“Peoplesmart is just as important as book smart. Don’t be afraid to let someone else in. I promise, no one will ever crowd Jordan out of your heart. He has a permanent place there. Any guy worth a damn will accept that.” I pulled her closer and gave her a full hug without letting go. I used my hand to smooth down those wild curls and I kissed the side of her head. “You have a great big heart and you will love again one day. You really should. I know you’re capable of so much love. I’ve seen you with your family. You seem like the glue that holds them all together. You all suffered a tragedy as a whole and yet you’re all so close and well-adjusted.”
“You can’t seriously credit me with that?”
“I do to a certain extent. Also, you help struggling children do better with school or talking or other stuff. I’m not completely sure everything you do just yet, but that only further proves my point. I doubt it’s the most glamorous job, but you take pride in your work. I can tell. I’m not giving up on you, Penny, so please don’t give up on me.”
It took a few seconds to get my bearings, but when I finally focused, I smiled. I was napping. I had been sleeping with Penny and she hadn’t woken up. Her mouth was slightly ajar and I could hear her breathing. Her cheek was against my shoulder, my arm was around her and I was so comfortable. I felt body parts at my legs too, but that was only the dog. Penny hummed during her slumber and nuzzled closer. Her sweet scent filtered my senses. Damn, this woman smelled nice. Not that I was going to announce it, but there was nothing limp in this bed. I felt smug. Penny had an instant effect on me.
Maybe, I stared a little too hard or held her a little too tight, but Penny opened her eyes. She blinked a few times before making a startled sound. “Oh, I fell asleep. I’m sorry.”
She tried to raise up, but I wasn’t having it. “It’s cool. I did too. I just woke up.”
She looked away but then back again. She might be feeling shy, but I was pretty sure she was not feeling distressed. Maybe I was giving myself too much credit, but I didn’t think Penny reacted to our closeness like she predicted she would and that was where her true fear resided. I still needed to be really careful and take my time. It would be an exercise in restraint, but I was already thinking, the slow road was beneficial to me in a way. I’d never taken the time to study a woman’s features so thoroughly or learn her innermost workings. I enjoyed the study of Penny. There was no need to rush into the final exam. I was going to ace that sucker when the time came.
“Penny.”
“Yes.”
“Why do you smell so good?”
She shifted again, but I wouldn’t let go.
Her cheeks lit up. “I . . .”
“Don’t be shy. I really like it. I was just wondering what the scent is?”
“Oh, well I like lavender. Most of my soaps and lotions have lavender, that’s all.”
“Good to know.”
She asked if she could get up. I guessed I had to release her. We were in a good place. I didn’t want to scare her off or have her questioning my intentions. I couldn’t help myself, I angled myself toward her little more and wrapped her up in one more hug. I even whispered into her hair, “Thanks for everything. This day turned out to be a good day after all.”
“You’re welcome, Chet. I had fun too.”
Penny’s hand was on my chest, that lavender fragrance did things to me. I really was going to let her go, but I moved my fingers through her hair to push it out of my way. Her creamy skin was there, so I pressed my mouth against the juncture of her neck and shoulder and savored a kiss there. I wanted to kiss her everywhere, but this was a great place to start.
She bounded off the mattress in a heartbeat. I took it a step too far obviously. Neck kissing was ultra-intimate. What an idiot. I followed her to the bathroom. She’d already closed the door, I heard her lock it as well. “Penny, I’m sorry. Are you alright?”
Her voice was shaky. “I’m fine, but could you please get away from the door. It’s embarrassing.”
“Sure thing. I’m going to take Pepper out.”
I grabbed a ball I saw on the kitchen floor so I could keep myself busy with the dog. Pepper was a pest but I forgot how much fun having a dog was. Our family dog died years ago and it hit us all so hard. Mom decided not to get another one. I was traveling more and more, she was busy with work and Heather was already on her own. I picked up the ball, tossed it to the far corner of the back and watched Pepper tear up the ground underneath her to retrieve it so we could repeat the process. I didn’t even hear Penny join us until she was directly behind me. Two precious arms wrapped around me from behind. I most definitely was not expecting that after my neck kiss blunder that frightened her away. She held on and pressed her cheek into the curve of my back. I placed my left hand over hers.
