Free The Expat Diaries: Misfortune Cookie (Single in the City Book 2) by Michele Gorman

best way to see it. Otherwise we’ll just scare ourselves. I’m so grateful that we’re doing it together. Thank you for coming here. It’s the best thing I can imagine.’ I’m trying to resist the urge to wrestle her into a bear hug and weepily shout, ‘I love you, man!’
    ‘Aw, Han, I thank you. If you hadn’t moved in the first place I’d never have done it. You have no idea how much I admire you. You’ve got balls, girl, serious cantaloupe-sized cojones . You realized what you wanted and you went for it and you made your life in London. That’s incredible. And now you’re doing it again. No matter what your family says, or me, you’ve made this move. That takes guts, to take that kind of risk despite… despite what everyone thinks.’
    Uh-oh, here comes that bear hug.
    ‘Thanks. It definitely hasn’t been easy. I can deal with my parents because, well, they disapprove of most things. But your approval means a lot to me, Stace.’ I’m trying my best not to sound scoldy. ‘I made the right decision you know, to be here. I know I did, even though no one else thinks so. I’m so excited for the chance to make my life here, just like I did in London. Having you here, and Sam, is the icing on the cake. Although I wish he was here now.’
    I don’t want to ask the next question, but I have to know the answer. ‘What did you think of him?’
    She pauses, mopping up crumbs with a wet finger. ‘Han, I’d love to tell you that I’m one hundred per cent sure about him, and that he’s definitely the right one for you. I’m glad I got to know him a little better over the weekend, and I do see what you see in him. He is really nice. He does truly seem to be crazy about you, and he says and does all the right things. But I can’t be completely sure about him yet. It still bothers me that you’re not living together. Hold on,’ she says to the objection forming on my lips. ‘I know that was never the plan, and it’s a new relationship. I know all that. I also know I’m not the best person to judge when it comes to love. So please don’t take my reservations as a judgment against your relationship. I’m just wary. I don’t want you to get hurt. So until I’m completely sure that Sam’s going to come good, I’m gonna watch your back.’
    ‘Thanks, Stace. That’s what friends are for, right?’
    ‘Exactly. You’d do the same for me… Who knows? Maybe I’ll fall in love with someone you hate one day and you can repay the favor.’ Her face says she’s realized what a clanger that was. ‘I don’t mean that I hate Sam. Not at all, he was quite sweet. You know what I mean.’
    She’s not telling me she doesn’t trust Sam, just that she doesn’t trust him yet. I feel better. Sam was right. Our trip to the Ten Thousand Buddhas was an excellent idea. He was his usual friendly self and he definitely charmed her. Quite literally. He sneaked off to buy us little bracelets at the monk gift shop. ‘This is for you, Stacy,’ he’d said, handing her an intricately woven gold string with charms dangling from it.
    She was flabbergasted. ‘For me?’
    ‘Yeah, to welcome you to Hong Kong. This little stone is for luck, and this one here, this is for prosperity, and this is for wisdom. And the little jade butterfly, that’s for love. I hope you’ll love it here.’ Shyly he kissed her cheek.
    ‘I don’t know what… thank you! Thank you so much, Sam. It’s so nice of you.’
    ‘Aw, it’s nothing really.’ In a fifties sitcom he’d have kicked the dirt and mumbled ‘shucks ma’am’ before going off for the morning milking. That’s not to say his trinket bought her undying devotion though. I did have to run interference when I came back from the loo a little later. Judging by Sam’s rather hunted look when I interrupted, I got there just in time. Stacy is always going to look out for me. That’s the kind of relationship we’ve got.
    ‘I know what you mean, Stace, don’t worry.’ It’s