Page 163 of On a Fault Line

So could I.

And that’s what the underlying problem is to all of this. I’m stitching the threads between us with all these little moments, only making it harder for myself when it all ends.

When Penny’s skin is all wrinkly and the water loses most of its heat, I grab a fluffy towel and wrap it around her.

Picking her up, I carry her into the bedroom and help her into her pajamas.

Pulling back the covers, I get her underneath and comfortable.

“I’m going to get some work done in my office, but I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay,” she says with another yawn. “I’ll wait up for you.”

My lips curve up. “We’ll see about that.”

Bending forward, I give her a kiss to her forehead before exiting her room to go make a few phone calls and check my email.

Seeing a voice message from Graham, I lock my door and return his call.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“How’s Penny?”

“She’s okay.” I deliberately try to be vague.

“I’m concerned she’s going to get sick through the night after all the drinking she did tonight. And I imagine her roommate is working late?”

“Yeah, I thought the same thing.” I swallow. I hate lying.

“Can you please check on her?”

“I actually have her with me in the guest room so I can keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t throw up again. She’s done it once already. I am overly cautious, so I thought this would be best.”

I feel like such an asshole.

“Thanks, man. You’ll make sure she replenishes and stays hydrated?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay, good. I appreciate it.”

When I get off the phone, I take a few long breaths. I have Penny here because I’m a possessive asshole who gets off on being in control. But it’s not like I can tell Graham that there would be no way in hell I’d allow Penny to be anywhere but with me after all the overindulging she did with the girls at the strip club.

She needs a keeper.

And I’m all too content providing her those services.

Cracking open my email, I sift through all the junk that somehow sneaks into my inbox, filtering out what I need to see right now and what can wait for a later time.

I stay absorbed in work, answering messages and setting up some future meetings.

When my eyes are glazing over from looking at the screen too long in the dimmed light of the room, I am startled by the sound of a high-pitched moan echoing down the hall.

Penny…

Rushing to get to her, I push open my master bedroom door, and in the shadowy darkness, I see a little ball in the center of the bed, wrapped haphazardly in the fluffy comforter. Her legs peek out from the bottom, and I imagine this is not very comfortable.

Moving closer, I see the goose bumps on her exposed flesh. Grabbing my phone, I open the thermostat app and change the settings to provide more heat. Then I grab a fleece blanket from the chair along the edge of the room and kneel on the bed to cascade it over Penny’s chilled body.

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