Page 35 of Lucky Penny
I slide onto the barstool, open the container, and laugh. Despite her bratty behavior, which isn’t totally unwarranted, she actually ordered my favorite meal. Sesame chicken with heaps of rice and broccoli.
As I dig in, I know that my chances of talking her into visiting Danny are off the table today. I’ll try again another day.
The food is good, better than the lunchmeat sandwiches I’ve been making for dinner every night. Tank seems to think so, too, because he’s watching me from his dog bed in front of the fireplace, drooling. He knows better than to beg, but he’ll certainly stare like he’s never eaten a day in his life.
“Do those eyes work on Fia?” I ask like he’ll respond, and his gray ears perk up at her name. His big brown eyes settle on the back door in anticipation of her return.
I’ve been replaced by a girl who wraps my dog in fleece blankets and kisses him goodnight. I’m pretty sure if I ever move out, she’s going to steal him with little resistance from Tank.
My phone buzzes on the counter.
“Speak of the devil,” I mutter.
Fia:How’s it going?? Penny promised me she’d chill out, so I hope y’all are having fun!
I look around the kitchen, the silence thick. The aftermath of being alone with Penny.
Jesse:She got me dinner…a peace offering I think? Penny can be…
Fia:ruthless?
She has her reasons. But I’m not giving up
Jesse:Nothing I can’t handle
Fia:I’m so sorry, I feel like this is my fault. Fingers crossed for you!
My chest cracks a little. I flip my phone face down, scrubbing my palm across my jaw.
Could it be possible that I’mnotthe reason Penny’s pissed?
Maybe she has a boyfriend and they’re going through a rough patch, and I’m just the easiest target to take it out on. Maybe someone else hurt her—though that thought doesn’t sit any better with me.
It would be insane if she’s gone ten years without a serious boyfriend, though, right?
Ten minutes pass with those thoughts swirling in my head, and I take the last bite of dinner and look over at my dog.
“Wish me luck, boy.”
His eyebrows shift, but he doesn’t follow as I shove off the stool and take the stairs two at a time, adrenaline lighting up my veins.
This time, I’m not leaving without a real conversation.
Penny can hold grudges and push me away all she wants, but Fia and Danny are the closest things to family I still have. Fia deservessomeone she can depend on, and I want to be able to look her in the eye tomorrow and say I gave it my best shot to smooth shit over with her sister.
When I came back here, I didn’t know what would happen with Penny and me. Truthfully, I thought it would take months to even figure out how to navigate talking to her again, given how things ended between us. Mending the fence, so to speak.
But I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect that seeing her would ignite something in me the way it has. Something uncontrollable.
I knock—three sharp raps on the oak door between us.
It’s silent for a few seconds before I hear shuffling.
The door cracks open, and Penny’s standing there in a baby-blue cropped hoodie, sleep shorts that really should be considered panties, and white fluffy socks up to her knees. I school my face, trying not to check her out. Trying harder not to physically react.
“I made a promise to Fia, and I intend to keep it,” I say, point-blank.
Her gaze flickers atpromise, something all I do is break in her mind, but I keep my composure. I know I have to gain back her trust, but I can’t do that if she doesn’t even let me try.