“Are we okay?”
“Yes, Chet. We’re okay.”
“Tell me I’m crazy,” I begged my sister, who stood in front of me in my room while I haphazardly packed a small overnight bag.
“You are certifiable, but not because you accepted this invitation. I’m so proud of you for taking these steps with Chet.”
I needed to correct her. We weren’t taking steps. Chet promised a special training session with his little brother. He asked if I wanted to join them. At first, I said I wouldn’t intrude on his family time, but then he made puppy dog eyes at me. “Please, I met your family, come meet mine.” His mother owned a flourishing lawn and landscape business. He bribed me, basically. “You will love the backyard. She will answer any and all of your gardening questions.”
Chet had come by twice during the week, once for dinner we prepared together and another night out when we met up with Keats and Maggie. They twisted my arm to get me into a club on a work night. That was a first, but Chet’s friend performed for an open mic night. I had lots of fun which was equally unexpected.
I finally agreed to ride to Palmdale with him for the day. He sprung the idea on me very last minute that if we were too tired, his parents wouldn’t mind if we spent the night. He said his sister’s old room was a comfortable guest room and his mother loved to show it off.
He seriously waited to tell me about staying over until he was on his way to pick me up bright and early. Maggie stayed over for a change because Keats had to calm his father down. He was in some sort of on/off relationship. Keats’s parents broke up before he was even born, so he was used to splitting his time between two households, the complete opposite of how Maggie and I grew up.
I should’ve said no way will I sleep at your parents’ house. It was too soon and a bit nuts, but I packed a bag just as he’d requested. I assumed when the time came to decide, I would say I really should get back tonight no matter what time it was.
Maggie did this rather provocative dance around my room. “I bet he wants to take you in his childhood bed.” She fanned herself. “That is so hot.”
“No. Not hot, creepy and weird. His parents and little brother will be there. I would never. How many times do I need to say we’re just friends?”
“Say it until you run out of air. I don’t care, but you two are seeing each other and for the life of me, I don’t understand why you can’t admit it? I’d have that shit plastered on the Internet by now. ‘Back off, bitches, I’m dating Chet Parker.’“
Pepper yapped about that time. Her boyfriend, not mine had arrived. One final moment of clarity told me to leave the bag. That would be my excuse. I headed to the kitchen door to let him in the house. Chet and I gave lots of hugs now, mainly for hellos and goodbyes, but there were other opportunities during our times together for hugging. He always gave me little pecks here and there, but not on the neck anymore. That had been a bit too much. I had a little attack when I fled to the restroom. I didn’t exactly perceive it as a bad reaction, but it was an unusual sensation. I preferred not to bring it up even though my dreaming-self had done something rather naughty with the memory.
Maggie came running around the bend. “Hey Chet. Take care
of our girl, please.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Leave Chet out of it, I take care of myself. You promised to watch Pepper for the day. She needs let out and I mean more than once.”
Chet teased, “So touchy. Isn’t she?”
I shoved him, “Shut up.”
“Always very touchy and of course Pepper will be fine. But hey, you forgot your bag.” She shoved my bag at Chet. There went one of my excuses.
Chet tossed my bag in the backseat. I saw he also had a bag back there. He held the door until I sat inside. Maggie and Pepper were at the gate saying their goodbyes. I waved one last time. Chet shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side. I buckled up when he asked if I was ready.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“I like the sound of that.”
We were off and I did my best to hide my nervousness. I noticed those tiny backseats that seemed filled with two overnight bags. “Has anyone ever sat back there?”
“No.”
“Why buy the four-seater then?”
