“Um . . . ” Bryn giggled nervously. “I told Thor I would make things right with you.”
“You talked to him? He asked you to apologize?”
“Kind of . . . but not really.”
“Did you or did you not talk to him?”
“Yes. But—”
“You know what? Forget it. If you can’t apologize to me on your own, then this isn’t going to work.”
Penny hung up. That whole conversation about teamwork and friendship had been bullshit. They’d only called because her big, bad boyfriend made them.
Fuck.
CHAPTER Thirty-One
Thor collected the practice equipment and lugged it to the shed. When he finished stacking orange cones he closed the metal doors and slipped the padlock through the hasp. He turned around, ready for the pizza he’d ordered ten minutes ago and would pick up on his way home.
He was taken aback, not expecting to see Penny. She stood there, hands deep in the pockets of her jacket, an expression he couldn’t read, but he sure as hell didn’t like.
“Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you should call Bryn and ask.”
Shit. “Why don’t we grab a pizza and go home and talk.”
“Talk to me, or talk some more to Bryn about me behind my back?”
He closed his eyes and let out the breath he’d been holding. He was just going to have to fess up. “We weren’t talking behind your back. But I did call her last night. You were so upset and I didn’t know what else to do. I thought if I asked her what happened she could tell me and I could fix it.”
“But you can’t fix my problems. And you definitely can’t demand that someone apologize to me.”
He took a step forward. “I love you and I hated seeing you like that.”
“But if you really love me, you wouldn’t go behind my back.”
“I’m sorry. I was so mad at how they made you feel and I just couldn’t sit there and do nothing. I’m sorry if that makes me a bad guy.”
Her gaze softened. “You’re not a bad guy, but you can’t can’t just swoop in and save me from everything, either.”
He took another step toward her. “I can’t help it that I want to protect you.”
“I don’t need protecting.”
“Listen.” He stepped to her and took her hand in his. “I’ve never been in a real relationship before, so I don’t know all the rules. But I swear . . . I’m going to learn them.”
“Okay.” She stared down at her free hand and chipped-off pink nail polish.
“I mean it.” He tilted her chin upward. “I’ll be better. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He pulled her in to him and she wrapped her arms around his midsection and squeezed.
“I’m sorry,” she said to his chest. “Everything is such a mess and I just don’t know what to do.”
“I’m here for you. Whatever you need. Just ask.”
Maybe that was best. He had to step back and just be there for her when she needed him. If everything in her world crumbled, he would be the one thing she could depend on. No matter what.
---------
PENNY FOLLOWED Theo to his house after a quick stop for the pizza he’d ordered, but she probably should have gone home. After last night and this afternoon, now the thing with Theo, her bed was looking pretty good. Maybe she’d stay in it for a week. She didn’t have much else going on.
He parked and got out and she opened her door, too.
“I think I’m gonna head home.”
“But you are home, remember?”
She hadn’t. “Oh, right.”
She followed him in, the scent of bubbling mozzarella dancing around her head. Normally it would make her stomach growl with anticipation. Not tonight.
He set the box on the counter and pulled out two plates. “One piece or two?”
“Are you sure you want me here? I won’t be good company tonight.”
“I don’t care. You belong here. Good or bad.” He leaned and kissed her cheek, then set two pieces on one plate and one on the other, handing her the lone piece. “At least try to eat a little.”
They sat in the living room, HGTV on the flat-screen. Not because he liked it. Because she did. She took a bite of pizza and it tasted as good as it smelled. Damn it. She was supposed to be wallowing in her misery here.
Theo turned and smiled at her, sauce smeared on the left side of his mouth. God, he was so freaking cute. She couldn’t help but smile.
Okay, maybe he could be her white knight. Just a little bit. Saving her with pizza and girlie TV.
---------
EVEN WITH all the messiness of the last couple of days, it still felt good to wake in Theo’s arms. She didn’t like fighting with him. She’d never fought with Jack. But maybe that was why their marriage ended. She’d never told him how she felt or what she needed. And neither had he. Maybe a healthy, normal relationship was messy. It all had given her a new outlook on life and relationships.
She’d ignore the fact that it probably applied to her friendships as well. At least for now. She wasn’t ready to deal with that yet.
“What are you going to do today?”
“I don’t know. I need to call some of those listings in the paper, even if they aren’t exactly what I’m looking for. I can’t survive on the money I make waitressing three nights a week.”
“Well, I just want to let you know, and this in no way means I’m trying to save you or anything, if you need to take some time to rest or get your head right, it’s fine. You don’t have to rush out and take some crap job just because you think you need to. We’ll have your stuff moved in by the end of the week, so you won’t have rent or utilities to pay.”
“I appreciate that, but I refuse to move in here and not help out financially.”
“I know. But we can figure it out later.”
“As long as you agree I’ll be helping.” She flashed him a wicked smile, to make sure he knew she was done being serious. “And maybe we can upgrade to the platinum cable package. Then we’ll have all the home improvement and cooking channels.”
