Page 95 of Somewhere You Belong

After a long day of painting and sanding cupboards, Penn comes up to me, wiping sweat from his brow. We both look like a mess, but the house is coming along nicely.

After the game on Saturday, he followed me home and helped me take the doors off the kitchen cupboards, preparing them for paint, and all day today we’ve been working around each other, trying to knock out the first coat on the doors and the frame of the cupboards in the kitchen before he starts on the hardwood floors this week.

“The cupboards are turning out great.” He eyes the slabs of wood lying on the floor I’ve covered with sheets.

“Thanks. I really like the navy blue. I think it was the right color choice.”

“I agree. And once the white marble countertops get here, the color contrast will be perfect for the house.”

“I think so too.” Pushing my hair out of my face, I stare up at him. “Any word on the roofing materials?”

“They should be delivered this coming weekend, so I can get that done next week. Dallas will probably come over and help me.”

It was only a matter of time before one of us brought him up. “Oh, good.”

Penn chuckles. “That’s all you have to say?”

“Was I supposed to say something else?”

He crosses his arms over his chest, staring at me intently. “I don’t know. How about you tell me what’s going on with my brother?”

“What has he said to you?” I mimic his stance.

“Nope. I asked you first.”

Sighing, I drop my hands and busy myself with cleaning up my mess for the day. The paint needs to dry before I can do my second coat, and I can’t look at Penn or he might see right through me. “Nothing is going on. We’re adults. We’re having fun.” I sneak a peek at him as his brow furrows. “What?”

“What about the house?”

I turn my back to him. “What about it?”

“You know what, Willow. He wants it, still does. But now?”

I spin back to face him. “He’s the one that pursued me, Penn. And for once, I gave into the moment. Do I regret it? No. But…”

Penn shakes his head. “It makes this complicated.”

“You have no idea,” I mutter under my breath as I stare out the front window at the ocean.

“If you’re going to leave, you have to sell this house to him, Willow. At least give him that.”

My eyes snap to his. “I haven’t decided anything yet, okay? And don’t you think Dallas would be pissed if he knew you were talking to me about this?”

“I don’t give a shit about what my brother thinks, but I am going to look out for him.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Penn drops his arms now, his expression softening. “He’s different now, Willow, and it started when you walked into town. My brother has been through some shit. Hell, my entire family has. But since we were kids, he’s wanted this house, and when he finally gets the chance, you show up. Dallas doesn’t let people in. Trust me, I know. I’ve watched him keep blinders on for years, until you made him drop them.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I guess I’m just asking you not to hurt him.”

Swallowing down the lump in my throat that formed from his admission, I say, “What makes you think I’m the one that will hurt him?”

“Because I see the way he looks at you, and I know that look all too well.”

I tilt my head at him. “You mean the same way you look at Astrid?”

Penn freezes. “That’s irrelevant.”

“No it’s not. It’s very much the same.”

---