Page 32 of Cozy Girl Fall
Part of her was relieved that there wasn’t some big, epic romance lurking in the shadows between Ethan and Shelby, but the rest of her just felt sad that he’d been with her just because it seemed like what everyone wanted. “What happened?”
“It wasn’t right,” he said, voice quiet and eyes burning as he looked up at her. “There was no real spark, no heat. Things were … fine. I think even Shelby was more interested in being able to say she was engaged rather than who she was engaged to.”
“She seems plenty devoted now,” Penny said dryly and Ethan smirked.
“Jealous?”
She snorted. “Of course not.” She was sure she wasn’t really jealous of Shelby, of the claim she still seemed to think she had to Ethan, but there was a feeling coiled deep in her stomach that seemed to disagree. Penny sipped her coffee and peered at Ethan over the top of the cup, dismissing the thought. “So then what happened?”
He shrugged. “Nothing, really. Things were fine. But I wanted more thanfine. I wanted to miss her when she was gone and think about her day and night, I wanted someone who could bring me to my knees with a look and could wreck me with one kiss. I didn’t have that with Shelby. We both deserved better than each other.”
The words took her aback, even as they made her mouth run dry. She hadn’t expected that level of passion and intensity from the relatively simple question, but maybe she should have known better. Ethan had never been scared to say what he wanted. She had half a mind to ask what Shelby had meant by Penny ‘finally’ taking him back, but was scared of the answer he might give. Instead, she sipped her coffee and let the quiet fall over them while she gathered her thoughts.
His empty cup hit the table with athunkthat made Penny jolt. “Actually, no. I don’t know why I’m bothering to hide this from you. The real reason Shelby and I didn’t work out was you.”
“So everything you just said—”
“Was true,” he allowed. “But everything I described? Everything I want to feel in a relationship? That’s how I felt—still feel—with you, Pen. How could I have had that andnotcompare Shelby to you?”
Her heart quickened and she gulped. “But I only just got back into town.”
“When you know, you know. And I knew it wasn’t Shelby,” he murmured and her heart thudded faster, all of her attention boiling down to focus on his soft confession. “I couldn’t marry Shelby. Because for me it’s always been you, Pen.”
She swallowed once and then again when the lump in her throat didn’t clear. “You blew up your relationship … for me?”
For a moment his confidence wavered and he ran a hand through his hair as he let out a long breath. “I broke things off with Shelby because we both deserved better than to settle.”
Their eyes caught and held and she was the first to blink. “I don’t know what to do with that information. By the end of the year, I’ll be leaving again and—”
“And you don’t think I’d come with you?”
She bit her lip, admittedly not expecting that response.
“Look, you need time. I get that. I’m just saying … Give me a chance. Hell, give me till Christmas and if you’re not in love with me at the end of it I’ll pack your bags myself and pay for your gas.”
“That’s a little overdramatic,” she said, rolling her eyes, but his face was entirely serious. That was one thing she’d forgotten about Ethan in their time apart, how intense he could be once he set his mind to something. He didn’t give up until he had what he wanted.
And what he wanted now was her—she couldn’t say she minded the feeling, being someone’s sole focus and only desire.
“What do you have to lose? Christmas is just about three months away. If it’s so ridiculous, then what do you have to worry about? I’ll even set up a meeting for you with Nicky, regardless.”
She hesitated, more than a little tempted even as her common sense told her this was a messy, stupid idea. “I need to talk to Tasha.”
He rolled his eyes. “By all means, summon a committee,” he said casually and she nearly choked on the last of her coffee when he smirked. “I’ve already waited ten years. I can wait a little longer.”
13
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” There was a coldness in Tasha’s voice that was evident even over the phone and Penny grimaced. “First dinner, now coffee? In what world does that add up to you staying away from my brother?”
“Tasha—”
“Oh, I’ve got to hear this,” she snapped. “What, it wasn’t really coffee? He was just helping you brush up on your interview techniques for Nicky?”
“Tash—”
“You always do this! Ten years and nothing has changed, you still pick him over me. I wanted to be friends again but how can I do that when you lie to me?”
“Tasha!” Penny put her car in park and took her phone off speaker, lifting it to her ear. “Open your door. Please.” Her voice wobbled and Tasha must have heard it because she went silent as Penny stepped out of her car and waited for a door to open.
