Page 82 of Santa Has a Six-Pack
“I could have been kinder at that moment,” she says. “I could have been kinder to you in general this past month or so. I’m sorry.”
“Nah. You’re a peach!”
“I think we both know I’m not a peach. A spicy nectarine, maybe.” She laughs.
“You’re perfect, as is, Penny.”
“Back atcha,” she says softly. “Would it be cheesy to say that I’m really glad I texted ‘you up’ tonight?”
“Not at all. I’m really glad you did too.”
I’m feeling grateful right now that she can’t see me grinning like an idiot.
“I should probably go,” she says. “Listen, though,” she starts. “If, um, if it turns out your mom does remember meeting me, and if for some reason the idea of us being together still makes her happy… don’t hesitate to invite me back, okay? Dottie’s been really cool about extending my lunch hour into a lunch ninety minutes, so…”
“You would do that for me?” I say. “I mean for her?”
“Absolutely. We could all use a little more joy at Christmas time, don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” I say on an exhale. “We could.”
“Sweet dreams, Matt.”
“Sweet dreams, Penny.”
Something tells me my dreams tonight will be very sweet. Because they will be filled with visions of her.
Chapter 21
Penny
“Sorry. I need to review this situation one more time,” Keira says. “Because I’m still in shock that you’re doing this willingly.”
We’re walking up the subway steps again in Brooklyn on our way to Matt’s gym, but unlike the last time we did this, when I was grumbling and giving Keira a hard time, now I’m practically skipping my way toward Bossfit in happy anticipation.
“Matt texted me earlier this morning. He said he had a special workout he wanted me to try. And since Tuesdays are my morning off, I figured, why not?”
A pang of guilt moves through me when I’m reminded that I still haven’t planned that overnight visit with my sister like I said I would.
“Did he mean sex?” Keira coos. “Because sex could definitely be the ‘special workout’ he wants you to try.”
“You do air quotes too much,” I say. “And no, you perv. He literally wants to exercise with me.”
“But you hate exercise,” she says.
“That’s not entirely true.”
How do I explain this to her?
“I hate feeling like I have to exercise in a certain way,” I continue. “I certainly want to move my body, but I hate the notion that suffering is somehow noble, or that pain is the only path to being healthy. I mean, do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?”
“Sure, I see your point…”
“Anyway, I expressed a little bit of that to Matt, and I guess now he’s feeling inspired to show me a new approach.”
“And then you’re going to have sex?”
I stop walking and give her a look.
