Page 117 of Here and Now
I push my finger in again, and her head flies back, her arms go limp, and she comes apart, screaming into the pillow.
I can’t hold back anymore. I come so hard, falling onto her back, jerking my hips until there’s nothing left.
Wanting to make sure she’s okay, I reach my hand up and untie the knot. I roll off to the side, careful not to crush her before pulling her to me.
“Are you okay?” I ask, pushing her hair off her face.
She laughs once. “I’m not sure what I am, but that was ... unreal.”
“It was,” I agree.
Her eyes drift down and I know if I lie here, I’ll fall asleep again, and then we’ll have to worry about Kai. So I kiss her nose and extricate myself, needing to toss the condom away, and pull the covers over her.
Penelope nestles in and sighs. I grab my clothes that are thrown around the room—the two of us were in a hurry once I got here—and head into the bathroom.
I clean up, get dressed, and kiss her again, slipping out the front door before I don’t have the strength to walk away.
“You know, passing notes to the girl you like isn’t part of my job description,” Mrs. Hendrix complains as she puts a coffee cup down.
“But you’re so good at it.”
Her one blond brow raises. “Uh-huh. So what’s the deal with you and her anyway? I don’t know much about her, just that she moved here recently.”
“She did, and she has a little boy named Kai. He’s six.”
Mrs. Hendrix watches me as I read the note on the cup.
Date? Yes or No?
I grin and grab my phone to text her.
Yes.
Penelope
When?
You tell me, it was your idea. I have an interview now, let me know the details.
I look up and she’s rolling her eyes. “I’m going to guess it’s a yes?”
“It is.”
“So you’re going to buy more coffee that you won’t drink?”
I nod. “I sure am.”
I’d buy a million coffees that I’d never drink if it means I get to see Penelope and get to be with her.
“You look happy,” she notes.
“That’s because I am.”
“Even with the fact that we start school in a week without faculty we need?”
Yeah, that part isn’t so great, but I’m thinking my luck is going to change. I’m putting that out in the universe, because if there’s not one in this bunch, I’m fucked. And not the good kind.
“It’s going to sort itself out.”
