Page 165 of On a Fault Line

PENNY

“How is the goal setting going for you?” Margo asks, leaning back in her chair and propping her feet up on her coffee table.

I think back over my list. I’ve done so many things from it that I almost forgot just how much. I’ve learned to drive. I’ve moved out. I’ve made some friends. I’ve kissed a boy and have been ravished.

“It’s going pretty well.”

She sits up straighter. “Yeah? Tell me more.”

“I don’t know what else to say. I made a list, and I checked things off.”

Margo smiles. “Well, now it’s time to keep adding to it. Maybe challenge yourself even more. Just don’t be impulsive with your new goals. Make sure you think them through and keep them realistic.”

I nod, as several ideas come to mind. I definitely need to have some soul-searching time to figure out how to tell Collins that I don’t want our time to end.

I want to tell him that he’s my forever person.

He’s the one I want to be with in this life.

Grabbing my purse from the end table, I push myself up from the couch and give Margo a wave. “See you next time.”

“See you next time. Oh, and Penny?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m really proud of you.”

“Thank you,” I say, getting choked up over the last word.

When I get out into the hall, I find Collins leaning up against the far wall.

“How did it go?”

“Pretty well.”

“Yeah?”

My smile can’t be contained. “Yeah.”

“Then let’s go celebrate.”

Collins looks so eager that I don’t want to convince him that a successful therapy session may not actually warrant a celebration. So I just go with the flow and follow him to his SUV, parked along the street.

He helps me into my side and straps me in.

“I am capable of doing this, you know?”

“I enjoy taking care of you, Princess.”

It was just a few days ago when I wondered what he would call me after the contract ended. Would I go back to being Miss Hoffman? Would I be allowed to be called Penny?

But I can no longer visualize an end to us, despite that being part of the original plan, so I just don’t ask.

I’m not ready to say goodbye, and I know Collins isn’t either. He has proven that to me in so many ways, so many times.

And I believe everything he has yet to say. I know deep down that he wants what I want, but neither of us is prepared to put it out there yet in word form.

When Collins shuts my door and makes it into the driver’s side seat, I’m already crossing and uncrossing my ankles in anticipation of what will be happening next.

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