Globetrotter Ingrid gets a fabulous fresh start when her job takes her to Melbourne, Australia. Here she meets wise and sweet Oliver, who makes her forget she doesn't have a heart.
This successful stability prompts Ingrid to accept an invitation to...
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October 2018
Matt's brilliant coconut-flavoured flat white, spiked with authentic Jamaican rum, soured in Ingrid's mouth when her thumb stopped on a rare picture of herself on Instagram. It only took three words to ruin her morning – and it had started so damn well.
Oliver, the perfect boyfriend by all accounts, had gotten up first and fetched coffees from his brother's shop, which he'd spiced up with some of that fine rum from his last trip to Kingston, and brought her brunch in bed. Maverick and Momma lounged among the soft sheets while their humans scrolled through social media.
At some point during Ingrid's stuffing her mouth with brunch cake, Oliver must have shared that picture of them from their one-week sojourn in Paris. 'Obligatory Eiffel selfie!' the caption read, and she gagged at the naïve enthusiasm. Her heart tightened, aching, crumbling to pieces as the reactions started pouring in.
Matt and Hana both had lovely things to say, whereas Pri made an offhand comment about looking after cats while Ingrid trotted the globe. Ingrid's London friends expressed emoji heartbreak that she hadn't visited them, since she'd made it all the way to Europe.
Her old roommate, Agata, slid right away into her DMs: Do you need a +1 on your invite?
Hey AG, Ingrid typed back. Wait – why the fuck are you awake at this hour??
What do you mean
It's only 2 AM and it's a Saturday
Well, Sunday now, I suppose
Ingrid chuckled, prompting Oliver to look her way.
"What's up?" he asked and took a sip from his coffee.
"Nothing, just... remember my mate, Agata?"
"The one who's getting married next year? Uh-huh. What about her?"
"She just asked if I need a plus-one on my invite because of your stupid selfie."
He grinned and swooped in to peck her hard on her forehead. "I mean... I would love to come and meet your friends if you wanna take me with. When was it again?"
"Uh..." Ingrid frowned to recall the date. "May, I think... Oh, no, wait – June. Beginning of June."
Oliver nodded sagely. "London should be nice and sunny by then, good choice."
"I think they're doing it in the countryside somewhere."
"Oh, even better. English country is very pretty."
Well? Agata prodded.
Ingrid gulped. "So..." She reached out to pat his hand. "Wanna be my plus-one or nah?"
Beaming, he grabbed her face and smashed their teeth together in the most ferocious of kisses. It startled the cats, who'd draped themselves over the humans' legs and swiftly hopped off their overturned perches.
