Page 28 of One Pucking Wish

“Got it.”

Penny draws a card and bites her lip as she stares at the cards in her hands. I can almost see the wheels in her head turning, trying to figure out her next move. At this moment, she looks young and precious—a far cry from her badass, tough-as-nails businesswoman persona she normally wears. The red ringlets that fall in front of her shoulders and her perfect, makeup-free skin add to the illusion of innocence. Truthfully, it’s hard to believe the woman I know is the same one sitting across from me.

“I never pictured you as a card game type of person,” I say.

She shrugs. “I haven’t played in probably ten years. I used to play all the time with someone when I was young. He loved card games.” She grins.

“An old boyfriend?”

“We were friends first, but then, yeah, we dated.”

“And you broke up?” This room must be enchanted because not only do I barely recognize Penny, I don’t recognize myself. Who is this man asking questions about an old boyfriend?

She pins me with a stare. “No, we’re still together. I should probably remind him of that since he just proposed to someone else.”

“Very funny,” I deadpan. “Well, it sounds like you’re still friends, then.”

She shakes her head. “No, not really. I mean, I’m forced to attend his wedding this summer. I went to a small high school and my entire graduating class will be there. Considering how close Tucker and I were, people would notice if I wasn’t there.”

“Do you want to go to the wedding?”

“No.”

“Because you still have feelings for him?”

She scoffs. “No because I don’t care about any of those people anymore. That part of my life is in the past.”

“Then don’t go.”

“Easier said than done.”

I shrug. “Not really. It’s really easy not to do something you don’t want to do.”

She pulls her eyes from her cards and holds my stare. “Why do you care? In fact, why are you asking all these questions? Aren’t you the one who doesn’t want to talk about anything?”

“I don’t care.” I lean back against the headboard, the features of my face, unmoving.

“Well, if you keep asking me questions, expect the same. Tit for tat. It’s only fair,” she says.

“I’ll save you the trouble. No, I never played rummy with an ex-boyfriend, and no, I won’t be attending any weddings this summer.”

“I get to pick the questions.”

“I don’t think so.”

She drops the pile of cards in her hand onto the discard pile. “This sucks. Doesn’t it?”

“Yeah.” I follow suit and toss the cards in my hand atop hers. “It does.”

“Can you put those away?” She nods to the playing cards. “I’m going to make some calls.”

Grabbing her phone, she heads into the bathroom and closes the door.

Mascots are weird, I think as I put away the teal and royal blue cards. Who chooses a weird-looking whale in the shape of the letter C as their mascot? Then again, we have a frail Sandhill Crane, a bird that wouldn’t win in a fight against a squirrel, as ours.

I toss the package of stupid cards, and they land atop a big box of toilet paper before sliding to the floor. Blowing a breath, I position my arms behind my neck and lie back on the bed. Penny chatters away in the bathroom as I stare at the ceiling. I’m so antsy and ready to get out of this room and back home. It was fine for the first day and a half when it consisted of loads of hot sex. But now, I’m officially over it.

Penny takes forever, talking on the phone in the bathroom. Unable to stare at the ceiling any longer, I make my way to the bathroom and open the door just as Penny places her phone on the countertop.

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