No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

"Are you trying to ghost the guy after having your fun?" Fanny thought that of me.

I denied it without a second thought, "Me? Never!"

Fanny snorted, "You practically drained him of all but his last breath, and you're saying nothing happened?"

I looked at her, still trying to gather my thoughts. But Fanny pointed at her neck, propping herself up on the edge of the bed. "Licia, girl, impressive. I didn't see it coming. It seems you've unleashed all that pent-up energy from the past twenty years on Mr. Collins."

I swallowed hard when thinking about the love bite I'd left on Ernest. "It's not what you think."

Fanny raised her hand to stop me. "No need to explain."

I laughed helplessly. Indeed, some things get murkier the more you try to clarify.

Fanny looked at me. "Feeling better now?"

She was referring to my investigation into my parents' accident. I closed my eyes, silent.

Fanny sat by my bed, patting my hand. "You've looked into it. Now, let it go. No more stirring things up, okay?"

It was over, but it had also etched in my heart.

"Ernest is a keeper. You have no idea how he looked when carrying you to the hospital," Fanny changed the subject.

I opened my eyes and leaned toward her. "How did Ernest look?"Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Fanny fiddled with her phone for a bit. "I sent you the video. See for yourself."

I took the phone and watched the video Fanny sent me. Ernest was running, searching for a doctor, and his concern was unmistakable. A bittersweet feeling washed over me. Someone besides my parents would go crazy for me.

"This man's worth holding onto," Fanny said, looking at me. "I'll leave you guys alone. I don't want to make it awkward for him."

"How was your dinner with Yates?" I couldn't help but gossip at a time like that.

Fanny pursed her lips. "It was okay."

"Okay? Fill me in." I was curious.

Fanny cleared her throat lightly before replying, "I'll tell you when you get better."

She kept me in suspense, but I wasn't letting it slide. "I want to know now."

Like a stubborn child, I held onto her,

and

my forehead, Fanny

min, "He asked if I still had

a crush

on him."

"Uh?" I was taken aback. "Is he really being that direct?"

Fanny chuckled affirmatively, and I clung to her. "What did you say? You didn't chicken out, did you?"

"Do I look like I'd chicken out?" Fanny raised an eyebrow at me.

I blinked. "So, are you..."

Fanny laughed. "What do you mean 'are you...?' It sounds so scandalous."

"Just tell me what happened," I couldn't wait any longer.

Fanny pouted. "What do you think he said?"

e

She wanted me to guess when I was dying for the answer. Remembering how Yates looked at her that day, I teased, "He must've said, 'My dear, I've fancied you for ages.""

Fanny smirked, pulling a face. "He said three words."

"Which three?" I blurted out, "I like you? No, that's not enough. So, I love you?"

My eyes widened. "No way! Was Yates that straightforward?"

Fanny knocked on my head. "He said, 'I know it.""

"Uh?" I was dumbfounded, "And then?"

"That was it," Fanny said bitterly. "Was that the nicest way to reject someone?"

I didn't know what to say.

Fanny smiled. "Don't overthink it."

After saying that, she stood up, but I grabbed her again. "So, that was your dinner?"

"We didn't finish. Yates got called away by his colleague," Fanny tapped my nose. "Stop worrying about me, and rest up."

After she left, I lay there, my mind still a whirl.

The door to the hospital room

clicked twice, and I thought Ernest had returned. But when the door opened, the person who entered surprised me.