“Because this happened to fit all my specifications. I’ve been thinking of buying something else, actually.”
“Really, why?”
“I’m keeping this one, just thinking about a second vehicle that’s a little more practical.”
“Well, don’t get any ideas, my Escape isn’t for sale.”
“Dammit. That’s was my next question.”
I giggled and Chet winked at me. I refused to let him get to me like one of his silly fangirls, but I understood them a little better now. We moved through the traffic. He liked to change lanes a lot. I commented how he wasn’t the most patient driver.
“No, you’re wrong. I’m very patient.” There was something odd how he said that part. “I’ll slow down if it bothers you.”
I was used to Mags, it really didn’t. She wrecked her last car and gave up driving for now unless it was absolutely necessary. I knew a little secret. Keats was taking her car shopping as a wedding gift. She deserved it and I welcomed ending my task as her personal chauffeur. I told Chet to drive however he wanted. We talked about our week even though we talked everyday about our day. After twenty minutes into the drive, I noticed Chet kept glancing my way.
“What’s going on? You look goofy.”
“I do?”
“Very. Is something wrong? Do you think my outfit is all wrong for a parent meeting or something?”
“No, you look great as always. I noticed how comfortable you look for a change. Every other time I’ve driven you somewhere, you look like you’re pressed against a board, but today you have your shoes off, your leg underneath you and you’re twisted sideways. It’s cute.”
I immediately reconsidered the foot thing. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have my feet in these seats. I bet the leather’s worth more than my whole car.”
I started to untangle my legs, but Chet reached out and stopped me. He grabbed my sock covered toes. “No way, I like seeing you relaxed. My seats are fine, but I do need to make a tiny unrelated confession. Before I say anything, it’s no biggie. Don’t be mad.”
I sighed heavily. Hadn’t we gotten past all these cataclysmic confessions? “What?” My tone was enough to make him uneasy.
Chet squinched his face up. “Let me go back in time, so you’ll understand. Truth is, I haven’t taken a woman home in a long time.”
That hardly mattered to me, “Okay, but we’re just friends.”
He said, “yeah right” about as sarcastically as Maggie normally did.
“In fact, I’ve never taken a woman home to meet my family unless you count Lucy Hinton in the seventh grade. She was my date to my first school dance and my mother insisted she come over for dinner so she could get to know her better. It was extremely awkward. She was my first kiss, in case you were curious.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Ouch. Okay, it was pretty thrilling for my young twelve-year-old self, but also quite painful.”
“What does that mean?”
“Braces, Penny. Lucy had braces and she was an aggressive kisser for such a young age. She cut me.”
“I have the feeling we’re way off topic. What part of this will make me mad?”
“I didn’t tell my folks you were coming with me.”
He said it so fast, I almost didn’t understand. I replayed the words through my mind again exactly like he’d said them.
Then I screamed. “What? You have got to be kidding me! Why would you not tell them?”
“I’m sorry, it never came up. My mom is pushy, but don’t let that scare you, she’s really sweet, too. You two will get along and she loves company. I figured if we made it more casual then she wouldn’t bombard me with a full inquisition.”
“Turn around. Take me back home, I’m not going.”
“For fuck’s sake. You can’t be serious. I thought Maggie was the drama queen.”
I immediately pulled my leg out from under and faced forward doing my best job at pouting. Showing up like this would be humiliating.
“Penny, stop that. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t accept his lame apology. What grown-ass man was scared of his own mother? I guess I could see his point to a certain degree. I avoided certain topics with Mum because she could drive me insane.
Chet begged a little more, but he never once acted like we were turning around. We kept traveling up the freeway. “Teddy hurt himself last year. It’s been a long rehab and he lost his confidence and gained weight in the process. Dad wants Teddy to try out for football. He used to love every sport, now he only plays them on X-box. I got an appointment with our trainer from Voyagers, so with regards to taking you back home, it ain’t happening. We have a meeting at the gym and I would never be late with Fergus.”
