What Luck

Allison's sudden and swift movement caught Ethan off guard, her fingers gripping his arm tightly. Startled, Ethan turned his head to face her, a look of confusion etched across his features. "What?" he asked, his voice laced with surprise and curiosity.

Looking up at Ethan, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and frustration, Allison replied, her voice tinged with a hint of exasperation. "We are on a blind date, remember? Or did you forget?" Her words hung in the air, a subtle accusation wrapped in her question.

Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?" he repeated, his voice tinged with shock. The realization slowly dawned on him, like a veil being lifted from his mind. How could he have forgotten? Camila's beauty might have blinded him.

Meanwhile, Camila observed the unfolding scene with a puzzled expression, her brow furrowed in confusion. She tried to piece together the context, but the conversation between Ethan and Allison remained a mystery to her.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Ryan, who had been quietly observing the situation, swiftly moved toward Allison. He gently took her arm, his touch meant to comfort and redirect her attention. "Allison, there's something I need to tell you," he said softly, his voice filled with urgency.

Allison's gaze shifted from Ethan to Ryan, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and frustration. Before she could utter another word, Ryan led her away, creating a huge distance between them and Ethan.

Relieved that Ryan had swiftly whisked away Allison, Ethan couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude toward his friend. With a content smile, Ethan guided Camila towards the sleek bar counter, where they settled on plush stools. As they got comfortable, Ethan turned to Camila and asked, "Make your order, what would you like to have?"

Camila, feeling pleasantly surprised by Ethan's gentlemanly gesture, replied, "Oh, go ahead and order first."

"No, ladies first," Ethan insisted, a playful glint in his eyes.

Camila chuckled to herself, thinking how rare it was to find guys who still observed such chivalrous acts. Camila turned her attention to the bartender, her voice filled with confidence as she made her choice. "I would like to have a cocktail," she said, her words dripping with a touch of sophistication.

With a nod, Ethan followed suit, placing his order with the bartender. "I'll have a non-alcoholic wine, please," he requested, his voice carrying a tone of responsibility.

Curiosity twinkled in Camila's eyes as she looked at Ethan. "No alcohol? Is there a reason for that?" she inquired, her voice tinged with intrigue.

Ethan smiled warmly, appreciating Camila's curiosity. "Well, I'll be driving home tonight. It's important to stay sober behind the wheel," he explained, his tone thoughtful. "Safety first, right?"

Camila nodded, her expression reflecting understanding. "Absolutely," she agreed.

Their conversation was interrupted by the bartender, who skillfully placed their drinks on the counter. The glasses glistened under the soft glow of the bar lights, each drinks a tantalizing invitation to savor the moment.

Ethan raised his glass, a gesture of celebration and gratitude. "To a delightful evening and new connections," he proposed, his voice filled with warmth.

Camila's eyes sparkled with appreciation as she raised her own glass to clink it gently against Ethan's. "Cheers," she said, her voice carrying a sense of excitement and possibility.

Camila took a sip of her cocktail as Ethan indulged in a sip of his wine. Just as she was about to ask Ethan about his mysterious connection with Allison, Camila accidentally dropped her cocktail, causing it to spill a little onto the bar counter. Frustrated by the situation, she gently turned to Ethan, her curiosity piqued, and inquired about the nature of his relationship with Allison.

"What's really going on between you and Allison?" Camila asked, her voice tinged with intrigue.

Ethan sighed, setting down his wine glass. "Well, you won't believe this. My dad actually set me up on a blind date with Allison today, but he told me it was a meeting with a potential investor. I had no idea it was a blind date until I arrived and discovered that Allison was the daughter of the wealthiest agro farmer in town."

Camila's eyes widened in surprise. "So, you were tricked into going on a blind date?"

Ethan nodded, a sheepish smile playing on his lips. "Exactly. I panicked and tried to come up with an escape plan. See, I had heard that Allison wasn't a fan of bars or clubs, so I suggested we go to one, thinking she would decline. But to my shock, she agreed, and here we are."

As Ethan recounted the events, a sense of disbelief washed over Camila. "And then you met Ryan as soon as you entered the bar?"

Ethan nodded again. "Yes, it was pure luck. Ryan happened to be here, and we struck up a conversation. I needed a distraction from the awkwardness of the blind date, and he provided just that."

Camila felt a wave of relief wash over her as Ethan revealed that there was nothing romantic going on between him and Allison. Her heart skipped a beat, realizing that this meant Ethan was indeed single, aligning perfectly with her own ideal type. "What luck," Camila whispered to herself, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Eager to unravel more about Ethan's feelings towards Allison, Camila leaned in closer and asked, "But why don't you like Allison? She's incredibly beautiful and gorgeous."

