Page 22 of Cozy Girl Fall
Tasha nodded slowly before clapping her hands together. “You know who you should talk to? Ethan.”
Penny’s mouth went dry. “What? No. Why would I talk to Ethan?” Her laugh sounded nervous even to her own ears but Tasha didn’t call her out on it.
“One of his friends from college is some hot-shot chef. Works for a restaurant in New York. I bet Ethan would introduce you.”
Intrigue made her eyes widen and her heart skip a beat. She hadn’t even known that Ethan had gone tocollege, let alone that he’d made the kind of connections there that were enviable by anyone’s standards.
“That would be amazing.” If only she hadn’t let him kiss her, rejected him and then done everything she could to avoid speaking to him this week. Even if there was no animosity between her and Ethan, Penny didn’t think he would want to help her with this. “Do you know what this guy’s name is?” Maybe she could look him up, see if it was even something she’d be interested in before she embarrassed herself further by approaching Ethan.If it’s paid work and not in Magnolia Springs, then you’re interested.Although, she wouldn’t be able to leave until the busy period died down at the orchard. She couldn’t leave her parents high and dry like that.
Like you did before. Pushing the negative voice away, she refocused on what Tasha was saying.
“I can’t remember his name off the top of my head but I’ve got the restaurant saved in my phone, I’ll text it to you in a minute. Anyway, did I tell you about the library project I’m running with the elementary school? You know I love the kids, but myGod—you wouldn’t believe the noise, Pen!” Tasha swiftly changed topic, launching headfirst into a long list of complaints about how the schoolkids didn’t respect the libraryat all.
Penny was perfectly happy to let Tasha’s ranting wash over her, caught up in the prospect of reaching out to this mystery chef. It was exciting to think she might finally have a clear way out of Magnolia Springsagain but she couldn’t deny that she was also confused at the mix of emotions that the idea of leaving brought up in her. By the time Penny finished her coffee, she had left the cafe with a promise to get breakfast with Tasha during the week and the name of a restaurant.
She’d worry about how to get Ethan’s help later.
It turned out that ‘some chef in New York’ had been an understatement on Tash’s part. Nicolo Taften wasn’tachef in New York, he wasthechef in New York. He didn’t just work for a restaurant, heownedhis restaurant—and was one of the youngest chefs to ever receive a Michelin star to boot. And, somehow, Penny’s only barrier to getting an introduction? An ex she’d recently spurned.Great.
Though, it was for Ethan’s own good even if he couldn’t see it.
Warm, afternoon sunlight spilled into her parents’ living room where Penny sat on her phone, learning everything she could about Nicolo. Seeing Tasha at the coffee shop had left her feeling a little hollow and it reminded Penny, uncomfortably, of how she’d felt in the days leading up to her leaving Magnolia Springs ten years ago. Back then, even her parents hadn’t understood her need to leave, though they’d supported her anyway, but the weight of keeping the secret from Tasha and Ethan had been heavy. She didn’t want to feel like that again, but here she was, already hiding the truth from Tasha and preparing to leave. To try tocheer herself up, she made a fancy hot chocolate from her mom’s stash and put on her coziest peach-colored sweater to snuggle up in as she looked at Nicolo’s menu.
The sofa dipped as her dad sat down on the other end of it, lifting her feet up and dropping them in his lap as he set his tea down on the raised table by his arm of the sofa.
“Looking at anything interesting?”
She sighed and pulled her legs under her as she sat up. “Just a restaurant in New York.”
“You got an interview? Honey, that’s great.”
There was nothing but pride in her dad’s voice, even at the prospect of her leaving again, and she smiled. “No, but it might lead that way.” She hesitated and then said quietly, “Ethan knows the owner.”
“Ah.” Philip smiled, understanding lighting his face. “That boy would move the heavens for you.”
“I’m not so sure.” The words came slow, faltering, as she finally spilled her guts about what had happened with Ethan. “I promised Tasha that I would steer clear of Ethan, for all of our sakes, but he’s making it sohardand I don’t understand why.”
“Do you think it was fair of Tasha to ask that of you? Especially if Ethan’s none the wiser?”
Penny paused, thinking about it. She hadn’t considered that before. “I mean, I understand why she said it. I made a mess when I left last time.”
“But that was a long time ago,” he pointed out and she nodded slowly.
“He kissed me,” she confessed and the relief was instant. Keeping it inside this whole time had been a gargantuan effort. Maybe for some people it would have been weird to talk to their dad about this kind of stuff, but they’d always been close. And, more than that, her dad gave the best advice—no holds barred. “The other night, when the thunderstorm rolled into town. We got stuck at the orchard together and waited out the weather in Mom’s shop.”
Her dad nodded, brows furrowed as he listened to her talk. “Well, I think it’s clear to me why he’s making it so hard for you to avoid him, Pen.”
“It is?”
He patted her on the arm. “He doesn’t want to be avoided, honey. Maybe you and Tasha have this all worked out between you, but Ethan’s a person with a say in all this as well. You’ve cast him in a role that he clearly doesn’t want. Now, whether or not you feel you can be friends with him is up to you.”
“But Tasha—”
“Should have nothing to do with you and Ethan,” Philip said firmly.
She sighed. “I guess. I just don’t want her to hate me.”
“I know it feels like a bit of a pickle, but really—what kind of friend would Tasha be if she didn’t let you and Ethan work this out for yourselves?” He took off his glasses and cleaned them idly with the hem of his sweater as she reached for her mug and took a drink, cradling it in her palms as the steam curled up to warmher nose. “But I still stand by what I said earlier, especially with what you’ve just told me. Ethan’s a good man, he cares for you. I can’t believe he wouldn’t help you if you asked. As for the rest … Well, that’s for the two of you to figure out.”
