Penny #2
His voice is gruff, and he shoves his feet into his boots before storming out of the house. I cover my warm face, frustrated with myself for denying us what we both want.
* * *
Jacob’s headlights shine on the back of a red SUV as we pull up behind it.
It’s well-lit on this street. There are more houses too unlike Jacob’s isolated neighbourhood.
Many of the houses in the city are modern boxes with lots of glass. The houses here are either old brown brick or sun-weathered vinyl siding.
Bushes and pine trees covered in snow line parts of the sidewalk. Several houses light up the night with colourful Christmas lights even though it’s February.
A snowman is missing his head and one of his stick arms in front of the pale yellow house on the left. On the front lawn of the brick house beside it is a large white sign in red text: STOP THE PIPELINE! VOTE “NO” ON MARCH 5TH!
At least five cars are parked on the street ahead of us. Likely guests at the party we’re about to attend.
Earlier today, Jacob asked me if I wanted to go to a party hosted by a co-worker. I immediately said yes. I’m glad for the change of scenery and to stretch my legs. I also want to escape the thing between us.
There’s this charged vibe that’s been growing stronger ever since we almost kissed. I know Jacob is aware of it too. We’ve both been pretending it doesn’t exist.
Last night, he slept on the couch instead of sharing his bed with me. Today, he found various things to do outside. Then he came in, and the vibe was still there, begging one of us to slip up.
The less time we spend alone together, the safer. It’s not like Elizabeth is going to show up again and save us from ourselves.
I’m not going to prove her right that I’m a whore. When my time with Jacob is up, I can leave feeling good about myself that I didn’t fuck my ex-stepfather for his money.
We exit the car and step out into a cold so bitter, I let out a huff like I’ve been slapped. My breath is a gust of white fog that’s swept away with the wind. I shiver.
“Fuck, it’s cold.”
“Come here.”
Jacob draws closer and coils his arm around my shoulders. He pulls me flush against his side, rubbing my arm up and down. He turns us and we set off down the sidewalk.
Tall and solid, Jacob is a walking furnace. I’m hyperaware of how intimate this seems. I wrap my arm around his back and cling to him anyway, greedily absorbing his heat. I’m a little ashamed how much I like it that we must look like a couple as we walk down the street.
We arrive at a white two-storey house, the driveway crammed with cars. I’m disappointed Jacob has to release me so we could walk single file along the narrow path to the front porch.
“Jake! Good to see you made it!”
The sturdy man who opened the front door is bald with a neat, thick, salt-and-pepper beard. His eyes light up when they land on me and he grins at Jacob.
“Keith wasn’t wrong at all.” He offers his hand for a shake. “I’m Lewis.”
Lewis invites us inside after our introduction. On the outside, the house seems small. On the inside, it’s big enough to comfortably hold what seems like twenty or more people dotted about the living room and kitchen.
A rock song I don’t recognize is playing, drowned out by several voices chatting and laughing. Various scents are fighting for dominance too.
Perfume, the faint scent of alcohol and cigarettes, something being baked, that overwhelming sweetness from a can of pop. At least they all co-exist in a way that doesn’t turn my stomach.
Lewis guides us over to a pretty blonde woman and introduces her as his wife, Melissa. She offers us drinks. Jacob takes something non-alcoholic and I follow his lead.
“I got that sucker working,” Lewis says to Jacob with a triumphant grin. He jerks his thumb behind him. “Come take a quick look at my handiwork. I want you to see how fucking amazing I am.”
Jacob chuckles then turns to me, giving my arm a gentle caress.
“I’ll be right back.”
I silently nod and he follows Lewis away. When someone else comes up to talk to Melissa, I wander over to a free space by a window.
Left by myself, I feel a little awkward. I sip on my drink and scan the room. While I don’t know most of the people here, I recognize a few.
Officer Brent is over by the bookshelf chatting with a woman. Sasha and Wayne look like they’re having a whisper-fight near the TV. Ruth is perched on a chair arm, a cup in one hand while she covers her mouth with the other, giggling at something another girl is saying to her.
