No More Waiting, She Chooses Love novel Chapter 288

He'd switched to a T-shirt and cargo pants. It seemed he dug this look, rocking it like a secret agent, looking handsome. Besides his built physique, I guessed his regular workouts played a part. I remembered catching him doing push-ups in the wee hours last night. I must admit his form was impeccable.

“What are you staring at? Let's eat.” Ernest caught my gaze, nudging me back to the present.

I sipped the beef stew Ernest cooked and couldn’t resist probing, “Hit the gym much?”

He served me the side dish. “Nah, I train solo.”

“No wonder your push-ups are so on point,” I blurted out before I could catch myself.

Ernest paused, then looked down. I figured he'd be embarrassed about getting caught, but instead he just casually asked, "You saw that?"

It was my turn to clam up, so I focused on my stew.

Ernest’s cooking skills were top-notch. I wasn’t usually a stew person. But the beef stew had me reevaluating my life choices.

“Ernest, if engineering doesn’t work out, you’ve got a future as a chef,” I praised him. After saying that, I chuckled and added, “Either way, you’re master-level.”

Ernest nodded. “Deal.”

I laughed. “Ernest, you’re okay with anything I say, huh?”

“A man should always listen to his girl,” Ernest’s response caught me off guard, my cheeks flushing.

Ernest chuckled softly, and I playfully punched him, only to hear him whisper, “Licia, you look cute when you blush.”

“Oh, please stop it,” I reached to cover his mouth.

But Ernest dodged, teasing me further, “But it’s true.”

“Come on, cut me some slack...” I protested in mock annoyance.

Right in the middle of our playful banter, my phone rang. I had realized phones were a blessing and a curse when they interrupt moments like these.

I pulled my phone from Ernest’s embrace, seeing the name Conrad flash on the screen.

“Void?” Conrad sounded genuinely surprised.

I was about to explain why when Ernest called out, “Licia, I got some milk for you. Wanna take it for the road or have it now?”

I wasn’t sure if Ernest did that on purpose, but Conrad must have overheard because he asked, “You’re living with Ernest?”

His tone was a mix of shock and anger, to which I retorted, “You can keep your mistresses, and why can’t I live with my boyfriend?”

Conrad fell silent and hung up.

I stood there, dazed, before heading outside, where Ernest was holding the milk, suggesting, “Maybe you can have it on the way.”

Considering how his earlier comment must have hit Conrad, I called out to him, “Ernest.”

“Yeah?” He looked at me.

I stepped closer, right in front of him.