Page 30 of Modern Persuasion

"Why is he back in town?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Someone at the bank told me his house is in foreclosure. Maybe he is looking for an heiress to marry?"

I almost choked on my own saliva. "I hope he knows Elizabeth is just as broke as she was when he dated her years ago. No, she has even less now. Unless you count wealth in shoes and purses."

"Only Elizabeth counts wealth that way," Penny said between giggles.

"Valid point."

"Basically, be careful. Your father hasn't been shy about telling people you have him on an allowance and are hoarding his money away for your own reasons. Elizabeth has been happy to confirm this and suggest you're keeping it for yourself."

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" I said, rubbing my temples.

"This is just a rumor, but consider yourself caught up."

I decided I needed to change the conversation. "Can you talk about your book?"

Penny shook her head. "Are you leaving your jackass publishing company?"

I frowned. "No."

"If you take that job in LA, I will be happy to sign a contract and let you see it. It is amazing. If you stay in your current shitshow, then I'm not handing it over."

"I'm going to use the Los Angeles job to improve my situation at work. I can't take it."

"Why the hell not? Ted has a point about Karen holding you back. I know she thinks she's helping you, but she isn't."

I thought about the reality I had been facing over the past month. "If there was a chance with Freddy, I would take it in a heartbeat."

"It's back to Freddy?"

"He will always be Freddy for me," I said in a low voice.

I could feel the tears fill up my eyes. Penny handed me the box of tissues she kept close at hand. She said nothing as I blew my nose and composed myself again.

"Don't make your decision around him. Maybe if he sees you around Los Angeles, he'll soften a bit. You remember your pro and con list you made before graduation after he proposed?"

"Yes, very much so."

"Write a new one for a move to LA," Penny said, handing me a pad of paper and a pencil.

Pro to move to LA:

Fantastic job opportunity to be a partner in a publishing house and be in charge.

Nice people who are potential friends.

Other side of the country from my family and their co-dependence.

Cons to move to LA:

I love him.

"The list is all reversed now," Penny said after I handed her the list.

I slumped back into the sofa we were sitting on. "Loving him wasn't enough last time, and it should have been."

"You're going to make the same choice, aren't you?"