Milly
“Remember, ladies. Do it. Whatever it is you want to do. Wherever you have wanted to go. Whatever you want to try, to taste, to feel, to live… do it. This is our year.”
I close out the group text with all of my sorority sisters one more time. Those words give me so much courage, and right now, I need to Gandhi the shit out of this day and be the fucking change because it’s gone to absolute shit.
“What do you fancy?” The deep voice with the melt-your-panties-off British accent shakes me from my pity party of one, and I look up at the man behind the bar. He’s fucking gorgeous with a thick head of chestnut brown hair and gorgeous green eyes.
“Oh, um,” I stammer, scanning the taps behind him. I hate Guinness, so that’s out, and I’m not really a beer drinker either. “I’ll have a glass of cider.”
The hot bartender narrows his eyes. “Right. A pint of cider, coming up.” He turns his back—his broad back—and grabs a glass before placing it under a tap and pulling down on a glossy wooden handle. He spins back around and places the glass on the bar in front of me.
“Thanks,” I murmur, before taking my first sip. Sweet baby Jesus, it’s delicious. Tart and tangy with just a hint of sweetness. It’s perfect to take the edge off my frayed nerves. I glance at my cell phone one more time. To call for help or not to call for help, that is the question.
“First time?” The voice is back, which means the hot bartender is back. I flick my eyes up and set my phone down. He must mistake my silence for stupidity because he then asks, “Is this your first time in London?”
“Yes,” I answer. “Am I that obvious?”
“The shiny new backpack is a dead giveaway.”
I manage a weak smile and then take another sip of my cider. “My New Year’s resolution was to see the world.”
Except the world is currently fucking up all my plans.
When Stacy, the president of the sorority I belonged to at Oak Ridge University, sent out a New Year’s group text telling us to go after our dreams, I decided to stop living life with so many regrets. My biggest one was never studying abroad. All my friends did it, but I let anyone with a mildly valid reason talk me out of doing it. Instead of popping bottles on New Year’s Eve like my girlfriends, I was booking a one-way ticket to London and searching for a flat to rent. I found a gorgeous cottage in Notting Hill on what I thought was a legitimate rental company’s website and didn’t hesitate to pay the hefty deposit.
But it was all a scam. The flat didn’t really exist, and now I’m drowning my sorrows in a pint of cider.
“Was? Did you already achieve it?”
I snort with laughter. “I’ve hardly even started! But the universe seems to have other plans for me.” I wrap my fingers around the cool glass and lift it to my lips, downing the rest of my cider like a thirsty frat boy. “I’ll have another of these.”
Time to call for help, I tell myself as I dial my best friend Holly’s number. I have no idea what time it is in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she lives, but she’s pretty much the only person capable of helping me.
“Milly? Is everything okay?” This is how Holly greets me because even though she’s a far more experienced traveler, she’s also a worry-wart.
“No, Holly. Everything is completely awful,” I moan, launching into how my gorgeous Notting Hill cottage with access to a private garden was nothing more than a giant con. “And now I have nowhere to stay and hardly any money until I can get this all straightened out with my bank.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry. Where are you now?”
“In a pub, working on my second pint of cider.”
“Jesus, Milly. Be careful!” I can’t help but roll my eyes. “We’ve got some friends in London. I’ll make some calls and see if anyone can help. Sit tight and don’t do anything until I’ve called you back.”
“Thanks, Holly.” I hang up the phone and notice that Sexy McBartender has his gaze firmly planted on me. It’s intimidating, but I also can’t look away.
“I didn’t mean to overhear your conversation,” he starts, clearing his throat, “but I’ve got a spare room if you’re interested.”
“Thanks, I’ve already been scammed once today. Not that you would take advantage of me or anything…but I’ll just wait for my friend to call me.” The words come out awkwardly, and I feel embarrassed turning down this man’s generous offer, but Holly would blow her gasket if she found out I decided to stay with a stranger.
“Suit yourself,” he says gruffly.
“I don’t even know your name,” I tell him with a sheepish smile.
He grabs the towel tucked into his belt and wipes his hands before stretching one out to me. “I’m Ben. Pleased to meet you.”
I accept his hand, slipping mine into his. “I’m Milly.”