“Anything you want,” he said, and grabbed her by the ass and pulled her on top of him, giving her a kiss that curled her toes and made her girlie parts tingle. But then he pulled away, leaving her full of desire, and stood. “But I really need to go now.”
“You’re going to leave me all alone in this cold bed all by myself?” She stuck out her bottom lip for effect.
“If I don’t go to work I’ll get fired. And then what will we do?”
“Good point. I guess I’ll have to warm myself up then.”
His left eyebrow rose. “Yeah?”
“A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. But this will have to be old-school style, since all my toys are at my apartment.”
His jaw almost hit he floor. “Are you serious?”
“Someone has to test out the merchandise we sell in the shop.”
Theo closed his eyes and shook his head. “I can’t even think about that right now or I won’t leave the house.”
Penny laughed as his gorgeous ass retreated to the bathroom. “Maybe tonight I can put on a little show for you.”
“Promise?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Pinkie promise.”
Theo got ready for work and she stayed in bed, no masturbating. She could wait. It would be more fun later on. Instead she grabbed her phone and began searching job listings on the Newford News’s Web site. Maybe she could get a hostess job now, since she had restaurant experience. Or a daytime gig as a waitress. But would the pay be comparable to what she made at Classy ’n’ Sassy? Probably not.
She searched some more, and there actually were a couple of decent listings that would utilize her marketing s
kills. Perfect. She’d call right at 9 a.m.
“Bye, baby,” Theo said, and leaned down to kiss her. “I’ll see you when I get home.”
Damn, she loved the sound of that. If she worked fast, she could probably box up most of her apartment and get some of it over to Theo’s place by the time he got home. She could make dinner and it would all be perfect.
The crap of the last few days faded away and Penny was filled with hope for her future. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
CHAPTER Thirty-Two
Penny was on a high as she sealed up another box of clothes. At this rate, she’d have everything ready by dinnertime. She had so much stuff, she might have to rent a U-Haul or something to transport boxes to Theo’s house—her house.
As she pulled up the Web site on her phone to check rates, it rang. “Hey, bro! What’s up?”
“You’re in a happy mood.”
“Yes I am! How are things with you?”
“Not bad. You at work? I picked up some guac and tacos from the Cantina truck. I know it’s your fav, so should I swing by the shop?”
“No. Actually, I don’t work there anymore.”
“What? But you love it there.”
“I’m at my apartment. I’ll fill you in.”
Wes showed up ten minutes later and Penny practically inhaled two tacos before she even began to explain the situation.
“I can’t believe it,” Wes said, then shoved a chip loaded with goopy green goodness into his mouth. “I thought they were your BFFs.”
“I did, too. Which makes it way worse.”
“Are you okay?”
“I wasn’t at first, but I made some calls today and set up a couple interviews. I’m going to be fine. I have Theo—and you, of course—so I’m set. Who needs the drama of girlfriends? Not me.”
Wes nodded his head. “Cool. It seems like you’ve got it figured out. So can you now explain why your place is filled with boxes?”
Penny felt her cheeks flush. “Promise not to tell Mom and Dad?”
He made a zipper motion across his lips. “I’m sworn to secrecy.”
“I’m moving in with Theo.”
“Seriously? But hasn’t it only been a few weeks?”
Penny rolled her eyes. “It’s been a month and a half.”
“Still. I’m not judging or anything, but that’s kind of fast, don’t you think?”
“I guess, but it feels right. I love him and he loves me, so why wait? I was married for five years and it never felt like this.”
“I get it. When you know, you know. But aren’t you scared? You’ve already done the marriage thing and it ended horribly.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” She slapped his arm. “But I’m not. This time I know it’s real. I know he’s not going to cheat on me and leave me like Jack did. He’s a good guy.”
“Then I’m happy for you.” Wes lifted his Styrofoam cup of soda. “To you and Theo and many years of domestic bliss.”
She tapped her cup to his. “Salute!”
Penny was truly happy, maybe for the first time in her life. Things couldn’t be better.
Well . . . maybe when Theo got home from practice and she was able to give him that show she promised. That would definitely be better.
---------
PENNY TOOK the last box from her car and headed up the driveway of her new home. Theo wouldn’t be home until six thirty, so she had some time. She hung some things in the closet and put her toiletries in his master bathroom. She’d have to wait until they could get a moving company to bring her dresser over, but at least she could get some things set up.
She sliced through the tape on another box, this one filled with her toys. She opened the drawer of Theo’s nightstand. Typical guy things: remote for the TV, one of those hand exerciser thingies, condoms, lube. She added her toys.
It was getting late so she put her plan in motion. What better way to celebrate their first official night as a cohabitating couple than with some fun sexy stuff? She dressed in the lacy outfit she’d bought awhile back—crotchless panties and a matching bra with nipple cutouts. She yanked her hair out of its high bun and fluffed it. After applying smoky eye makeup, her eyes screamed, “Fuck me now!” Perfect.
