Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush

by Pinder, Victoria

  Laughing, she kissed him, pulling him on top of her. “You’re on, then. I’d like to see who’s more eager after ten.”

  Petting her hair, he smiled. “It’s a dare. I like it.”

  ***

  Monday morning, she woke up next to him while he slumbered. Looking at his peaceful face, she envied him. She’d sleep if she could. Suppressing a yawn, she kissed his cheek, whispering to his sleeping ear, “I’ll see you after work today, Dimples.”

  When she emerged from the shower, he rolled over with his head propped on his hand while he took in the sight of her. She leaned on the bed to kiss him when he told her, “Sexiness, I might be in around six myself. I have to go into the office, but don’t cook. I want to take you out.”

  “Deal.” She smiled, kissed him, and bounced to the kitchen to get something to eat. Leaving the apartment, she hugged herself in the elevator. Everything would be amazing. She had Jay. She had her interview at three, and with any luck, she’d tell Jay her troubles tonight without becoming her mother. Walking out of the elevator, she didn’t care that she bounced.

  All was right this morning.

  Serving pizza gave her a little short-term money. She’d at least stave off complete financial dependence on Jay until she found a job. Her heart raced every time someone’s name sounded like his. Her customers told her repeatedly she seemed happy, which meant she only thought of Jay once every ten seconds. His work mattered to him, and she’d never be her mother.

  Clocking out at two, she left work to change for her interview. One of her coworkers saw her in her suit and called out, “Luck, sweetie.”

  “Thanks.” She nodded and hopped into her car. Straightening her hair, she sucked in her breath, looking at herself. She needed grounding. Picking up her phone, she dialed the student-loan people. They gave her a good dose of reality scare, and she’d have to file for a short-term financial forbearance. She hit the buttons while she waited in the parking lot.

  Rolling her eyes, she put her makeup away in her pocketbook, when the computer told her, “Account satisfied.”

  Raising her eyebrows, she hit zero for the operator. Maybe she’d dialed wrong. Fixing her makeup, she waited until the woman on the phone repeated the voice message. “Ms. Knightheart, the account was paid in full. You don’t owe us.”

  Gulping for air, she stopped breathing. No. It was impossible, except that she was living with Jay. She’d ask him later. She told the woman, “Thank you.”

  She blinked. Jay had done this. She stared at the wheel of her Jeep, knowing the deal had been too good to be true. She punched in the numbers to the lender where the message repeated, “Account paid in full.”

  Her lips curled. When had he done this? She’d never asked him to take care of any of it. She shook. She couldn’t ever be her mother.

  Didn’t she make that clear?

  Putting her hands over her nose and mouth, she forced herself to breathe. In. Out. Ten times. She’d go to the interview. She’d need a job. Tightening her grip around the wheel of the car, she sped down the street.

  How could he… No. She’d argue with him later. The job. She pasted on a smile before she parked and refused to let that fall off her face. She would be a great mechanical engineer, and working for a woman with her name sounded fantastic.

  Jay never… She stopped her blood pressure from mounting by counting to ten. The tension in her back needed to unwind, because she had to get this job.

  After turning off the engine, she focused on the clipping sound of her heels on the pavement. In the office building, the tone sound changed on the marble. The tap became different when she stepped into the elevator.

  Her shoulders relaxed when she stepped onto the floor of Penelope Financial, and her smile grew genuine when she said hello to the receptionist.

  “Please take a seat, Ms. Knightheart. You’re ten minutes early.”

  Nodding, she relaxed when she took the seat. Mechanical engineering. She’d studied this because math made sense. Buildings made sense. Looking to use people for money didn’t make sense. She refused to go down that road.

  “They are ready to see you. Please step this way.” The receptionist opened the door for her. Bouncing up from her seat, she tightened her fists. She’d get through this and impress the people.

  With confidence in her step, she walked into the room. The chair waited in the middle, again. She kept her head up and smiled at the three people while heading to the center. The fourth one in the middle had his head down, but her eyes narrowed, taking in his sandy blond hair. Her eyes sharpened on Jay writing something down on yellow paper.

