Page 137 of Loyally, Luke
Text from Penelope to Luke:YOU WENT TO THE BALL????
Luke:Oh great, how did YOU find out, of all people.
Penelope:Grandpa Gray said he saw you there. And he told me ALL about it. The way Ellie walked down the stairs alone, and then you showed up and the room went quiet for a whole new reason. And then the dances and the announcement and how you and Ellie spent the whole evening together until you had to leave. AHHH!! Luke!!!
Luke:You could have just waited to talk to me today since you’re back in Skymar, instead of blowing up my phone with your book-long messages.
Penelope:Oh my goodness, Luke! It’s that scene in all the royal romance movies where the woman stands at the top of the stairs and the guy sees her and is totally amazed at her beauty. Except you’re her. You ARE the Hallmark heroine!
Luke:You’ve been waiting to type that paragraph all morning, haven’t you?
Penelope:I thought it looked really spontaneous. And now we have it in writing! See? I can be really funny.
Luke:Semantics.
Penelope:So... how did things end with you and Ellie? Was it really goodbye this time? Please say no! It will disprove all of my happily-ever-after movies AND break your heart.
Penelope:Okay, so the priority is not in that order. Your heartbreak is much more important than my obsession with HEAs.
Luke:Thanks for clarifying. I might have lost sleep over that.
Luke:It was a weird goodbye to be honest. She said something about trying to see me before I leave, but my week is crazy through Friday. I hope we’ll find a time, but I’m not sure what else there is to say or do. She mentioned something about another option.
Penelope:Are you open to another option? I mean, you did survive a fancy luncheon, a press conference, tabloids, and a ball! I think you’ve proven you are somewhat adaptable to change of the most mind-boggling kind.
Penelope:Mind-boggling for you. I’ve planned to live moments like that my whole life, so I feel prepared.
Luke:I don’t know, Penny-girl. I can’t imagine what option she can offer. I’m a background guy. She’s a princess.
Penelope:Which is exactly what Ellie might need most, Luke. Someone who keeps her grounded and doesn’t mind staying in the background. I know you’ve always been that person for me.
Luke:You’re trying to make up for the Hallmark heroine comment, aren’t you?
Penelope:No! I mean it. I can’t imagine having a better brother, but even more than that, you’re a great person. You don’t always know it, but you are because of how you change other people’s lives by living yours so well. You’re good at loving.
Luke:The romantic vibes of wedding week are sending you over the edge, aren’t they?
Penelope:I know you appreciated what I said because you deflected. :) I’ve thought a lot about your situation after nearly breaking down on the phone with you last week. Maybe your brand of care is exactly what a whole country needs! Sounds like something your stalwart,testosterone-loving heart could handle. You know? Saving a family, or a country, or a PLANET!
Luke:Don’t get carried away there, Penny-girl. Oh wait, that’s your MO. Never mind.
Penelope:I’m just saying, I think you’d make a great consort to a princess. Ooh, just the idea gives me lovely tingles.
Luke:Sounds like you might need to see a doctor about those.
Penelope:I’m rolling my eyes, just so you know.
Penelope:But I also wanted you to be the first to hear a secret. Matt asked me to marry him last night on the Darling House theater stage!!! It was super romantic and sweet and I just can’t wait to be his wife and Iris’s mom!!!
Luke:Congrats, Penn! I’m really happy for you. And the only thing people will be surprised about is that you kept it a secret! Why aren’t you proclaiming this from the social media mountaintop?
Penelope:Because I don’t want to distract from Izzy’s week at all. I plan to tell her in private too, because it’s so wonderful to just celebrate her and Brodie right now.
Luke:That’s sweet of you. Mature.
Penelope:Well, I’m going to be a mom! I’d better garner a little more maturity. Good moms can be silly too, though, and that can be just as wonderful.
Luke:Then you’ll be all set on that part.