She gives me a smile and wave when she catches my eye. A few minutes later, she abandons the girl she’s talking to and makes her way over to me.
“Hey, remember me?”
I smile. “Ruth. AKA, Cupcake Girl.”
“Ooh, I like that! Waitress by day, fighting crime with baked goods by night!” Ruth laughs. Little does she know, she just gave me inspiration for a comic series. “It’s unfair you know my cool secret identity and I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Penelope.”
“Penelope. That’s a cute name. It suits you, just like that collar.” She smiles then eyes my forehead. “Mom told me about your accident. Your bruise looks better than when I last saw you.”
I’m about to reply when an angry voice grabs our attention. Wayne and Sasha’s fight is elevating from whispers. Sasha looks highly irritated as Wayne knocks back a bottle of beer in greedy gulps.
“…must you always embarrass me like this?” Sasha hisses.
Wayne wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, his voice gravelly. “Why don’t you just fuck off and leave me alone for once?”
“Oh my god.” Ruth’s tone is pure exasperation. “My mom and stepdad can’t go anywhere without having a fight!”
“That sucks.”
It’s not very helpful but I don’t know what else to say.
“They’re probably going to make a scene. If I go over there and try to stop it, they’ll both turn on me.” Ruth folds her arms and scowls. “I’m staying out of it. I won’t have to put up with their shitty behaviour as of tomorrow, anyway.”
With that look on her face, Cupcake Girl might be a super villain instead.
“How come?”
“I’m moving to Toronto tomorrow.” Her voice is filled with vicious delight. “I’m going to live with a friend, get a job, and enjoy a stress-free life far away from those two.”
“That sounds…”
I trail off as an idea sparks.
I could hitch a ride home with Ruth.
This feels like a sign, the universe granting me an opportunity to do the right thing—choosing my family’s safety over my self-preservation and my feelings for a man who can’t be mine.
“Can I tag along with you tomorrow?”
Ruth looks surprised and then smiles. Her lips part but she doesn’t get a chance to speak.
“Without telling me goodbye first?”
My body stiffens at the sound of Jacob’s cold voice behind me.
Oh, no.
When did he return?
I jerk my gaze over my shoulder and wilt at the glint in his eyes and his stony features.
He’s angry.
As I struggle to respond, Sasha and Wayne’s fight intensifies into a shouting match just like Ruth predicted. All other conversation fades away as everyone’s attention is drawn to the unfolding drama.
“I’m fucking tired of you always telling me what to do!” Wayne yells.
“I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t doing things you shouldn’t be doing! You think I like being a grown man’s mother? Always cleaning up after your mistakes?”
“My mistakes? My mistakes? What about you, huh? Do you like being a murderer?”
Sasha’s eyes go round. “Wayne! You watch your goddamn mouth!”
“No! Fuck you! The mistake I made was keeping your secret, you fucking evil bitch!” Wayne points an accusatory finger at Sasha, his eyes wild and glittering. “She killed her! She killed Fiona and made me help her cover it up!”
The music must have been turned off because it’s deadly quiet as collective horror ripples through the room. Everyone’s frozen with wide eyes.
“He’s—he’s drunk!” Sasha cries, darting a terrified look around the room. “I didn’t… I would never… he doesn’t know what he’s saying!”
“I’ve never been more sober in my fucking life!”
Contrary to what he said, Wayne throws his bottle down onto the wooden floor and it shatters. A few yelps and gasps echo around the room.
I flinch and jump back as one of the bottle shards skitters toward my feet. Jacob pulls me behind him to shield me with his body. To my left, Ruth is quietly sobbing. I feel so terrible for her.
Officer Brent steps forward with his hands raised, a tense expression on his face.
“Alright, I think we need to calm down—”
“You didn’t have to do it,” Wayne says, his voice broken. “You didn’t have to kill her. I loved her.”
Sasha is breathing hard, tears running down her cheeks. Then her panicked expression turns into an ugly sneer at Wayne.
“Yes, I did, you cheating son-of-a-bitch! You loved her, but I loved you. I’m fucking glad I hurt you as much as you hurt me too!”
Then Sasha turns and flees the house.