Ethan's expression turned serious as he met Camila's gaze. "It's not that simple," he replied with a hint of frustration in his voice. "I just don't feel any connection with her. The fact that my dad set me up on a blind date with her only makes it worse. I've always hoped to meet my future wife in a more organic way, just like how you and I met a while ago."

Camila's smile widened at Ethan's words, her heart fluttering with hope. The thought of being Ethan's potential future wife stirred a mix of excitement and nervousness within her. She couldn't help but wonder if their chance encounter had been the start of something extraordinary since she needed a Rebound guy to help her forget her miserable Ex.

Ethan took a deep breath, his eyes locked with Camila's as he continued, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation and vulnerability. "You know, Camila, the truth is… There is this girl whose body embodies both elegance and allure. She is not only beautiful and gorgeous, but also exudes a certain sexiness that captivates my heart." He paused briefly, allowing his words to sink in.

Camila's tried to get where Ethan was heading to with his words but couldn't as she listened to Ethan's description unfold. She couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance between the girl Ethan was describing and herself. Her dark waves cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face just as he had described. The subtle hint of her smile played upon her lips, evoking a sense of mystery and invitation.

As Ethan continued to paint a vivid picture with his words, Camila's eyes widened in astonishment. He spoke of a black gown that hugged a woman's curves in all the right places, emphasizing her figure like an elegant masterpiece. It was as if he was describing her, down to the very essence of her being—an enchanting figure-eight lady.

Caught off guard by the unexpected revelation, Camila could hardly believe what she was hearing. Her mind raced, trying to process the magnitude of Ethan's confession. Without wasting another moment, Ethan gathered his courage and declared, "Camila, I like you."

Camila's shock was palpable, her eyes widening even further. Yet, despite the unexpected nature of Ethan's words, a radiant smile slowly spread across her face. It was a mix of joy, surprise, and an undeniable connection that had been simmering between them all along.

Ethan quickly realized something "Wait, what are you doing alone in a bar? And where is your boyfriend? I hope I won't get kicked out of here by your boyfriend for telling his girlfriend I like her?"

Camila's expression shifted, her brow furrowing as a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes. She let out a sigh and looked down briefly before meeting Ethan's gaze. "I don't have a boyfriend," she replied softly. "Actually, I recently broke up with him. That's why I'm here in America, far away from home. I needed some space and time to find myself again."

Ethan's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and empathy washing over him. He instinctively reached out to touch Camila's arm gently. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said sincerely. "But you know what? Your ex didn't deserve you. You deserve someone who appreciates you for who you are. And trust me, you're better off without him."

Camila nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. The weight on her shoulders seemed to lighten as Ethan's words of encouragement resonated within her. She felt a glimmer of hope rekindling in her heart.

Camila stared at her half-empty glass of cocktail, her mind lost in a swirl of emotions. She raised it to her lips and gulped it down, the cool liquid providing a temporary respite from the thoughts that plagued her. A yearning for escape lingered in her eyes as she motioned to the bartender for another round.

Meanwhile, Ethan sat beside her, a glass of non-alcoholic wine in his hand. He observed Camila's actions with a mix of concern and curiosity. Taking a small sip, he mustered the courage to ask, "Camila, can I have your contact? I'd really like to stay in touch."

Camila's gaze shifted towards Ethan, her expression unreadable. She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, her voice filled with uncertainty. "My contact?"

Ethan nodded, his eyes reflecting his genuine interest. "Yes, your phone number or email. Just a way to reach you."

Just as the silence became palpable, a faint beep broke the tension. Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he swiftly retrieved his phone from his suit pocket. A text message from Ryan flashed across the screen, providing a temporary distraction. "I have taken Allison home, buddy. Have a nice evening. Call me after everything."

Ethan tapped out a quick response, his fingers dancing across the screen. "Okay, I will." Satisfied, he placed the phone back into his pocket, refocusing his attention on Camila.

Camila's eyes narrowed slightly, observing Ethan's interaction with his phone. A flicker of curiosity crossed her face before she finally spoke, her voice laced with intrigue. "Everything alright?"

Ethan's features softened, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just a friend checking in. But let's get back to us. So, about the contact..."

"Can I know your full name?" Camila asked almost immediately.

Ethan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, caught off guard by her unexpected request. He leaned back, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Ethan Whitlock," he replied, offering his name with a sense of intrigue.

Camila's reaction was immediate, her eyes widening in astonishment. The name seemed to strike a chord within her, prompting her to repeat it incredulously. "What? Ethan Whitlock?"