Page 36 of The Show

“He’s nineteen, he’s just grateful you’re paying him. Also, if he’d built your website properly in the first place, he wouldn’t have to keep fixing it.”

I laughed. “I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but I’m pretty sure the problem is me. Anyway, what’s up?”

The pop and fizz down the line told me she was opening a can of Diet Coke, likely not her first of the day. For a doctor she had an alarming addiction to fizzy drinks.

“Not much, had a break between patients and thought I’d call. Have you heard from Penn by the way?”

I subconsciously jolted at the mention of his name. In fact, since the party two nights ago, little sparks of electricity had zipped through my veins every time I thought of him. It was a new thing, and I still hadn’t figured out why. But I knew it was new because Penn hadn’t ever been someone I’d thought of much, save for the few hours following any occasion I happened to see him, and only because he’d barely say a word to me.

I suspected it probably had to do with the promise I’d made to Lauren, and only because she’d been so desperate, a desperation Penn clearly did not share with her. And if I’d been carrying a reticence about it when I’d made my promise, that had only gotten infinitely heavier following his out of character behavior at the bar on Saturday night when he’d seen Bryce Wexler.

Scratch that.

Not just the bar, everything about Saturday night.

I wanted to explain it away with an excuse that he probably wasn’t acting like himself given that he hadn’t seen his family in months so was understandably out of sorts, but something deep in my gut told me it was more than that... Especially after the way he’d stripped me bare with a glance that scarcely lasted half a second. My body still hadn’t cooled down, no matter how much I’d cranked up the A/C.

“No, why?”

“He’s going to call you about help with the club.”

“Oh…” I ignored the kick of buzzing in my belly. “Hey, did you know Bryce Wexler was at the party on Saturday?”

She gasped. “Oh shit, yes, you dark little horse! Can’t believe you didn’t tell me he asked you out on a date.”

“What? How did you hear that?”

“Penn told me. Actually he was pretty pissed about it. They all were.”

I stopped pulling on the tape. “Who was?”

“The boys.”

“Why?”

“Dunno, something to do with their Tuesday game of basketball. Who knows why boys don’t like each other? They’re all idiots.”

The bubble I didn’t realize had been growing in my chest, popped. Of course, it was boy drama. There couldn’t be any other reason why Penn had behaved like Bryce was about to steal his favorite toy.

“Oh, well, yeah he did. He was super drunk, and then Penn came over and told him to fuck off.”

I didn’t add that he almost pleaded with me not to date him because, well…

“Good for Penn,” Lauren interrupted my thoughts. “At least my brother can do something right at the moment. Anyway, Lowey, let me know if he calls, will you? I’m sure he will. When I left yesterday he seemed excited about owning the club for the first time. It felt like the old Penn was coming back. He and the boys, and Deck were having a proper pow-wow with Gramps on what to do with it. I think it might actually all turn out alright.”

I smiled, genuinely happy that he seemed happier, because it made Lauren happier and worry less. “That’s good. I’ll let you know if he calls, but maybe he won’t. He’ll get everything sorted by himself, I’m sure.”

I held back the sigh of relief. Yes, it would be much simpler all round if Penn managed on his own.

“Maybe, but I’d still feel better if you were helping him.” I heard muffled noises coming from her end of the background, followed by a lot of yelling, “Okay, gotta go. Love you, Lowey. Hope Josh turns up soon!”

“Thanks! Have fun with the kids. Love you.”

I crawled back along the floor to where I’d left my laptop, then realized what I was doing and stood up. I should probably start to unpack, but glancing at my watch I had just enough time to run and grab some coffee before Josh got here. Snatching up my purse, I hurried out the door.

While the world’s slowest iced macchiato was being made, I took the opportunity to call my mom, seeing as I sent her call to voicemail this morning due to it coming through mid-website meltdown, and I hadn’t had the energy to deal with both things at the same time.

“Hi, honey,” she answered.

---