  Her heels froze in place. The woman told her, “Have a seat, Ms. Knightheart.”

  His blue eyes flew up in shock, while she sucked in her lower lip, unmoving. Calling out, he told everyone, “Get out now. Penny, stay.”

  Crossing her arms, she jutted out her chin. “No.”

  The three people flew past her out the door. Sucking air in her nostrils, she turned to leave but he blocked her way.

  Jay’s big eyes opened before he took her arm in his hand. “Why are you here? You have a job.”

  Pulling away, she yelled, “No, I don’t, but that’s hardly the biggest secret between us. Why is my name on the door?”

  He inched closer to her, but she stepped backward, shaking her head.

  Dropping his hands to his side, he smiled. “Penny, wait. The job beside me is yours. It always has been.”

  Her legs planted themselves in a wide stance while she put her hands on her hips. “So you manipulate me, get people to not tell me about your company, and all the while think I’m beside you? Jay, everything has been a lie.”

  He ran his hands through his hair. “What happened to your job?”

  She threw her hands to her sides and made loud clapping sounds. “The position was terminated before I ever started there.”

  Jay took a step closer to her, but she took a step back. He kept his chin up. “Where have you been?”

  She bit her lip then answered, “Working at a pizza shop.”

  His voice was low. “Penelope, I named my company after you.”

  Penelope Financial. She dropped her hands and her body shook a little. She covered her face. She was becoming her mother. She couldn’t look at him in the eyes. “’Cause you saw me as the biggest idiot you ever met?”

  He brushed her arms, stepping closer. “Because you were the one person in my life that didn’t use me for my money. You liked me.”

  Turning away from him, she covered her face with her hands. “No. You’re not going to manipulate me anymore. I’m so tired of lies and money and how people use it to get what they want. I liked you for you, but you turned me into my mother, using your money to keep me.”

  Leaning into her, he told her, “Stop.”

  “I called the student loan company.” Her chin trembled.

  He froze in place.

  A whimper escaped her lips, but she couldn’t. Pushing him away, she raced out the door. Her heart beat so rapidly, and she didn’t know what to do. Flinching when she heard his office door open behind her, she ran into the elevator. Alone, her chest caved in. She had to go somewhere.

  He’d find her at home. No. She only had one place left to go.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Staring at her mother’s driveway, she collapsed on the wheel. Most women got to come home to loving mothers who listened. Must be nice to be them. Sucking in her breath, Penny stepped out. The tightness in her chest transformed to her heart pounding. She stepped out, rolled up her sleeves, and intended to yell. Geneva had plotted something, and Penny needed to end it. She’d never be her.

  Flexing her fingers, she buzzed the doorbell. Her lips curled and the humidity only added to the heat growing inside her.

  Jay shouldn’t pay for her. Pounding at her mother’s door, she heard the scurrying footsteps inside. “Open up, Mom.”

  Her mother opened the door, letting a cool breeze of air cond
itioning out. “Penny, I didn’t expect to see you.”

  She pushed past her into the house. “I’m here to talk.”

  Her mother smiled. “I’m surprised. We should be celebrating your success, not fighting.”

  Her hands curled into fists. “Mom. What were you doing with Mrs. Marshall the other morning?”

  Geneva shook her head. “Talking about you and Jay. But you are asking the wrong questions. Let me go get us something to toast with.”

  Throwing her hands in the air, she yelled, “I’m not toasting with you. What were you both plotting, Mom?”

  “Again with the wrong question and focusing on the wrong things, sweetheart. His mother and I were having a disagreement. I want you to have his child. She wants you out of his life, but she’ll let you stay, if I help her out.”

  Sweat formed on her back while she swept her hands through her hair. She’d never get to be with Jay or have his child. Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought that back when she yelled, “With what? What did she want you to do?”

  Her mother answered, “With a project, honey. Have you had lunch?”

  Penny glared at her. “What project?”

