Page 9 of In For a Penny
North Face Guy’s real name turned out to be Josh Fox. And I was right. He is from Northern California—Palo Alto, to be precise. Josh and I share a similar background—both Political Science majors from small liberal arts schools, interned in D.C., and recently uncoupled. I bonded the most with him out of everyone in the group of people I’d met. I don’t know much about his breakup, but he seems as beat up about it as I feel. The sweetest-looking of the bunch, he looks like the type of person that would dedicate his life to his significant other—make them his everything.
Intense.
Then there’s Jane, a sarcastic and wild girl around my age from Manchester. She has long blonde hair down her back and the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Oliver was definitely into her as well, but his advances were deterred once he found out two things. The first, Jane is in a long-distance relationship. Second, she is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and could easily kick his ass if she needed to. We became friends instantly.
It’s so refreshing to get out there and meet new people in a new city. I’ve been to London once before but never like this. I was only here to visit a few schools.
I consider myself a die-hard New Yorker, through and through, but I can see the London appeal, even after having been here only for a couple of days.
I can do this. I can make it work here. I can restart my life here and figure shit out. It’s my time to enjoy whatever life throws at me!
I sigh.
Jesus Christ.I better make this work.
“Oh, darling, are you tired?”Oliver asks in a mocking tone. I realize that I have unconsciously leaned my head on Oliver’s shoulder. I can’t blame my drunk ass for doing it since he smells nice and his broad shoulders looked comfy.
Spoiler alert: they are.
“Oops, I’m sorry.” I yawn.
“Not boring you, am I?” he asks.
“Nope, not you, sorry. Just exhausted with the move and all,” I say, fighting back another yawn. I crack my neck. “Honestly, I’m just a little overwhelmed by everything I have to do before classes start.” I need to finish buying apartment necessities.
“Want to have a sleepover? I know several ways I could help relax you right now.” He smiles his lascivious smile.
I laugh softly. “Nah, Oliver. Thanks for the offer—again.” I roll my eyes. Would it even be possible to be his friend without going a day without rolling my eyes at him? They’re going to remain permanently stuck in that position.
He chuckles.
“I’ll get to you one day, babe. Until then, you know you—” He stops as he notices his phone vibrate on the table. “One sec—it’s my girlfriend,” he says calmly as he stands from the table to take his call.
I feel like my jaw drops almost all the way to China. Chloe, a witness to our conversation, starts to laugh. “Is he fucking kidding me right now?” I say, pointing toward Oliver with my thumb over my shoulder. “He’s been hitting on Jane and me all day and night, and he has agirlfriend?!” Chloe erupts into a fit of giggles.“Chloe! This is not cool! As a woman, you should—”
“Penny,” she says, catching her breath. “Penny, love, they’re in a very,verymuch open relationship.”
“Huh? People seriously do that?” I am baffled.
“Yes, babe,” I hear Oliver say from behind me. I look over as he returns to his seat and faces me. “You jealous?” He kisses me on the cheek, and I swat at him.
I sigh. I’ve only known Oliver for a few hours and already know that hewouldthink that.
“Sorry—how in the hell did you manage that?” Josh asks, smirking. “I don’t think I haveeverheard of a successful open relationship before.”
“Managethat?” Oliver scoffs. “She was the one who demanded it!”
I laugh once incredulously.
“Surely she did it so you wouldn’t leave her, and it makes her feel uncomfortable? Maybe she felt pressured? No woman would be one-hundred percent okay with it.” I would die. I would not be able to handle myself in a relationship like that. There is no way I would be secure enough to handle that arrangement.
“Dude…” Josh says with a stunned look in his eyes, “are you dating a unicorn?”
“Awhat?” Jane asks, shocked.
“A unicorn. A goddamn unicorn!” Josh exclaims, excited. He looks like he’s about ready to jump from his seat. “An attractive woman who provides all the emotional support and benefits of a girlfriend and gives you the freedom to sleep with other girls without any jealousy or fighting. Dude,pleasetell me you’re dating a unicorn,” he says, clasping his hands in front of him in a begging motion.
Jesus Christ, will boys ever grow into men?
