Uncrowned Princess

9

Ethan entered the bar, greeting his friend Jack with a firm handshake and a half hug. Jack handed him the keys, gratitude evident in his eyes.

"Thanks, brother. I don't know how to repay you," Jack said.

Ethan waved off his concern. "Just go be with your mother. She needs you. I'll take care of the bar, don't worry."

"I know it's in good hands, but I feel bad. You're working at the hotel during the day, spending afternoons at the coffee shop, and now you're taking on night shifts at my bar..."

"Jack, you know me. If I couldn't handle it, I'd tell you. For now, don't stress about this."

Jack smiled, grateful. "Thanks, bro. See you in two weeks."

After Jack left, Ethan settled into a chair behind the empty bar. He pulled out his phone and, almost unconsciously, found himself on Isabella's social media profile. As he scrolled through her posts, a smile played on his lips.

The first photo showed Isabella posing in front of the hotel's grand entrance, looking like a glamorous guest rather than an employee. Her caption read, "Living my best life at this luxury resort! #NotActuallyOnVacation"

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Unbelievable," he muttered, but couldn't help admiring her creativity.

He continued scrolling. There was Isabella at the hotel's coffee shop, a perfectly arranged latte and croissant in front of her. The caption: "Just another day in paradise #CoffeeBreak"

At the beach , sunglasses perched on her nose, toes in the sand. "Quick dip before my shift #WorkPerks," the caption read. Ethan found himself staring at the image longer than he intended, taking in her carefree smile and the way the sun caught her hair.

As he scrolled through more posts - Isabella "lounging" by the pool, dancing  with some friends- Ethan's amusement grew.

One final post made him pause. It was a candid shot of Isabella laughing with a young woman- Claudia-. The caption was simple: " A time with my bestie #Grateful"

He put his phone down, still smiling, and began preparing for the night ahead, Isabella's vibrant presence lingering in his thoughts.

                 *********************

As they approached the hotel entrance, Jenny's heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. The evening had been perfect, but something in Dan's demeanor hinted at more to come.

Jenny turned to Dan with a warm smile. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Dan. I really enjoyed our time together."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Dan replied, his voice soft. He hesitated, then gently took her hand, the warmth of his touch sent a shiver through her.

"Jenny, there's something I need to tell you."

Dan's eyes met hers, filled with an intensity that made her breath catch. Jenny's heart raced as she met his gaze. Her mind raced. Was this it? The moment she'd both longed for and feared? "What is it?"

Dan took a deep breath. "I've been trying to find the right words all evening. I even wrote them down, but..." He pulled out his phone, showing her a draft message full of heartfelt words. "Everything I wanted to say just sounds inadequate."

As she read the words on the screen, emotions crashed over her like waves. Love, fear, hope, and doubt all warred within her. She looked back at Dan, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes.

He put the phone away and stepped closer. "Jenny, I love you. I've known it for a while now, but tonight made it crystal clear. You're amazing, and I'm in love with you." the words hanging in the air between them.