  “Borrowing his tablet. It was easy today. I walked into your place, took his tablet, and gave it to her. Now she won’t object to you both getting together, so you should be happy.”

  Crossing her arms, she snapped, “Mom. Arrghh.”

  “Sit down, Penny. We have to talk.”

  Her mother’s knowing eyes sent coldness into her. She shook and flinched, wanting to leave now. “Mom?”

  “Sit.” Geneva pointed to a seat. Licking her lips, Penny followed orders. Her mother sat next to her, took her clammy hand, and stroked her. “We can’t have you getting upset. Not when my plan is working so well.”

  Her limbs shook inside. She didn’t want to know this. “What did you do, Mom?”

  “Just ensuring you are well settled. You’re my daughter and I want the best for you.”

  Her shoulders became tight staring at her mother’s fake chest, toned skin, and cheery personality. “Stay out of my life, Mom.”

  “Then stay calm and head right back into bed with your sexy, rich boyfriend.”

  Whatever happened, this could not be good. “No. He’s not my boyfriend.”

  “That boy’s in deep when it comes to you, which only shows he has good taste.”

  Covering her ears, she yelled, “Mom, stop it.”

  Her mother’s wide smile reminded her of an animal about to feast. “No. Go home and have a lot more sex.”

  Her voice was shrill. “Why?”

  Petting her knee, her mother gazed calmly into her eyes. “I want grandchildren.”

  Gulping. Her chest hurt. Covering her mouth, she knew. Oh my. “The condoms.”

  Her shoulders fell backward. “I replaced them. Took out the latex and replaced it with a lamb sheath. Paying the man off at the convenience store was easy. They don’t pay them a lot anyhow. I also replaced your vitamins, and his, to ensure you have more than one this first time. We need his swimmers and as many of your eggs fertilized if we intend to get more in child support later.”

  Her mouth fell open before she begged, “Mom. I’m not you. Don’t do this to me.”

  “I did this because I love you, sweetheart. Everything was going well. You should be happy. I’m not saying you ever have to leave him, if you don’t want.”

  She became disoriented. This was too much. Turning away, she spat out, “I’ll never be you.”

  “Fine, but you are my daughter. This is what’s best for you.”

  Squeezing her eyes shut, she yelled, “I hate you.”

  Her mother’s laugh boomed in the air. “Now go back to him.”

  She yelped, “I won’t.”

  Her mother had a gleam in her eyes. Penny stared getting dizzy. What else could she do? Her mother gave her a grin. “You don’t have much of a choice.”

  “What else did you do?”

  “You don’t have any money.”

  The direct eye contact, watching, assessing. She’d been like that with men all her life. Her eyes welled with tears. “Yes. I do. I’m leaving.”

  Her cheeks were wet when Geneva told her, “No, you don’t. I’m your mom and your passwords have been the same since middle school. You don’t have any money. I transferred it to mine.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I took it to ensure you went back to your man.”

  What had she done? She did everything her mother wanted. She shook her head, and her tears burned her cheeks. “How did you get into my building? We have a doorman.”

  Straightening out the wrinkle in her dress, her mother put her chin out. “Ehh, he was eager and I’m your mother. I did what I had to do, sweetheart.”

  Pressing her hands to wipe away the tears, she stood up. “Geneva, we’re done. There is nothing else to say.”

  “Go home, where you belong.”

  The slamming of the door echoed. She needed to scream. She couldn’t be pregnant and she couldn’t go back. No. The tears came back, uncontrollable, as she started the car. How could she let this happen? She knew her mother. She never should have come back.

  She could never look into his eyes. She couldn’t do this. She stopped at the front gate of the community. Jay had one request and her mother had betrayed them both. Picking up her phone, she texted Jay. Your mother stole your tablet. Be careful and goodbye.

  Soon, she headed north on the highway. Sleeping with the gators couldn’t be worse than staying in Miami.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Jay saw her text. Was Penny at home? His heart lifted. If she waited, he’d find her and apologize. Paying off her student loans had been pushy. He bit his lip. Buying her the Jeep had made him happy but not helped.

