Bonnie nodded. “I would love that.”
“Go on. Out to the sunroom. I’ll bring it out.” He nodded to Penny to help lift Bonnie. “How do you take your tea, Penny?”
She turned back from her task. “Oh, I don’t really drink tea.” As far as she recalled, Bonnie didn’t either.
Finn’s face registered complete confusion as if he didn’t know how to proceed.
“She’ll take it like I do. No sugar, drop of milk.”
Finn nodded, much happier with this response. “Go on, then.”
Bonnie stood, her body still slouched and slow moving, holding onto Penny’s arm as they guided each other in the right direction. She paused when she slid open the glass door to the sunroom, seeing the nest of blankets Penny had left there and her book beside them. A tentative smile came to her lips.
“I knew you’d like this room.”
Penny slid forward, hooking one of the blankets in her fingers and wrapping it around Bonnie.
“I’m okay,” Bonnie protested.
“Take it,” Penny insisted. “I know where there’s more. I did a bit of exploring while you slept.”
Bonnie gratefully wrapped the blanket tighter around herself as she curled up on the couch across from Penny’s spot. “Good. I want you to make yourself at home here.”
“Thanks.”
Yesterday had been such a dash in and out. Seeing Bonnie now, taking in her familiarity with this house, felt weird, especially after meeting Finn. It was as if her friend had a secret life that she knew nothing about.
Most of Penny’s life was an open book. Something Bonnie walked in and out of as much as she wanted. Hell, she’d practically been adopted by Teddy and Martha. Penny couldn’t decide if being invited into this secret part of Bonnie’s life was acompliment to their friendship or an insult at not knowing about it sooner.
“I guess I should ask exactly how long you’ve been up?”
Penny shrugged, “Maybe five hours. I didn’t exactly check the time right away. I feel like we’re living in this world of limbo where time doesn’t exist.”
Finn chuckled at her explanation as he joined them. Penny felt herself warming to the sound of it. It was nice to have him here. It was nice to know she had someone to help her with Bonnie’s heartbreak. Any other thoughts about him she was trying to push aside for the moment. He placed a mug of tea on the coffee table in front of each of them. Then, he joined Bonnie on her couch with a protective air about him.
“And my next question,” Bonnie said more hesitantly, “What exactly happened last night?” She lifted her hands to rub gently at her temples. “My memory is a bit blurry towards the end, but I have a feeling it wasn’t good.”
“Have the tea,” Finn said, nudging her gently with his foot. “It’ll help.”
“There was some vomiting,” Penny confirmed.
Bonnie nodded, holding her tea in both hands, sipping tentatively. “Yeah. I guessed that much. You got me to bed?” she asked.
“As any best friend would. I cleaned you up and tucked you in. Although, let’s be honest. I wasn’t exactly sober myself.”
Clutching her mug closer as she cringed, Bonnie pushed on, “And before that?”
Penny sighed as she reached for her own tea, more as a delay than any desire to drink it. “Well….” She took a sip, blinked a couple of times, and took a larger one. “This is actually nice. Kind of soothing.”
“Of course it is,” Finn sounded indignant at the hint of another possibility.
“Penny,” Bonnie said insistently. “You’re stalling.”
“All right, before that, you were being rather rude to the bartender.”
“Was I?” Bonnie asked with innocent eyes. “Did he deserve it?”
“No,” and “Possibly,” came from two different corners of the room.
