Page 136 of Love is a Game

Finally, I can’t take it anymore.

“Pen, can you skip the ecological report on Blue Mountain Lake and just get to the point?”

She takes a breath. Here it comes.

“The point is, I don’t know what I’m doing!” She lets out a small, incredulous laugh. “But I think I need to stay. Maybe I’ll learn to craft jewelry with Arnold. Maybe I’ll get involved with Mom’s charity—even set up a fundraiser in her name. Hell, maybe I’ll go into sustainable wedding dresses. It’s more profitable and focused than my current business.”

She shakes her head in wonder, as if the realization surprises even her.

“The weird thing is…I don’t have a plan. And it feelsfine.” She meets my eyes. “It feels like I don’t need to force anything. Options are revealing themselves, and I think, for once, I just want to take my foot off the gas and enjoy the view.”

I rake a hand through my hair. “Forgive me if I’m not exactly turning cartwheels and cracking the champagne over this. What about the studio?”

“Oh—I’m not overlooking those obligations! With your recommendations in place, I think things will run okay for a couple more weeks. Then, I’ll discuss options with the staff and make the transitions you outlined. But there’s no rush, right?”

I look to the ceiling.No rush.

“But the thing I want to ask is…” She hesitates. “Would you ever consider spending more time here? If I stay a while. Maybe a long while, could you possibly consider—”

I sit forward, hands clenched.What is she going to say?

“I mean, I know I have no right to ask anything of you, Tuck. You just overhauled my work situation, you were here for me after mom passed, you do so many—”

“Penelope.”

“Sorry. Right. I’m rambling again. But, I don’t know…would you think about spending time back here? With me?” Her eyes flutter to mine and away again, as turbulent as butterfly wings.

“Pen. You know I’d go anywhere to be with you—” I sigh.

“But?” She winces.

“You said yourself—you don’t know what you’re doing. That means you haven’t worked out anything. I know you’ve been busy with the dress, the house…everything. But I at least hoped you considered what you wanted when it comes to us. Meanwhile, you’re happily going on aboutnot knowing what you wantlike it’s a mantra from some fucking spirituality influencer. So yeah.”

“You don’t understand.” She grows frustrated. “Ihavethought about us!”

“Got that bit right. Idon’tunderstand. Not even a little bit.”

She slowly exhales. “Then just come. Meet me. Let me convince you in person. No more stupid screens. I’ll show you, okay? I’ll show you exactly what I mean.”

I stare into the black depths of my coffee…because, damn, at this point it might hold more answers than this exchange.

“Tuck?”

“Fine. I’ll come—but on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“That you have something solid for me, Pen. Okay? Something clear and considered. Not some wishy- washy inspiration quote about ‘trusting the process’or some such shit. I need you to tell me exactly where you see us going. Think you can do that?”

She gnaws her thumbnail, brain working. “Yes! Challenge accepted! I’ll have something solid for you. Absolutely. But—”

“What fucking ‘but’?”

“I need a day—maybe two…”

I pinch my nose.

“Tuck! I’m serious. I need to see you, but can you just wait? I’ll message when and where.”

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