Page 61 of Cozy Girl Fall
“Hey, it’ll be OK,” Tasha said, gently resting her free hand on Penny’s arm, having obviously noticed the concern on Penny’s face. “If I know one thing about my brother, it’s that he loves you more than life itself, Pen. There’s no way he’s going to want to end things, especially once he sees how much work you’ve put in here.”
“Yeah, Tasha’s right, Penny. Ethan would have to be an absolute idiot to not want to stay with you after he realizes why you were asking for my number,” Nicky chimed in, and Penny was filled with a wave of gratitude for the two of them.
“And if he still wants to end things, I’ll drive right over to his place and make itabundantlyclear that he’s making the wrong decision,” Tasha added, grinning at Penny as she jokingly nudged her with her shoulder.
Penny couldn’t help but chuckle at Tasha’s threat, only half-certain her best friend was joking. “I just hope you guys are right.”
22
By Friday morning, Penny was exhausted. It had been a long week and had taken more work than she’d expected to get everything in the store ready. She’d been there until one o’clock that morning with Nicky and Tasha painting the final wall so that the space would be finished in time.
Penny had spent much of Thursday convincing Tasha that she didn’t need to chew her brother out for asking to take some space. He was entitled to whatever time he needed. She just hoped this would be enough to show him that she was serious, that she’d meant the things she’d said when they were talking about their future. Actions spoke louder than words, plus she wasliterallyputting her money where her mouth was. And even if she could do this without him, she didn’t want to.
As she stood in the kitchen at the back of the store, Penny still couldn’t quite believe that this space washers. But the keys were now securely on her chain and she was getting used to the idea, slowly but surely. It wasn’t perfect, or even close to being ready, but it heldhope. Possibility. She could only hope that Ethan saw it too.
“Hello?” a familiar voice called.
Penny’s heart leapt at the sound, already feeling a bolt of electricity sparking through her at his proximity. She hadn’t seen Ethan in the past week and his absence had been painful, like a bruise that was being pressed every time he crossed her mind. But she’d stayed firm, giving him the space he’d wanted. She took a deep breath to calm her jangling nerves, glancing at her reflection in the now-sparkling oven door. She’d gone for simple but cute today, an oversized rust-orange sweater and blue jeans hugging her curves, her trusty knock-off Uggs keeping her feet warm in the icy weather. She smoothed down her hair once more before she stepped out from the kitchen in the back.
“Hey.”
Ethan looked at her, eyes widening. “Pen, what are you doing here? I’m supposed to be meeting a client.” The words were soft, surprised, and she took that as a good sign as she stepped forward and nodded.
“Yep, that was me.”
“You faked an inquiry to see me?”
She shook her head. “No.” Her heart was thudding in her chest, anxious about how he’d respond to her next words. “I’m the client and this is the space.” She gestured around as she said it and watched nervously as he took a second to respond, looking about in slightconfusion until she saw the moment it clicked for him. The parting of his lips, the hope lighting up his eyes.
“This is your place?”
“Yep. Well, I mean, I’m renting it. Your dad actually helped me with the lease. Turns out Keith doesn’t think I’m all bad anymore. But yes, technically it’s mine. And I needed someone really good to help me design what it’s going to look like—you know I’m not hugely visual.”
He laughed and the sound echoed, bouncing off of the walls. “You’re really—You want to stay?”
“I do. I’m sorry about what happened before when we were out at dinner. I definitely could’ve handled it better but I’d thought it would be a nice surprise for you. I hope you can forgive me?” She squeezed her hands together as she moved closer to him, savoring the fact that he was there, in front of her again. “So what do you think? Are you in?”
One second, she was a few steps away and the next she was in his arms as he picked her up and twirled her around. The feeling of him pressed into her, the warmth radiating from him and his familiar sandalwood scent were enough to make Penny feel giddy with happiness. She had missed him, more than she could’ve possibly realized.
“Of course I’m in! I’m so proud of you, Pen! This is incredible, I can’t bel—Wait, hang on, if you’re staying, why did you need Nicky’s number?”
She grinned. “I just needed some advice from someonewith experience. He’s waiting at Coffee Affair with Tasha right now. They helped me clear the space out this week, and he’s going to keep helping me as I figure out my vision for what I want the restaurant to be.”
There was wonder on his face as he set her down and rested his forehead against hers. “You never cease to surprise me.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
“It is.” He grinned again, and then in an almost awed whisper he murmured, “You’re staying.”
“Yes.”
“You want me.”
“Definitely.”
“I love you.”
She smiled, reaching up and pressing a soft kiss to his mouth. “I love you. Ready to make it official?”
