Page 104 of Lovestrung

“So stubborn,” Gramps grumbled.

“I feel like I’m having a déjà vu,” I grinned at him, “only this time, I’m the one to throw out the pot meet kettle part instead.”

He chuckled and disappeared behind his paper again. “Well, if you’re sure…?”

Sobering up, I stood from my chair and gave him a hug. “I’m sure,” I answered softly. “But thank you for offering.” I straightened and smiled at Louisa. “And don’t tell Mama or Dad that I find the whole apartment-hunting part a challenge, please.”

Gramps craned his neck and looked up at me. “Why not? They’re your parents.”

“Because…” My voice trailed off, unsure whether I should give him the real reason or lie.

But weren’t lies the reason I was avoiding my phone like the plague?

Sighing, I went back to my seat.

“I don’t want them to know about my uncertain situation with Ethan, and Mama will demand details the minute she hears I’m looking for my own place. I need to already have an apartment before I tell them it didn’t work out between us.”

The words burned like acid, but that’s the conclusion I’d come to the last week. Being with Ethan had been like a dream – a glorious, out-of-this-world, remarkable dream – but that’s all it was. I had to admit that it had all been too good to be true, and that was why I’d hid my phone in a drawer upstairs; even though I’d blocked his number, I knew I’d be so tempted to read his messages or to even call him, but I wasn’t going to make the same mistakes again.

“Come now, Penelope.” Gramps gave me a sympathetic smile as he patted my hand. “The two of you are far from over. It was only a tiff, not a lover’s spat. You’ll forgive him, he’ll come running, and then you can move in with him instead.”

I shook my head. “No way. I want to live on my own for a while. I’ve never lived alone, Gramps, and, in my opinion, it’s something every woman should try at least once in her life.”

He sighed and hid behind his paper once more.

Tired of the fact he seemed so sure I’d “come around”, as he called it, I shut the laptop and rose.

“I’m going up to my room,” I muttered.

“Obstinate,” he muttered when I kissed his cheek.

“Pot,” I warned.

“All right, all right. You’ve made your point.”

I shook my head fondly and clapped my thigh to call Bernie to me, but when the old pooch just snored even louder under the table, I rolled my eyes.

“Stubborn old goat,” I murmured as I trotted up the steps to my room. I felt stuck, on edge, and that had almost never happened before. I wasn’t one to get bored in my own company; there was always a project to try out or a blog post to write. But not having found the right place for my business, and an apartment at the same time, meant that I couldn’t get any further.

And that sucked.

To make matters worse, ignoring my pining heart was becoming increasingly difficult by each day that passed. I opened the door to my bedroom and frowned at the desktop drawer which held my phone. I flopped down on my bed and looked up at the ceiling, wondering what my next step should be, but I didn’t get to wallow for long. I could hear my phone ringing the tune I’d set for whenever Max called me, and I jumped from my bed, eager to talk with him.

“Hey!” I answered on the last ring, my voice a little breathless.

“What took you so long?” Max’s annoyed voice sounded in my ear.

I rolled my eyes. “My cell was in the desk drawer. That’s why it took me so long to answer.”

“That thing is practically never out of your eyesight. Why was it in the drawer?”

“Just because…” I tried to come up with a valid excuse, but for once, I drew a blank.

“All right, little sis, what’s going on?”

I could almost see the frown I knew was marring my brother’s forehead right about now.

“Nothing!”