gasped, my new friend that I’d barely known for 24 hours laid back into my arms as we rode in silence. The profoundness of her words washed over us both as I silently held her tight.
“He’s great, Ell. Very handsome and seems like a genuinely good guy. I can tell he adores you too.”
She nodded, a single tear falling from her cheek.
“I’m embarrassed, honestly.” She spoke. “Who goes to Ireland on holiday to fall in love with an American? Shouldn’t I have found a sexy Irish man?” We’d both laughed hard at the irony.
Now, strolling through the streets of London with Ell’s older brother, I couldn’t stop thinking about the American who I’d left behind in Ireland.
Niall stooped down, reading a menu for a restaurant outside of a small shop. “You want to grab some lunch?”
I nodded; I had worked up quite an appetite from our site-seeing and my feet could use the break.
As we sat at the little shop, we chatted and laughed as I learned more about Ella and his childhood growing up in London. I shared stories about my childhood back in the U.S and talked about where my travels had taken me since I’d left on the adventure of a lifetime. Niall seemed genuinely interested in my tales and offered suggestions for countries I should visit next. Apparently, he’d taken a similar sabbatical in his 20s with a couple of his friends after a bad breakup.
Once we finished our food, Niall turned to look at his watch, noting it was already 5 in the evening. “Wow, time flies when you’re sitting with a beautiful woman enjoying some delicious food.” Niall smiled at me cheekily and I returned his grin.
Niall, while extremely handsome and definitely my type, didn’t stir that same familiar heat I’d felt with Ethan. I kicked myself for thinking of the American I’d never see again instead of enjoying the moment with Niall.
It’d started raining now so we decided to head back towards Ella’s flat instead of continuing our sightseeing. As we headed out the door, Niall opened an umbrella overhead to protect us from the downpour.
“And that was how Ella lost her first tooth.” Niall joked recalling a story that involved him accidentally running into her and knocking it out when she was 5 years old. I laughed, dodging puddles and doing my best to keep up with Niall’s long stride.
As we approached Ella’s building I glanced up, my eyes catching a figure standing in the rain, uncovered outside of Ell’s apartment building – Ethan.
Chapter 13: Sasha
“Ethan, what are you doing here?” I asked confusion registering in my voice.
Niall had arrived next to me and stood waiting, as he held the umbrella over my head.
“Do you know him?” Niall asked jutting his thumb towards Ethan.
