Page 29 of Someone You Deserve

“It’s not a competition, Grady. Penn has just been around more. That’s not your fault.”

“Yeah, but I could be around more now.”

I place a hand on his shoulder and squeeze. “Then come around more. Like tonight. It was nice catching up with you.”

“Yeah, sis. It was nice catching up with you too. But do me a favor?”

“Okay…”

“Don’t marry Dick, okay?”

I snort. “All right.”

“I just can’t get behind your last name being Cockwell.”

And even though I don’t say it, I don’t think I could get behind that idea either. But going out with the man can’t hurt, right? It might be nice to eat a meal I didn’t have to cook and enjoy some adult company for the evening. Getting dressed up and having a man’s full attention sounds nice too.

“I’ll let you know if it gets to that point.”

“I doubt it will. Besides, you deserve better than that. Brandon wouldn’t approve of him either.”

Yeah, something tells me that Brandonreallywouldn’t approve of the man I actually want.

Chapter five

Penn

“Here you go, Mrs. Owens.” I hand her the receipt from the register and watch her shove it in her purse. “Do you want help out to your car?”

“Yes, that would be lovely, Penn.” She smiles warmly at me as I come around the counter to grab her cart. Mrs. Owens is in her seventies and the last thing I want to do is watch her hurt herself on my watch. I push the cart with one hand and hold her up with the other, leading her out the front door of the store and to her car.

“Where’s Baron today?” I ask as I load the bags into her trunk. Harriet Owens is married to Baron, one of the old men who play darts at Catch & Release every Friday night.

“Oh, he’s supposed to be cleaning out his side of the closet so you can start on those shelves next week for us.” She waggles her finger in the air. “And if he’s not, he’s going to be in for an ass kicking when I get home.”

My eyes drop to her cane and I find myself wondering if it’s just a prop she uses to keep her husband in line. If so, I’m impressed. “Should I text him and let him know you’re on your way?”

She swats at me with the cane. “Don’t you dare!”

I hold my hands up in surrender. “Don’t worry. I know who’s in charge.”

“That’s right. I’m the one that writes the checks too, Penn. Don’t forget that.” Laughing, I help her settle into the driver’s seat. “So, when are you gonna find a woman to boss you around?”

“Oh, I don’t know…”

“What about Astrid? I assume you two have been bumping uglies this entire time, but…” She shrugs and I nearly choke on my tongue.

“Bumping uglies?”

“I don’t know what you young people call it these days, but you’re always together.”

“Yeah, well, in case you forgot, she was married to my best friend,” I say, lowering my voice.

Harriet shrugs. “So what? Life’s short, Penn. I met Baron through Harold, who was both his best friend and my boyfriend at the time,” she admits, surprising me even further. Harold is one of Baron’s darts buddies. I know they were all in the Marines together, but this piece of information is news to me.

“Really?”

“Yep. And Janet and I were friends before that,” she says, referring to Harold’s wife. “Love can be messy sometimes, but it’s worth it. When you find the right person, you figure it out together and it all just becomes part of your story.”

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