Page 13 of Uber Treats

ETHAN

Ikeep my focus on Rowland’s fry-up breakfast, noting that both him and Björn are staring at me. Birdie still isn’t back yet, and my body has yet to calm down after seeing her wet and naked, even if I’m sporting a hangover. After taking a few bites of my food, I glance up. “Something you want to say?”

Björn is practically vibrating with disapproval, but that’s to be expected. He hates me. Rowland, on the other hand, looks embarrassed, concerned and curious, all at once. It’s not a good look for him. If I didn’t know him so well, I’d think he’s constipated.

“You should have left my fucking bar,” Björn gripes, shaking his head. “I knew you weren’t going to leave Bird alone.”

Rowland stares pointedly at Björn. “You say that like Ethan forced Birdie to get drunk and come home with him. Last I checked, it takes two to tango.”

Björn scowls. “Birdie was vulnerable, Row. And that whole fucking treat thing Ethan has been doing has seriously messed with her head.” He turns that scowl to me. “Did you have to barge your way back into her life? She was quite happy before you came back.”

“Hey,” Rowland pipes up, “they’re two consenting adults, B. You know what happened the last time you and I got involved.”

That prompts me to ask, “Since when are you two friends again?”

“We’re not,” they reply simultaneously. “But since we’ve both ended up here to make sure you and Birdie are both okay after last night, we’ve established we no longer hate each other either,” Rowland adds, crossing his arms as he leans against my kitchen counter.

“I still hate you,” Björn says, throwing a dirty look my way. Though it lacks any kind of conviction. “And as clichéd as it sounds, I need to know what your intentions are with Birdie because I swear to God, if you hurt her, I will help Harlan bury you alive.”

I look to Rowland for help, but he shrugs and says, “I’d like to know, too. You haven’t been divorced a month, Ethan, and now Birdie’s in your bed. She’s not a fuck her and leave her kind of woman.”

“Seriously?” I huff. “Firstly, you encouraged me to send her treats and even wrote a few of the notes in an attempt —a poor one — to keep my anonymity, and secondly,” I face Björn, “I’m not sure what my intentions are yet, but it’s certainly not to hurt Bird. Last night was…” I search for a word to describe it that won’t give away just how not drunk I was. I mean, I was drunk, but not so drunk that I don’t remember what happened from the time Birdie showed up at Björn’s bar, upset and emotional, to the time we arrived back here, and went at it like two teenagers who couldn’t get their libidos in check.

“A train wreck?” Björn scoffs. “Because how Birdie is going to recover from this, I don’t know, and I’m not in the mood to clean up your mess. Again. Have you given any thought whatsoever to what it’s done to her to have you show up out of the blue, and then start sending her shit every time you order from her café? If not, then you’re a selfish fucker, Ethan.”

Row starts cleaning up our dishes, steering clear of this conversation for now.

“She told me last night, Björn. She made it quite clear that my return, my treats, and even me being at your bar, has royally screwed with her head, and that she wishes I’d stayed in France. Did she tell you Harlan called me?”

Björn’s scowl intensifies, and if I weren’t fond of my balls, I’d tell him his face will get stuck like that if he keeps at it. “Why would he call you?”

“He wants to buy my restaurant,” I reply, somewhat smug. “Well, he wants the space. Birdie needs a bigger storefront for her café, and every other storefront is taken. She doesn’t want to move from Tribeca.” The last part is what Birdie told me. “And I told Harlan I’ll only negotiate with Birdie.” I have two opportunities — though after last night, I’m not sure they’re still there — one of which is a real chance to get back into Birdie’s life, and her good graces. The other is to do what I’d planned to do before France and Willah happened. Open a place with Birdie at my side. But like I said, after last night, I’m not sure where I stand. I doubt Harlan would want anything to do with me once he hears about last night and hear about it he will. Björn will make sure of it, I’m sure. Anything to throw me under the bus for what I did to Birdie, even if it was years ago.

Before Björn can respond, Rowland cuts in. “Speaking of Birdie, she hasn’t come back.”

I frown, and purse my lips, realizing we’ve all eaten breakfast and Birdie still hasn’t come back out of my bedroom. Björn stands, but I place my hand on his forearm. “I’ll go.”

Pulling his arm from my grasp, he snarls, “Fuck you. She’s my best friend, I’m not leaving her here.”

With a weighted sigh, I stand and walk ahead of him, quietly opening the door. Birdie is curled up on her side, fast asleep. I glance at Bjorn, and murmur, “You want to wake her up?”

He thinks about it, and with much unhappiness, replies, “No, not really, but I’m not sure I can trust you with her, either. She was emotional, and a lot of that has to do with you.”

“And Harlan’s engagement,” I remind him, recalling how much that had upset Birdie. It’s the reason she went to Björn’s bar in the first place.

“That too,” Bjorn concedes. “Fuck,” he mutters, “I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I trust you not to do anything to her while she’s here.”

Affronted, I whisper-hiss, “What would I do, Bjorn? Keep her against her will? I’ll take her home as soon as she’s awake, and has something to eat, okay? I’ll even have her call you when I’ve dropped her off.”

If looks could kill, I’d be a pile of ash on the floor. Bjorn huffs. “I swear to God, if I have to piece her together a second time—”

“I don’t want to hurt her, damnit. I just…” I look back at her sleeping form, and ask myself what I do want. “I want to get to know her again, okay?”

“Well, whatever happened between you two last night is not the way to do it, Ethan. And neither is fucking with her head by sending her—”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” I shake my head. “I’ve gone about this all wrong, you’ve made it pretty damn clear.”

Björn snorts. “You shouldn’t have gone about it at all, if you ask me. You’re to Birdie what crack is to an addict, but I can’t stop her from making the same mistake a second time. But you know I’m the least of your worries. Harlan isn’t going to be happy about this.”