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Ethan: So am I. I’ve lived here for the past twelve years. Moved here in my senior year of high school. I never changed my phone number from when my parents gave me the phone on my 16th birthday in Detroit.
My throat went dry, and my heart began to race. What the hell were the chances that we'd live in the same city? I guess it was plausible, Ethan had said he was in the army, and there were several major bases located in DC. DC was also a hub for young professionals, drawing in expats from around the world.
As I sat in the darkness, my mind racing at what this meant for my casual Irish fling the dots started jumping again.
Ethan: Don’t freak out on me and block my number, please. I just really want to see you, Sasha. I enjoyed our time together. Give it a chance and see if the Irish magic is still there stateside. Come to the cherry blossom festival with me on Friday?
Chapter 17: Ethan
“You got the paperwork?” Ryan’s voice echoed from within our newly leased office.
“Right here, man. Let’s go. It’s just a 15-minute drive,” I responded, waving the pitch paperwork I'd typed up in the air.
Nestled in a compact space within a downtown D.C. building dominated by financial services, our new startup, WanderHub, stood out as a tech haven for travelers. We were on our way to our first pitch for funding with some local investors and excited about the prospect of getting the business up and running.
WanderHub, my new creation, was more than an app. It was a passport to connections, a gateway for solo or group travelers seeking kindred spirits, reliable insights on recent destinations, and the opportunity to cut costs by sharing experiences.
This venture was nothing like what I did post undergraduate school, immersed in finance, corporate jargon and long hours stuck in an office. And that was precisely what made it perfect as my debut back into working.
The concept struck me during the flight back to London, my mind wandering to Sasha in Spain and the way she effortlessly made new connections wherever she went. What if travelers could connect, forming bonds with those sharing the desire for unique experiences, and collaborate on those experiences? Ireland and Sasha had awakened something in me. A desire to do something I loved and stop conforming to the expectations of what society and the world had on me.
Two weeks had passed since our return, and Ryan and I were finally ready to display our prototype to potential investors. Ryan’s relentless efforts had transformed my initial sketches on an airplane napkin at 30,000 feet into something truly extraordinary. Impressed by the results, I now carried the responsibility of securing funding.
Two hours later, the pitch concluded, numerous questions were addressed, and we committed to executing a proof of concept with beta testers over the next two weeks.
“This was truly incredible, Ethan, Ryan. It was a pleasure witnessing your designs, and we eagerly anticipate the results of the pilot you’re embarking upon,” Alessandra, one of the head investors, conveyed warmly as she shook our hands.
“Dude, we did it!” Ryan exclaimed once we were safely outside the building. “Drinks to celebrate? It’s only 3.”
“Got a hot date.”
Ryan’s jaw dropped. “How did you manage to convince Sasha to go out with you?”
“Groveling. Begging.”
Ryan laughed. “Alright, man, well tell her I said Hey. Ella’s in town next weekend, so if you don’t blow this date, we should all get together then.”
“Sounds good,” I called back, pulling out my phone to order an Uber to the festival as Ryan headed in the opposite direction.
As the Uber pulled downtown, my eyes gazed out the window at the beautiful site.
The cherry blossom festival, an annual event by the Tidal Basin, symbolized the gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees from Tokyo to Washington D.C. in 1912. The delicate petals covered the city, offering a picturesque setting for locals and visitors.
Once the petals peak, they rarely last for more than two weeks making their appearance that more special. I couldn’t help but relate their fleeting beauty to Sasha—here today, gone in a rush. Her radiance like the cherry blossoms, captivating yet leaving an ache once gone. I hoped this time, she wouldn’t disappear from my life as quickly.
“Table for two under Ethan Harrison,” I spoke upon entering the waterfront restaurant where I had made reservations earlier this morning.
Situated perfectly on the water, the venue provided a picturesque view of the magical blossoms swaying gently in the spring breeze. I was relieved that the April showers had finally let up, allowing us to enjoy this special yet nerve wracking day. Even over a text message, I could tell that Sasha had been hesitant about meeting up with me. And rightfully so, her ‘fucked up story’ had been one that included heartbreak and broken trust at the hands of the men in her life that she’d trusted the most.
“Right this way, sir,” the host said, leading me to a seat on the front patio.
As I settled into my seat, my eyes were drawn upward, locking with the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
Sasha, with her auburn curls blowing around her in the spring breeze, radiated beauty as the sun hit each strand of red hair. She looked like a lioness and the sun had a love child. Her perfect figure adorned a pink floral sundress and strappy sandals, providing me with a faint glimpse of my phone number still tattooed on her foot.
My voice caught in my throat, and I suddenly forgot how to string words together. Two weeks had felt like an eternity. Hell, even two days would have been too long to go without seeing her. Now that she was back, I was determined to never let that much time pass again.
She approached the table, smiling nervously. “Hi Ethan.”
