Page 61 of Lovestrung

The latter was even worse than being hurt. If you were hurting, it meant that you were feeling deeply. But indifference? Ugh. Being indifferent to another person who had meant the world to me for so long…I doubted I’d be able to survive it.

All these questions were stupid and made my head spin, but I couldn’t switch my brain off.

“You’re being very quiet,” Ethan murmured as he kissed the top of my head before we entered the café not too far from his place.

I shrugged, pleased when he held the door for me, gesturing for me to go first. “I’m just trying to absorb everything that’s happened since I came home, I guess.”

The hand he placed on my lower back made me acutely aware of him walking behind me, and I had to suppress the simmering need that seemed to only lie dormant, ready to flare up without notice whenever we were close.

I shook it off as he led me to a corner booth where we could people watch while enjoying our meal.

“Has it been too much too fast?” he asked, a concerned frown marring his forehead as we sat down opposite each other.

I bit my lip. “No, I don’t think so. It’s just been…a lot.”

He leaned closer and placed his hands on top of both of mine resting on the table.

“Penelope, why don’t you tell me exactly what you mean?” He gave me a crooked smile. “I’m not a mind reader.”

Afraid he’d bolt if I confessed my jumbling thoughts to him, I shook my head and looked out the window.

“Honestly, I’m fine, Ethan.” I squeezed his hands to reassure him but still didn’t meet his gaze.

“Hey…”

Unable to deny him anything, I moved my head and glanced at him.

“You know,” he started, but that was as far as he got.

“Ethan, babe, what are you doing here?”

My eyes widened at the very beautiful brunette who placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder.

Where the hell did she come from?

Ethan’s eyes turned guarded when he looked up at her.

“Hi, Astrid. I’m trying to have brunch with my…friend.”

The sting at being called his friend made me wince, but I hoped neither of them noticed it. I loosened my hold around Ethan’s hands as discreetly as possible and smiled up at the woman.

“Hi, I’m Penelope.” I tried to infuse warmth to my voice as I extended my hand for her to shake, all the time wanting to scratch her eyes out for the possessive hand that moved to linger on the nape of his neck.

Her smile was as fake as mine, but I had to give her points for making an effort.

“Nice to meet you, Penelope. I’m Astrid.” Her eyes flickered down at Ethan as her lips tipped up in the corners. “Funny how you’ve never mentioned this one, Ethan.”

My smile faltered.

This one?

“Probably because we’ve always been working when we’ve seen each other, Astrid,” he murmured, his jaw set in a stubborn line.

I looked back and forth between them, wondering how they knew each other.

“Ah, yes, that must be it.” Astrid pursed her lips before she finally removed her hand from his body and waved at someone down the back. “I won’t keep y’all. I’m here with a friend myself, and in need of some food after the amazing party at Callum’s yesterday.” Completely ignoring me, she bent down until her face was so close to Ethan’s, I almost hissed at her. “You should’ve been there, babe,” she purred. “I missed you.”

He furrowed his brow but remained silent.