ARIA
My smile drops, and just for a few seconds it feels like we’re alone.
Penn is looking at me in that way that makes my lower belly pull.
I love when he shows me this possessive side of him, and I’ve been unsettled since our makeout session got cut short in his office.
I’m about to tell him that when Cathy drops into the seat across from us and points a roll in Penn’s direction.
“Dr. Brody, I have to say, you made quite an entrance in the cafeteria yesterday.”
I groan. “Cathy.”
Penn leans back in his chair, and if I didn’t know him so well, I’d think he was completely unaffected. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
Cathy snorts. “Sure you don’t.”
Heat rushes into my cheeks because I know exactly what she means. I also know there’s no point pretending the whole hospital didn’t see Penn march across the cafeteria, take my hand, and lead me away like a jealous husband on a mission.
I glance at him, and his mouth twitches like he’s trying not to smile.
“Don’t look so proud of yourself,” I mutter.
His eyes come to mine. “I’m not.”
I point at him. “You are.”
He shrugs, but his eyes never leave mine. “Maybe a little.”
Cathy laughs, and I shake my head.
The dinner goes better than I expected.
Penn is quiet, but he’s here. He listens when people talk to him. He answers when my boss asks him about a surgery, but he doesn’t let the conversation take over the whole table. He smiles when he can even though I can tell the day has really worn him out.
I know he’s thinking about the patient he lost today, but he’s here and he’s trying. And that means a lot to me.
Under the table, my hand stays on his thigh, trying to offer him some comfort. Almost the whole time, he’s kept his hand on mine, like he needs to hold on to me.
His phone buzzes once during dinner, and I tense before I can stop myself.
He pulls it out and checks the screen, and I hold my breath until he sets it facedown on the table.
“It’s not urgent,” he says quietly, just for me.
I nod.
A few minutes later, it buzzes again.
This time, he checks it, types a quick response, and sets it down. Then his hand goes back to my hand on his thigh.
I don’t say anything, but my hand squeezes his leg, and when his eyes meet mine, I know he understands.
By the time we leave, he looks exhausted.
We say goodbye to everyone, and Penn keeps his hand on my lower back as we walk out of the restaurant. He opens the passenger door of the car and waits for me to slide in. He even reaches in and pulls the seatbelt around me.
I don’t stop him, but I do say, “I can do that, you know.”
He smiles and kisses my forehead. “I know you can, but I want to.”
I watch as he walks around the car. My husband is handsome in everything he wears, but there’s something about a dress shirt stretched across his broad chest that steals my breath. My body tingles just looking at him.
The ride home is quiet.
Penn keeps one hand on the wheel and the other resting on the console. I reach over and slide my fingers through his, and he holds on immediately.
I look at his profile in the dark car. He’s tense and exhausted, but he still showed up for me tonight. Even after losing a patient.
This doesn’t fix everything, but it shows me he’s trying. Maybe I can make him understand that all I need is him. The rest we can work out.
When we get inside the house, I set my purse on the entry table and turn to face him.
He locks the door, then stands there for a second like he doesn’t know what to do next.
So I step closer. “What do you need?”
He looks at me like the question catches him completely off guard. “What?”
I put my hands on his chest. “You lost someone today. You still showed up for me. Not once did you make me feel like you didn’t want to be there.”
He blows out a breath. “I did want to be there. I always want to be with you, Aria.”
“I know.” My voice softens. “But that still doesn’t answer my question.”
He doesn’t answer.
His shoulders lift in a small shrug, but it doesn’t fool me.
I slide my hands higher on his chest and look up at him. “Look at me, Penn, and tell me what you need.”