Page 111 of Lucky Penny
A doctor and nurse walk by, chatting loudly, and even though there are phones ringing and machines beeping, it feels too quiet forthisconversation.
“I’ll tell you in the car.” I pull her arm, but Fia grinds her boots into the ground.
“Is everything alright with him? Did he faint, too?”
God, Jesse is right. Us Hanson girls really are drama queens.
“No, he’s good.”Actually he’s great.“I just want to get out of the hospital. Plus, I got you a bagel, it’s in the car.”
This gets her legs moving.
The sun is just peeking in the sky as we meander through the parking lot. I stare at my car, hoping it’s actually further away than it appears. I’m chickening out, but I can’t walk back into that house without Fia knowing the truth. She might vomit, she might be pissed, I have no idea. But she deserves to know.
Plus, Jesse is wearing a navy-blue sweater today that accentuates his forearms and thick tatted neck, and there’s no way I can get through the day without kisses. And ass grabs.
The car is heating up, and I pretend to fidget with something on the dash, but Fia sighs loudly beside me.
“Dude, spit it out already!”
“Fine, fine.” I stop touching the car and put my hands in my lap, twirling the stacks of gold rings on my fingers. Looking everywhere but my sister’s face.“You know how I actedoddwhen I found out Jesse was back?” I begin.
Fia jeers, peering out the window. “By odd, you mean you were a raging bitch?”
I snap my gaze to her, narrowing my eyes, even though she’s not wrong.“Yes. Okay, yes. I was really mad at him. And you deserve to know why.”
“I mean, I think I understand,” she says, her eyes softening as they meet mine. “He was your best friend, then he and Danny got themselves arrested, abandoning you essentially.” Fia checks out her nails like this conversation is already boring.
She won’t think so in a moment.
“Yes…but also...” I bite my lip and start to choke up. “Jesse and I…we weren’t just best friends. We were together, liketogethertogether.” I press my lips shut, waiting for her response.
Fia’s brows raise, and her mouth hangs open, but then she lets out a loud laugh.
“Why are you laughing?” I shove her shoulder, but she keeps laughing.
“I thought I was having stress hallucinations.” She covers her mouth.
“Explain yourself,” I say sternly, and Fia leans her head back, looking over at me, green eyes twinkling.
“I didn’t want to say anything, because if I was wrong, that would’ve been really awkward. But I had my suspicions. I’ve seen you around other guys, Penny, and you’ve never acted likethat.”
I gape at her. “Like what!”
Fia hesitates for a minute. “So, don’t take this the wrong way...”
That doesn’t help my shoulders ease, but I continue listening.
“You’re usually relaxed, an easy flirt. But with Jesse, you were so worked up. So awkward. And mean.”
“I wasn’tawkward. Orthatmean.”
“No, it all makes sense, honestly,” she continues. “I might’ve had no idea when I was a kid, but you do realize I’m twenty-one now?” She raises her eyebrows.
I sigh a little breath of relief. She’s not mad, at least she doesn’t seem like it.
“Well, now you know…. I told Danny yesterday, he kind of had the same reaction as you. Nan never knew, though.”
“First, that’s a miracle you kept it from Nan. But also, I can’t believe you felt like you couldn’t tell me. You know I wouldn’t judge you. That’s part of oursisters rule, remember?”