  Somewhere along the way, he’d enjoyed fixing her life. But he should have kept out. Lately his every other thought went to Penny. He had hoped to make her life happier, not cause problems. He hoped she’d accept his apology.

  He parked his bike in the garage and ran inside. His heart raced in his chest as he waited for the elevator. He glanced around, and his gaze stared at the empty front desk. No doorman? Strange. The elevator door opened, and he ran his key card in the slot for access to home.

  He stared up at the glass ceiling. Penny must have waited. It was a good sign. He ran his hand through his hair and relaxed. She’d forgiven him, then. He paid those loans so they’d both be free if anything happened, not to control her. In fact, part of his thoughts had been if they didn’t work out, he’d not feel so guilty.

  The door opened, and every cell in his body froze.

  Someone barreled toward him and caught him unprepared.

  Then someone clipped his head from behind him.

  He tried to call out Penny’s name as he lost consciousness. He wasn’t sure he succeeded.

  Chapter Thirty

  She pulled her Jeep into the gas station in Jupiter, ninety miles away from the Grove. In her purse she had a little over a hundred dollars in tip money. On that she might make it to Jacksonville. Maybe. She’d likely stop somewhere else. Staring hard at the gas pumps, she slowly began to function again. She wrapped her arms around herself. How could she tell Jay? Her skin crawled while she got out of the Jeep to pay for gas.

  She kept her gaze down. What if she was too late and her mother had won? She had nowhere else to go. Looking up at the night sky, she listened to the sound of silence. The gas fumes kept her grounded. Putting the pump back, she almost tripped.

  She’d be a terrible mother. She couldn’t walk straight. Her hands gripped her elbow until she climbed back into her Jeep. Looking over, she saw her phone vibrating. Her tears stopped flowing, though stayed in the back of her throat. Taking a deep breath while keeping her eyes down, she answered. “Hello?”

  No one said anything. She almost put it down when the message light flashed. Calling herself slow, she listened to the message. “Penny, it’s Sandy.
Please call me back. There has been an emergency.”

  Sandy? Penny’s phone read “call failed” when she dialed her back. Taking one last look at the gas station, she ignored her hot cheeks and eyes. Jay deserved better. And she had no place else. He had to be fine. He better not have been in an accident on that bike of his. Fixing her hair, she turned the car back south on the highway. Once she told him the truth, she’d be fine. Being in the middle of nowhere on a highway, her mind raced with what that message said.

  When she hit West Palm, almost an hour away from home, her phone finally worked. Sandy answered. “Penny, where are you?”

  Sandy shouldn’t have to be burdened with her too. She said, “On my way back. What happened to Jay?”

  “It’s bad. He’s still unconscious.”

  He didn’t deserve that. She flinched. He had to be fine. “Where are you?”

  “Jackson Memorial Hospital.”

  Back in Miami, an hour and a half away. She couldn’t speak for a moment, but she did speed up a little. Her heartbeat raced. The words stayed low, near a whisper. “I’ll be there.”

  “Hurry.”

  She couldn’t ask the right questions. Before she could form the words, Sandy hung up. Her limbs shook when she kept picturing that motorcycle. He couldn’t die.

  Gulping for air. Her fingers gripped the wheel when she found a spot in the garage. Her legs wobbled when she walked through the door. At the front desk, they pointed her to the ninth floor. Getting into the elevator, she fought being dizzy.

  “Penny.”

  Hugging her friend helped stop her thoughts from flying around her head. “Sandy. What happened?”

  Taking her hand, Sandy led her down the hall. “He was found beaten, but he’s awake.”

  Her mouth fell open. “How? Who?”

  Petting her hand, Sandy grimaced before she told her, “At your home. There was a home invasion he interrupted.”

  Her entire body stiffened. Was the doorman sleeping with her mother again? “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  A chest pain hit hard. Her skin tingled. Was her family involved? Biting her lip. She shouldn’t be here.