Page 18 of A Reaper's Secret

August had known about them Sunday, andtoday was Monday.

She turned to look at her friend. “Fromwho?”

“Everyone,” Penelope said. “Is it true?”

She stared at her friend, waiting for theright words to tell her, and then Penelope gasped.“Oh, my, it istrue.”

Amy smiled at her. The truth was, she didn’t have a clue whatto say, other than she was totally right. August had to be thebiggest town gossip around.

Penelope let out a little squeal and took aseat opposite her. “You’re going to have to tell meeverything.”

“Why?” Amy asked.

“Simple, it’s rare for you to have any kind of fun, andknowing you do, well, it makes you more human to me.”

Amy couldn’t help but chuckle. “Wow, Iwouldn’t want to be less human to you.”

“Come on, Amy. I need this.”

“Again, I have to ask why?”

Her friend opened her mouth, then closed it, then frowned. “Idon’t know, but I feel like I need it. Come on, please, please,help a girl out here.”

“I’m not sure how this is going to help youout. You’re always dating and I never ask you for advice,tips, hints, orwhatever.”

Penelope waved her hand in the air. “That’sbecause you and I both know you’re much better off. It’s not likeI’m having a serious relationship with any of these bozos.” Sheshrugged. “You and Daniel, however, that is like the closest thingto true love I’ve ever seen.”

“Wait, hold up a minute here. If you haveno care for the men you go to bed with, why do you act likeit’s the end of theworld when they leave?” Amy didn’t want to be cruel, but she trulybelieved any kind of tact had to be out the window.

“It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”

“But you expect it.”

“So.”

Amy shook her head. “You know I don’tunderstand why you do it, don’t you?”

Penelope began to chuckle. “I know you’rebeing evasive out of concern for me, but you really do need to stopand understand that I, at this moment in time, want to talk aboutyou and Daniel. I’ve seen the two of you dance this dance, and nowyou’re getting sexy with each other.”

Amy frowned. “Please don’t call itthat.”

“Are you embarrassed or something?” Penelopeasked. “Was the sex bad?”

She rolled her eyes at her friend. “Okay,you just said I never talk about any of my experiences ever,right?”

“Yeah, I know, but that was because youwere keeping it secret when you were doing that older guy.”

Amy laughed. It was strange but she didn’teven feel embarrassed. She’d never been one to talk about her sexual experiences, andDaniel was no exception.

“Why did you want to keep it a secret?”Penelope asked, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

She finished her cookie, gathering up thecrumbs in the square of tissue she had placed in front of her on the desk. Shedidn’t like mess, but she did love a good cookie.

“I don’t know, it just happened.Living in a town where everyoneknows everyone and meddles with everything, it was nice to be withsomeone without all the finger-pointing and judgment.”

“And the finger-pointing and judgment now?” Penelopeasked.

“I think Daniel and I can handle it.”

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