Page 59 of Cozy Girl Fall
The menu crumpled, denting under Ethan’s grip as he jolted, looking up at Penny suddenly, and a plate slipped from the table to shatter on the floor. Ethan blinked at it for a second before holding up a hand soshe didn’t move. “Sorry, I just hadn’t thought … You just surprised me, that’s all.” The waiter arrived with a broom and Ethan apologized again.
She bit her lip. “Did I say something wrong?” They were supposed to be there celebrating their one-month anniversary, it was the only semi-fancy restaurant in Magnolia Springs, located in the new town. She’d made the effort to do her make-up and had put on a wine-red sweater dress with a cowl neck that clung to her curves. Ethan looked delectable in his gray-wash jeans and navy pullover on top of a gray shirt.
“No,” he said slowly. “I just wasn’t expecting you to want his number any more. And I kind of thought we’d talk it over before you try out for a job in another state.” Against the deep burgundy of the paneled walls behind him, he looked paler than usual, the greenery in the planter atop their booth’s walls the only relief against the moody color scheme.
“Of course we would,” she said, brows drawing together as she tried to decipher his tone. “I need to talk to him, that’s all.” She wanted the restaurant space to be a surprise, but maybe that was a mistake.
He looked up at her, eyes shadowed as he lowered the menu onto the table to look into her face more fully. “Are you being honest right now?”
She recoiled. “Why would I lie?”
“I don’t know. Why would you run away without saying goodbye the first time? We’ve been talking about building a future together, Penny. Maybe evenhere, in Magnolia Springs, and now you want Nicky’s number? Maybe my dad was right.” There was no escape from the hurt in his eyes or the pain barely held back as he looked at her. His shoulders slumped at her shocked silence and the pain on his face stabbed her like a physical wound. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to lose you again.”
“You won’t.” The words were soft and she reached for his hand slowly, like a spooked animal. “I’msorry, Ethan. The way I left everything back then was wrong and I understand why you’re worried now. But I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I just need to talk to Nicky, for advice.”
“I want to believe you, Pen, I just don’t know if I can trust what you’re saying.” His face shuttered, jaw tensing so hard she worried for his teeth. “You’ve made promises before, Penny.”
“I know but—Ethan,pleasebelieve me, I’m not—”
“Oh, hi, guys!” The cheery chirp couldn’t have come at a worse moment. Penny gritted her teeth and forced a smile on her face as she looked up at Shelby and her date, knowing Shelby was analyzing the tension at Penny’s table.
“Hi, Shel.” Ethan’s voice was flat and Penny didn’t miss the look of triumph in Shelby’s eyes. “This isn’t a great time.”
Shelby pouted with fake sympathy. “Aw, trouble in paradise already? I hate to say I told you so, but …”
“He said we’rebusy,” Penny snapped. “Back off.”
Ethan frowned, shooting Penny a look that had her irritation rising. Was he seriously going to defend Shelby right now?
“Looks like our table’s ready!” Shelby leant down and kissed Ethan’s cheek, holding eye contact with Penny as she did so and making Penny seethe at the crimson mark left in the place where her mouth had been. Ethan barely reacted. “See you around, doll. You know where I’ll be.”
The table was silent after Shelby’s departure and Penny handed Ethan a napkin for his cheek as he pulled some notes out of his wallet to cover the bill, dessert forgotten.
“I’ll send you Nicky’s contact info. I think you should stay at your place tonight, I just—I need some space. Some time to think. OK?”
A prickle began in her eyes, welling up from her throat, and she nodded, glancing away so he wouldn’t see the dampness of her eyes. She couldn’t blame him for feeling this way, for not being entirely sure he could trust her. If he needed space, she could give him that. But she wasn’t going anywhere, and she was going to prove it.
21
The following evening, Penny lay in her bed alone for the second night in a row. Up until he’d asked for space, she’d spent almost every night at Ethan’s since the Halloween Orchard Fest. Now her bed felt too small and too empty at the same time. Her sheets were freshly laundered, the familiar smell of her mom’s detergent making her well up before she firmly brushed the tears away.
She’d told her parents about her plan to stay in Magnolia Springs and open the restaurant that morning over breakfast. Just like Tasha, they’d been delighted that she was staying in town (she was sure that she’d seen a tear in her dad’s eye) and since then they hadn’t stopped telling her how proud they were that she was trying something new at every chance they got. She’d been so touched by how immediately supportive they were, and she loved them all the more for it. There was even a small part of her that felt relieved, knowing that they were going to be close by again.
When they’d asked if she’d told Ethan her plans yet, Penny had awkwardly explained their miscommunication and how he’d asked for some space. Her parents had clearly been able to hear the hurt behind her words, because Angie had offered her a consoling smile while Philip had gently patted her hand, reassuring her that these things always had a way of working themselves out.
To try and stay busy, she’d already been hard at work drafting potential menus with her mom’s input which was exciting but also incredibly draining. All the decisions fell to her, something she’d never experienced in her time working in San Francisco. It was a little overwhelming but also empowering in a way, and more than anything she was really feeling the emphasis on the learning element of the process. More than anything, though, it made her think of Ethan. She wanted to ask his opinion of her meal choices, maybe to cook some of the dishes for him to get his feedback, but she knew that no matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t. He’d asked for space and she was trying to give him that.
She rolled onto her stomach, burying her head into the pillow as she resisted the urge to reach for her phone to see if Ethan had called or texted. She knew he wouldn’t have in the five minutes since she’d last checked, but the hope brought her some comfort at least.
She still hadn’t heard anything from him since he’d sent her Nicky’s contact info the previous evening. It had only been a day without him, but his suddenabsence from her life was painful, overshadowed by how amazing the last month with him had been. She was doing her best not to torture herself by worrying that keeping her plans a secret was actually going to drive them apart. Deep down, she knew she was doing the right thing. And even if Ethan decided he wanted their break to be permanent, she would still be staying in Magnolia Springs. At some point over the last couple of months the town had becomehometo her again. When she’d first got back, the ease she felt in the community had surprised her, but now she was going to be an active part of it with her restaurant. She still couldn’t really believe it. Maybe she’d even have her own stall at next year’s annual bonfire.
The buzz of her phone broke her chain of thought, immediately making her heart beat faster.Ethan?
Her heart dropped when she didn’t find his name on her screen, but the sting was eased by the message she did find.
Nicky:Hey, Penny! Any friend of Ethan’s is a friend of mine. I can be in town tomorrow afternoon if that works for you?
She read the message three times before it sank in. When she’d reached out to Nicky asking for his help, she’d only been expecting some advice, maybe a phone call at most. But he wanted to actually come here? Penny’s mind immediately went into overdrive, worryingthat she had nothing to show Nicky and he’d tell her she was too inexperienced to be running her own place. But she took a deep breath to calm herself, stopping the stream of worries as she took a moment to think.
