Chapter 26 Isn’t It Obvious? #2
He sits back, gathering himself, and on a deep inhale, he says, “By the way. I think this coffee is poisonous.”
My laugh echoes out over the lake. The sky’s getting darker, and all the homes on the far shore look like Christmas ornaments nestled among tall, frost-covered trees.
Penn lifts his arm, an invitation, and I scoot closer to rest against his chest, his arm settling quietly over my shoulders like freshly fallen snow. Like a fresh start.
—
After we run through a list of errands, Penn gives me a ride to the bowling alley, where Ryan and I plan to meet and relive our glory days.
Part of me wants to ask Penn to join us, but a bigger part of me is afraid of what Ryan would read all over my face if the three of us were together.
My brother knows I’m spending more time with Penn, and he’s grateful we’re getting along.
I’m not quite sure how he’d react to seeing hearts in my eyes, though, and I’m not going to cross that complicated emotional bridge until I know what’s on the other side.
Penn pulls over in front of Lakeville Bowl, doing a far better job than me at parallel parking. I expect him to just stop and let me out, but instead he grabs something from the backseat and stuffs it into his pocket before he gets out and rounds the car to open my door.
I step out and stand in front of him, surprised by his sweet expression.
“Fair warning,” Penn says. “I’m about to be earnest.” He grips the top of the passenger door with one hand, holding my gaze.
“Thank you. For all your help. I’ve been so busy the past couple months, and I’ve wanted so badly to do this right, but I didn’t know how I’d ever get there.
I never would’ve asked for help—but it’s been… you…”
His voice catches with nerves. I’ve never seen Penn this nervous.
I want to take his face in my hands and reassure him that he can say anything to me.
That I want every true and honest part of him.
I want to tell him that he makes me braver, like a heightened version of myself.
That being with him is like rolling down the windows and turning up the music and letting my heart feel everything on full blast.
His curls spill through the small half-circle opening in his backward hat, and I can’t resist reaching up to brush my thumb along the strap, sweeping his hair sideways.
Our eyes lock, and Penn’s lips part.
“You’re welcome,” I say, grinning. I shove my hand into my pocket before it can tug at Penn’s belt loop against my will. “And you would’ve gotten here eventually. I just sped everything up a bit. Not sure if you know this, but patience isn’t my virtue.”
His gaze drifts across my face. “Really. How can I pay you back?”
My brain shuffles through inappropriate responses. Love me. Be with me. Play my arm like a sexy clarinet. I shrug. “Just consider it an act of service.”
His eyes spark. “Fascinating choice of words.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, as if I don’t know.
He looks away as his grin breaks loose, trying and failing to bite it back. When he meets my eyes again, he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out what looks to be a pile of beads, dropping them into my palm.
“Penn, did you make me a friendship bracelet?”
He shakes his head. “It’s for your car. Your rearview mirror.”
My breath catches. I look up at him, at his boyish grin, my heart clenching as he gives me a small, crinkly eyed smile.
Smugly, knowingly, he lifts a shoulder and says, “It seemed easier than trying to tie-dye your sedan.”
I stare at Penn, and it’s as if we’ve leapt into another timeline. With my heart pounding, I study the colorful beads in my hand, twirling a holographic sphere that looks an awful lot like a disco ball.
I clutch the beads in my fist and swallow down a lump, trying to regain my composure. I can’t cry over a car charm. “Thank you,” I say, clearing my throat. “For this, and for the errands date. You know how much I love crushing a to-do list.”
Hands tucked into his pockets, Penn sucks in some air, wincing as he shakes his head. “Hate to break it to you, Wynne, but today wasn’t a date.”
My face heats. God, how embarrassing. “Oh. I know, I just—”
I stop talking, cutting myself off as he leans in, his mouth beside my ear. “Trust me,” he whispers. “When I take you on a date, you’ll know.”
My limbs go weak at his voice—muffled and raspy, quiet, just for me. I’m about to wrap my arms around his neck, go for it, risk another humiliating rejection. But then his phone rings, and he inches back, eyes searching my face as he says, “I’ve got to take this.”
I nod like a broken bobblehead. “Right. Yeah. Of course. And I’ve got to, you know. Head inside.”
We both fight stupid smiles as he answers the phone, and I force myself to walk away, fizzy thrill making me feel like a shaken can of pop. Orange Crush. Bright and sparkling.
When I reach the door, I look back and find Penn leaning against the car, phone pressed to his ear while he watches me.
I shake my head. I can’t stop grinning. He laughs.
My heart feels too big for my chest. I squeeze the charm Penn chose for me, and the explosive feelings I’ve been trying to tamp down catch fire inside me all at once.
Every magical, Technicolor memory flickers and flares, along with the girlish hope that led me to the wildest dream of my life.
And when I cast one last look at Penn, still standing where I left him, I’m more optimistic than ever that the best parts of it might actually come true.