The front door whined as it swung open, so she threw her lipstick back into her makeup bag and trotted to the bed, lounging as seductively as she could manage.
“Wow,” Theo said, halting in the doorway. “You look . . . amazing.”
“Yeah?” She slid her hand down her stomach and between her velvety folds. “You ready for that show I promised you?”
“Fuck yeah.” He yanked his shirt over his head and had his sneakers off in two seconds flat.
But as he unbuttoned his shorts, his cell began to ring in his pocket. He wouldn’t possibly answer it now, right? Not when his girlfriend was 95 percent naked on his bed and touching herself.
He reached for it, his shoulders slumping when he looked at the screen. “I should take this. It’s one of my kids’ moms.”
“Let me guess. The one who shamelessly flirted with you after the game?”
“It wasn’t like that. It’ll just take a second.” He answered it as he sat down on the edge of the bed. “Hello, Ms. O’Connor. What can I do for you?”
Penny sighed and pulled her fingers away from her heat.
“Uh-huh,” Theo said. “I’ll see what I can do. How about Monday before school?”
There had to be a way to hurry this up. Penny crawled to Theo and ran her tongue along his spine.
“Sure.” He continued his conversation, ignoring her seduction. “I can pick him up on my way to school.”
But she knew one thing he couldn’t ignore. Penny reached around, her hand to his cock, no longer thick and hard like it had been a second ago. But that was okay. She could fix it. As Penny squeezed and massaged him, Theo stood and stepped away from her.
“It’s no problem at all. Joey’s a great kid and I want to help any way I can.”
Seriously? Penny sucked in a breath. Calm yourself! He’s helping one of his kids.
“I appreciate the offer, but really, you don’t need to make me dinner.”
And the tramp strikes again. Penny leaned back on the bed, more deep breaths.
He ended the call and faced Penny. “Sorry. She just had some concerns about her son.”
“Concerns about her son? That sure sounded like concern for you. And finding any way she can to get you to her house.”
“She’s just thankful for the help.” He set his phone on the nightstand and continued undressing.
“Can you seriously not tell when a woman is trying to get in your pants?”
“Of course I can, but she’s harmless. She might’ve flirted a little, but I blew her off. You heard me.”
Yeah, she’d heard him. He’d said no this time. But what about the next? Or the time after that?
Doubt and fear infected her body like a plague, spreading and multiplying. She stood from the bed, shaking, unable to control the psychotic tone in her voice. “It’s never going to end, is it? I’ll constantly have to worry that someone’s flirting with you and trying to steal you away from me.”
“It doesn’t matter who tries. It’s not going to happen. Don’t you think you’re blowing this out of proportion?”
“No. Every day I wonder and worry when it will happen. And it really pisses me off that you’re minimizing it the way you are.”
“For the millionth time, I’m not Jack. And I don’t know what else I can do to make you believe that.”
“Acting like this sure isn’t doing it.”
“I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me. I understand you went through something horrific, but you can’t punish me for his sins.”
“I don’t know how to stop. I gu
ess I’m just that fucked up.”
Penny pulled on a robe to cover her crotchless panties and matching bra and grabbed her suitcase from the corner where it sat after being emptied earlier that day. She started shoving things inside.
“What are you doing?” Theo asked.
“What does it look like?”
“Come on. Don’t do this.”
“You don’t understand and you never will. I can’t be here with you if you won’t even try to fix it.”
“Are you kidding me right now? I am trying! You’re the one who’s giving up.”
She zipped, set it down, and wheeled it to the front door. He could burn the rest for all she cared.
“You’re really leaving?”
“Yep.”
She ushered Scarlett into her doggie carrier and slipped her feet into a pair of flip-flops.
“After everything we’ve been through, this is how you want it?”
She refused to look at him. “Yep.”
In just her lingerie and a silky robe, she walked out to her car and slid into the driver’s side.
With one last look at Theo’s house, his silhouette filling the darkened doorway, she backed away. She’d hold it together until she got home. Then she could fall apart.
Penny plopped down onto her bed, still in her lace, and let the tears fall. Love. Fucking. Sucked. She vowed right then and there to live the rest of her life alone. She didn’t need anyone. Letting people into your life was a fast track toward disaster. They all let you down eventually.
There was a loud knock on her door. She ignored it. But the knocker was persistent, and Scarlett left Penny’s side to run to the door and bark.
“I know you’re there.” It was Theo. “Please let me in.”
That just made her cry harder. Why was he doing this to her? She pulled the blanket over her head, but it did little to drown him out.
“I need to talk to you. Please open the door.”
More knocking. More barking.
“I know I messed up. Let me in so we can talk.”
She was done with his mess-ups. Done with him. Done with all relationships.
“I need to fix this!” He pounded even harder and she was afraid he’d knock her door down.
One Size Fits All (The Classy ‘n’ Sassy Series Book 3) Page 23
