No More Waiting, She Chooses Love



"Why are you here?" He set aside the report he was working on.

I walked up behind him, playfully grabbing his chin, "Missed you."

My sudden display of affection didn't bring him joy. Instead, it made him suspicious. He grabbed my waist and with a swift twirl, I found myself sitting on his lap. "What's wrong?"

Seeing his concerned look, I playfully tapped his nose, "How do you always see right through me?"

"Then don't try to hide it."

"Fanny left for London," I decided not to mention Jefferson's situation yet, starting with Fanny instead.

He didn't seem surprised, just nodded.

I traced the outline of Ernest's well-defined nose. "Ernest, you're a man, you understand men best. Tell me, do men like it when women cling to them?"

"Are you asking for Fanny?" he asked, letting me play with his features.

"Not really, asking for myself and all the women out there too."

"That depends on the person," Ernest didn't give a straightforward answer.

My hand moved from his nose to his brow, "What about someone like Yates, do you think they like it or find it annoying?"

"I don't know." He was always so blunt. I was used to it by now, so I tapped his brow, asking, "What about you?"

Ernest seemed thoughtful, "Depends on how clingy you are.

"Oh?"

"

He affectionately rubbed his forehead against my fingers, "I'd never get tired of it, no matter how clingy you are."

He was clever, adapting quickly.

But I could tell his true thoughts from his earlier words. I tapped his nose, "So, if I were super clingy, you'd get annoyed, right?" "I..." Ernest started to explain, but I silenced him with a finger.

"No excuses."

He smiled helplessly, "Bossy girlfriend."

"Lately, we've been together 24/7, working by day, sleeping by night. You must be tired of me by now, right?"

Ernest couldn't speak, so he just shook his head.

be

"Even if you're not now, you will be. So, maybe it's best we spend some time apart," I guided the

conversation towards what loreally wanted to talk about.

Ernest stayed silent, just looking at me.

Feeling guilty, I tapped him again. "Why aren't you saying anything?"Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

"Just say what you need to, no beating around the bush." Ernest always saw right through my schemes.

I deflated, caught out, "You're no fun, Ernest."

"You want to go out? Worried about Fanny and want to accompany her?" Ernest guessed.

Verify

His assumption made me laugh, "Why would I? To be a third wheel?"

Ernest frowned slightly, "Then where do you plan on going?"

I pulled out a passport and placed it in front of him, "I want to go to Houston. Jefferson's in trouble."

"Injured?" Ernest knew Jefferson went there for training and competitions.

"No," I said, accidentally bumping my chin on

fights shoulder, "He got into a

got detained. Conrad told

me

swno

Ernest stayed quiet, so I bit him

lightly, "Don't overthink it. I ran intet

him when I was dropping Fanny off at the airport. He's already on his way there."

"Did he explain what happened?" Ernest inquired.

"Not really, he just mentioned Jefferson is in a bad state..." I trailed off.

Ernest remained silent, so I nuzzled into his neck, "I want to go check on him. Would you be okay with that?"