No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 40



Upon hearing Ethel's voice, I casually tossed my phone aside, "Yeah."

After saying that, I slipped off my shoes, shuffled into my slippers, and opened the door, immediately spotting Ernest in the yard, filling several white buckets with water. The buckets lined up neatly, and as they quickly filled, he hoisted them up, his shoulder muscles visibly defined even through his shirt.

Man, the guy was a perfect blend of muscle and raw strength.

"Why are you hoarding so much water? Is there a water shutdown coming?" I strolled over to ask.

Ethel looked at my slippers disapprovingly and rolled her eyes at me silently.

Ernest didn't answer, but Ethel did, "Just in case of a shutdown."

She then patted Ernest on the back. "I'm making clam chowder tonight. You two head out and grab some clams. Ensure they're fresh. And pick up some potatoes, hams, and onions, will you?"

It wasn't about fetching groceries but sending us off to chat. But here I was, in those big and floppy slippers, hardly appropriate, yet returning inside to change seemed even more so.

change your shoes," Ernest

would embarrass me more, so I chuckled,

me, signaling to

stepped out,

suddenly stopped.

Ethel pitched it like that? But, direct as ever, he just

I looked at him, really seeing him for the

were sharp,

His lips were

too thick. He

a run for their money, especially his tan

to judge a book by its cover, but wasn't that the first thing we all did? We couldn't start by inspecting

introducing himself, "Served eight years in the military. Now, I'm..." He got interrupted before he could

guy!" A teenager, around seventeen or eighteen, whistled and gave me

that taxi yours?" I asked after the kid had left, picking up

it's a friend's," he replied, clearing he was sharing the taxi gig

been with a

His gaze deepened. "No."