Page 108 of Lovestrung

I nodded, knowing she was right, but my whole body was buzzing. It was as if it had been asleep all week, dull and weak – I’d even thought I was coming down with the flu or a virus – but now, it had come alive.

“Make sure to dress warm,” she said and pulled a soft, rose colored scarf I’d bought in Florence down from the coat stand. “It’s a chilly day.”

“I know you mean well,” I started and smiled at her so as to take the sting out of my words, “but I need to hurry, Louisa.”

She tsked but raised her palms. “Fine, fine. I’m acting like a mother hen, I know. It’s not my place.”

Quickly, I reached for her hand and squeezed it firmly. “You’re a part of our family, so please don’t worry about overstepping boundaries.”

Her eyes warmed. “Thank you.”

I tied the scarf twice around my neck and bent down to give Gramps a hug.

“Bring him back for dinner,” he whispered in my ear.

I grinned as I straightened up. “Sure. If we don’t lose track of time doing other things, I will.”

He frowned. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Probably a good idea.” I turned to the door and opened it. “See you later.”

I grabbed my wallet and keys from the table and with a small wave to them both, I left the house. As the brisk, autumn wind pushed strands from my messy bun away from my face, I fired off a text to Ethan:

Me: Are you home or at the shelter?

Luckily, I didn’t have to long until it vibrated in my hand.

Ethan: Home. Why?

Me: Stay where you are. I’m coming over.

I walked briskly, not even thinking twice about my rash decision to see him. All I knew was that I needed to be with him right away, and the closer I got to his apartment, the quicker my heart fluttered in my chest. The whole week, I’d been in agony. I could admit that to myself now even if I hadn’t wanted to say it to the people closest to me. It was a palpable ache, one that wouldn’t be soothed until I was face to face with him. I didn’t have to walk far, though, before I saw him rounding a corner. I hadn’t anticipated that he would come to me, but the second I laid my eyes on him, I finally realized what I’d known all along.

That despite him hiding the truth from me, I did believe him when he told me he hadn’t cheated.

Maybe he hadn’t trusted me, but we’d come too far now to hold back.

He broke out in a run the minute he saw me, an anxious gleam in his eyes and his strong jaw filled with a week’s worth of stubble, almost completely hiding his beautiful face from me. Even though I couldn’t hear his voice, I could see his lips form my name, and mine stretched into a soft smile when he came to a stop before me.

He put his hands on my cheeks, and I shivered in the cold. I hated the dark circles underneath his eyes, but I couldn’t help but thrill a little if they meant that he’d been as miserable all week as I’d been.

“Penelope, I…”

“Stop right there, Ethan Collins.”

His eyebrows shot up until they were hidden by his hair.

“Hurt me again, and we are over,” I continued. “Do you understand? I don’t care about Privé, or your past conquests, or even why you took the job in the first place. But lie to me again, and we are through. Got it?”

His lips quirked up at the corners. “Bossy Penelope,” he murmured, his thumbs tracing my lips. I shivered at the touch.

“Well?” I demanded.

“Yeah, I got it, darlin’. Can I kiss you now?”

I pursed my lips as I pretended to think about it, but I couldn’t keep fooling him for long.

“Yes,” I whispered. “My answer will always be yes when it comes to you, baby.”