Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 48

Chapter 8

A full month had passed, and finally, my bed and breakfast was ready to welcome guests. That very evening, I decided to celebrate by hosting a dinner party for my closest friends and childhood companions from Salt Lake City. The house buzzed with laughter and familiar voices, the warm glow of the dining room lights casting a cozy ambiance over the gathering.

As we settled around the table, I turned to Stella, who was already a little tipsy from the wine, and asked if she could help me find someone to manage the day-to-day operations of the B&B. She gave a cheerful nod, her eyes sparkling despite the alcohol. I figured by morning she’d have forgotten all about it.

But to my surprise, the very next day, Stella showed up with a young man in tow. “Seth,” she said casually, “he’s a college kid looking for some summer work. You can manage with him for now.”

The name Seth sounded oddly familiar, and as I studied the young man’s face, recognition dawned on me. This was Stella’s younger brother! The last time I’d seen him, he was just a scrawny little kid, barely taller than me. Now, he had shot up to nearly six feet tall, and I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.

“Hey,” he greeted me with a warm smile. “Good to see you again.”

At first, I was skeptical about hiring someone so young and inexperienced. Surely, he wouldn’t be efficient enough to handle the responsibilities. But once Seth started working, I was pleasantly surprised by his competence.

He took charge of the B&B’s social media accounts, snapping photos and editing videos with impressive skill. On top of that, he smoothly handled guest check-ins and other daily tasks. Watching him manage everything so effortlessly gave me a much-needed sense of relief.

One afternoon, during a lull in the work, I teased him, “Seth, you’re doing such a great job, how about I give you a raise?”

Without looking up from the video he was editing, he replied quietly, “I don’t want a raise.”

Curious, I asked, “Then what do you want?”

He finally looked up, fixing me with a steady gaze and a small smile. “I want you to give me a chance.”

“A chance?” I echoed, feeling my heart skip a beat.

He nodded, his eyes sincere. “A chance to pursue you.”

The words hit me like a sudden jolt, and without thinking, I turned and fled the room.

“Twenty-eight.”

I frowned. “Don’t you think that’s a pretty big age gap?”

Stella waved her hands emphatically, as if brushing away my concerns. “Come on, you’re stunning, and at 28, you look like you’re 18. What gap?”

She smiled knowingly. “You two are perfect for each other.”

“My brother may be young, but he knows how to treat a woman right. He’s pure, no games, just completely devoted to you. Way better than that Rhys!”

Mentioning Rhys made my head throb even more. Just last night, I’d received a text from him, sent from an unknown number. He’d wrapped up his school business, booked his flight, and was set to arrive in Salt Lake City tomorrow night.

I braced myself, expecting him to slip back into his old habits—following me like a shadow. But this time, it seemed he had something far bigger planned to win me back.