Page 101 of Loyally, Luke
Her little mouth dropped open. “Mr.Frasier from the old treasure shop in Crieff?”
“That’s right. He’s specifically invited you, Jamie, and Cade to join me and his wife for a supper to celebrate finishing up the kitchen work.” He refused to say a goodbye supper because somehow the word kept getting stuck in his throat.
Text from Izzy to Luke and Penelope:Thanks so much for the photos. Faye is the cutest thing. Those eyes just sparkle.
Luke:They sure do. With a whole lot of sass and mischief.
Izzy:Anyone with sass and mischief is your kind of someone.
Penelope:Oh my goodness, Luke! She looks like a little fairy. In that one picture, is she getting ready to throw a cup of something on one of those boys?
Luke:Yeah, Nessa caught her in time so it didn’t happen, but Jamie was teasing her about redheads.
Penelope:Some of the best people are redheads. *batting eyelashes proudly*
Luke:Is it possible to bat eyelashes humbly?
Penelope:You’re not funny.
Izzy:So... will you see Ellie again before you leave Crieff?
Luke:She’ll be at the Donors’ Banquet, so I’ll see her there.
Izzy:Are you still being followed by the paparazzi?
Luke:Yeah, a little. I just move through them or go around them. If Ellie isn’t here, I don’t think they’ll stay long. And they’ll likely lose interest once the banquet’s over and I get out of town.
Penelope:I know you think I’m crazy and too stuck inmovie-brain, but I just feel like it can’t be the end of your story with her.
Luke:Penny-girl... real life. It happens.
Penelope:I know you’re not as laissez-faire as you’re pretending to be. And she CAN’T be. A girl just doesn’t forget a guy like you.
Izzy:Actually, Penelope is right. Despite all your faux grumpiness...
Penelope:And faux arrogance.
Izzy:And short sentences.
Penelope:And facial hair.
Luke:You can end the list now, thanks.
Izzy:You really are the type of person who leaves a lasting impression.
Penelope:And not just the kind like permanent markers... or that time with cousin Thomas and the iron. You may not want people to know, but you listen. That’s an amazingly attractive character trait (despite the beard).
Izzy:And you find ways to show people you care about them so they FEEL it.
Luke:Okay, y’all. Stop or you’re gonna make me cry. Oh wait, I don’t cry.
Penelope:Well, there was the time you ate the ghost pepper.
Luke:Not the same thing.
Penelope:Are you going to be okay? Really? I’m so far away I can’t tell whether you’re just being your regular grumpy self or you’re really sad.
Luke:It sucks to fall for a princess you can’t have, but I suppose this may be as close as I’ll ever get to feeling like you did most of your young life, Penny-girl. Oh wait, all the princes you fell for weren’t real.
