Page 10 of Shadow Running
She stared at her plate.“His name’s Salvatore, but he goes by Salva.He’s an artist.He’s also the teacher’s assistant for an art class.We had coffee after class let out and…” She paled.“There’s something about him that I can’t get out of my mind.I’ve talked to him before and each time, there seemed to be some sort of chemistry there, but tonight…tonight we…”
“Youzinged?”We’d just watched the Hotel Transylvania franchise a couple weeks ago.
Penn nodded.“Wezinged.At least I did.And that frightens me.”
“Why?”I asked.
“Because I’ve never felt like this.I’ve never met anyone who has captivated me as much as he does.I’m afraid that I’ll like him too much.I’ve rejected a lot of men.I always try to be gracious, I try to make sure they know it’s me, not them.Though a few, trust me, were assholes.But what I’m saying is that I haven’t been a jerk about it.I always let them down easy.But what do I do if I fall for this guy and then he drops me?”
I put down my fork and knife.“Penn, if you fall for him and he drops you, you’ll live.If you fall for him and he falls for you, then yay.If you fall for him and then decide you aren’t interested, he’ll live.But if you never do anything about your feelings, then you’re letting fear rule your life.”
“I don’t want that,” she said.“I’ve had my fill of being afraid.After the mess with the kidnapping, I pulled back.I think I was in a bout of PTSD.But I’m tired of dimming my shine, if you know what I mean?”
“I know,” I said.I leaned my elbows on the table and gave her a soft smile.“Penn, you don’t have to be afraid of karma—or whatever you want to call it.You’re not a bad person.Just because somebody likes you, you aren’t obligated to say yes to them.And because you’ve put off a lot of guys, it doesn’t make you a bad person.It means you weren’t interested in them and you didn’t want to lead them on.”
“When you put it that way, I feel better,” she said.“I never want to give anybody hope when I know it’s not going to happen.”
“What’s so special about Salva, do you think?”If Penn found herself intrigued by a guy, he had to have one hell of a lot going for him.
She paused, then shook her head.“I don’t know, to be honest.We talked for an hour and I can’t even remember what we said.The time flew by.He only left because he had to meet with his professor to talk over the lesson plan.”After a moment, she added, “If he asks me out, I’ll sayseeeee yes.”
“I hope it works out for the best—regardless of what that outcome is.I think you owe it to yourself to explore this.You felt something for him, and that happens so rarely that you need to pay attention to it.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”She gave me a hopeful look.Penn was so self-confident that it almost hurt watching her enter awkward territory.But if I pushed her a little bit now, she’d be able to shake off the indecision.
“If he asks, go.Or ask him out.If it’s bad, you can always leave, but you can’t take it any further if you don’t give it a chance in the first place.”I reached across the table as she moved to carry her plate into the kitchen.“I’ll clean up.It’s my turn, and you cooked us such a wonderful dinner.”I shooed her off to the living room while I cleared the table and rinsed the dishes, stacking them in the dishwasher.
After dinner, we settled in front of the TV, along with a deck of cards.We played an old card game—Canasta—and watched a comedy period piece.Chatting about nothing in particular, we managed a quiet evening, which was a rare and precious gift.
CHAPTERFOUR
Penn camewith me to work, since we were heading out to examine the haunted house at ten.As we left the house, Murdoch and Jangles decided to protest, letting out loud, piercing yowls.As I closed the door behind us, we paused, waiting.There were a few straggling wails but within a couple minutes, the pair quieted down.
“Melodrama, much?”Penn asked.
I laughed.“Yeah, but you know full well they’re fine when we go to work.They’re quite the little actors.”
When we reached the office, Sophia had a card ready for us to sign, for Orik and Hilda.We’d finally decided on an office-wide basket of goodies, including a gift certificate for a couples spa massage, a month’s diaper service for after Ana left, a gift certificate for a fancy dinner for two, served in their home, Hilda’s favorite chocolate and perfume, teddy bears for the babies, dolls for the younger twins, and then jewelry-making kits for the older twins.
I signed the card.Sophia offered it to Penn.
“I didn’t contribute,” Penn said.“I’d be happy to, but?—”
“You know them, too.Just sign,” Sophia said, winking at her.“This comes out of the office funds.There’s coffee and pastries over on the counter.”
Penn signed, then headed over to the counter.“Want anything to eat, Kyann?”
We’d stopped on the way to work for coffee, so we had our lattes, and we’d had a couple egg bites for breakfast that Penn had made and frozen, so we could microwave them.But it hadn’t been all that substantial.
“Are there any bear claws?”I asked.
“Looks like it.”She handed me a plate with a bear claw, while choosing a cinnamon roll for herself.As she sat down next to me, Carson entered the room.He waved, smiling until he saw Penn.Then, his smile faded a little, but a second later he had recovered and took a seat next to Dante.He was still carrying a crush, I noticed.
Sophia opened her laptop and brought up a Meet-Me chat room.A moment later, Lazenti connected.There were no windows in his room, and everything was shadowed, protected from the sunlight.He waved, sitting at what looked to be a desk in a living room.
“Hey.Wish I could be there in person,” he said.
I sighed.“I wish you could, too.”I paused, then added, “Orik’s wife had her babies.We’re heading over to examine a haunted house at ten this morning.But I have a job for you on a pro bono case.I’m helping out Benny?—”
