Page 90 of Mountain Grump
Okay, so I don’t ignore them as much as I’d like to.
But staring out the window at the bright blue sky beyond, I think about that ribbon. The one Ethan bought for me. The spool he left sitting in my living room without saying a word.
That was fanciful.
Indulgent.
And even if it was just his way of apologizing for destroying the ribbon I put on the fence, it wasn’t nothing.
He’snot nothing.
I take another breath, a calming one to steady my voice. “Thank you for the ribbon. That was really nice of you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him glance my way. But I keep my attention forward.
After another heartbeat, his voice rumbles through my headphones. “It was nothing.”
I let the side of my mouth pull up into a smile. “It wasn’t nothing.”
Chapter 59
Tilda
“We’re goingto start our descent.”
I jolt at the sound of Ethan’s voice.
We’ve spent the last couple hours flying over mountainous terrain, not talking. Ethan focused on flying. I focused on getting through the day.
My fingers pluck at my skirt.
“Matilda,” he says quietly.
Keeping my stress hidden behind my dark lenses, I finally turn to look at Ethan, wishing there was a longer version of his name like there is for mine, so I can have something else to call him. “What’s your middle name?”
“Ford.”
I purse my lips. “Family name?”
He nods.
“Car company?”
He shakes his head. “Different family.”
“Spaceships?”
His lips twitch as he shakes his head again.
“Mother’s maiden name?”
“No, but it came from her side. Every male born has it somewhere in their name. Supposedly.”
I hum. “Is Grant your last name? I saw it on your shirt.” I hadn’t noticed the first time we met. But I saw it the second time.
He nods again. “What’s your middle name, Matilda Wright?”
“Iris.” Unclenching my fingers from my dress, I reach up and touch one of my purple curls.