I thought he was joking. “Your trainer is not named Fergus.”
“I swear to God, that’s his actual name and he’s scary as hell.”
Maybe my judgment was clouded because of Chet. That happened more than I cared to admit. I never even asked what I was supposed to do while he was participating in this training session with Teddy. The fact that his parents had no idea I was coming along for the ride made that seem even more problematic. I’m sure they were busy.
“Mind telling me what I’m supposed to do while you’re with Teddy? In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not dressed for hardcore training with Fergus and I prefer not to die today. I can ride the stationary bike, jog or hop on the elliptical. Sometimes I take a Zumba class, but what you have planned is probably not my strong suit.”
“Oh, well, I figured you could watch. I like having you around no matter what I’m doing.”
Watch, he says. I may have found an activity with Chet that sounded miserable. “How long do you think it will last?”
“We have the gym reserved for three hours.”
“Forget Fergus, you’re killing me, Chet.”
He begged me to give it a try, and then he completely stunned me by offering his car if I wanted to go out and find something interesting to do.
“I can’t drive this car.”
“Why not? You know how to drive. It’s no different than your Ford.”
“Yes, I’m quite sure that it is.”
“Take my keys, Penny, or I’m going to worry about you having a bad time. Then, tonight we’ll have family dinner and you’ll get to know my parents a little. That’s the main reason I invited you.”
“Fine, I guess, but we really should head back this evening. It’s not that long of a drive. I shouldn’t have packed a bag. I never intended to stay overnight.”
Chet said I was over-thinking and we’d play it by ear. I needed him to understand one more thing about me. I never played it by ear. I planned and staying under the same roof with Chet all night long had never been in my plans. That dream I had last night surfaced in my memory- Liar.
We pulled into a neighborhood I could only classify as upscale, but also cozy. The houses were large, with manicure
d yards but each and everyone felt homey. That wasn’t always the case in LA. I’d been to some showy mansions that felt sterile and barely lived in, even with young children, and they usually had me feeling claustrophobic.
“Almost there.”
I swallowed down my nerves and smiled at Chet. He had been holding my hand the past ten miles at least. I don’t know why we did that so often in each other’s presence but I was used to it. I’d never been so nervous in all my life about meeting a friend’s parents. I couldn’t even remember acting this way about the first time I was invited to Jordan’s. Thinking about him was strange now, something wasn’t the same. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I hadn’t spoken about it, but I finally put away my old engagement ring for good. I wasn’t sure I’d ever do that. I reacted a certain way about Jordan for seven straight years, but now I wasn’t reacting and that was okay. Nothing could erase him, but everyone else was right, I didn’t die with him. I was still very much alive.
Chet gave me a gentle squeeze and interrupted me from my deep thoughts. “Well, there’s my house or it used to be. We moved in when I was about fourteen. You seem nervous. Don’t be, these are the nicest people on earth and they made yours truly so you know they must be pretty great.”
I cut my eyes in a side glance. His confidence intimidated me. I wish I had the tiniest portion that he exhibited. The first thing I noticed from the street was the long driveway flanked by a beautiful lawn. I pointed out the line of hedges. “Let me guess, your mum?”
“Oh yeah, my mum did wonders with this lot.” He winked at me after copying my speech. “It was a dirt and rock nightmare when they bought it from the previous owners. They made lots of changes inside and out.” The house was large, spread out and appeared to all be on the ground level except for one small region in the back where the roof raised to a peak. It was taupe stucco with rock accent pillars and a Spanish tile roof. It seemed to be a mix of modern and traditional. We didn’t walk up the long sidewalk that led to the etched glass front door. Instead, Chet drove up and around the curve of the driveway straight to the garage doors. He got out first, helped me out and escorted me to the panel near the door. He punched in a code and the far right door opened up with a motorized noise. Two vehicles sat in the other bays, but the area we walked through was free from cars and appeared to be the storage area.
The Price of Penny Page 15
