He staggers toward his car, throwing a middle finger over his shoulder. “Fine! Fuck—she’s not worth it anyway!” he slurs out.
I watch him fumble with his keys, hands shaking. I give him exactly two seconds after the engine turns over before I pull out my phone and tell the cops there’s an inebriated driver heading east down our street.
My heart is pounding so hard, I’m not sure I’ll be able to sit down until sunrise, andwhenI step back inside, both anger and relief flood me simultaneously.
Fia’s standing at the base of the steps, biting her lip, eyes brimming with tears.
“You heard all that?” I ask, but it’s a dumb question. Old houses have thin walls.
“You almost killed him,” Penny says, and I laugh, a bit maniacally.
“He’ll be fine,” I reply coolly.
Fia steps toward me, wrapping her arms tightly around my torso. I hug her back.
If that’s the guy she’s been dealing with, I can only imagine the shit she’s been carrying.
“Thank you.” Her voice wavers as her small frame rests against me.
“What good are big brothers if they don’t get to beat up their sister’s trash boyfriends?” I reply, and Fia chuckles, wiping her nose as she steps back.“That was on my bucket list,” I add with a shrug.
That’s when I feel her eyes on me.
I glance over, and Penny’s still standing at the base of the steps, one hand resting lightlyon the banister, the other stroking Tank’s head. He’s still alert, ears twitching, panting heavily, but even he’s leaning into Penny, calmed by her touch.
She’s gnawing gently on her bottom lip, eyes fixed on me like she’s trying to see something she’s never let herself look at before. There’s a softness in her expression.
She nods once. It’s slow and meaningful.
Then she turns to head up the steps, pausing a few stairs up to glance over her shoulder. “Fia, you can sleep with me if you want,” she says gently. “We’ll put onGilmore Girlsuntil you fall asleep.” Her tone is soothing, almost maternal. Though I know she’d scoff at that notion. “Come on Tank, you too.” She pats her thigh, and Tank glances quickly at me before obediently prancing up the steps right past her.
Fia follows close behind, but Penny lingers, an unreadable expression on her face.
I pause. I was headed to the kitchen—planning to grab some water, calm down—but something about the way Penny stays there, her eyes meeting mine, makes me wait.
“Thank you,” she says softly.
I stand frozen for a beat, warmth creeping back into my chest. I nod, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth as she turns and disappears up the stairs.
It’s another hour before I finally make it to bed.
I grab the pillow and clutch it to my chest, trying to let go of the tension still in my body. My heart’s still beating like the fight’s not over.
But it is, and they’re safe. I repeat it to myself over and over.
When I finally drift off—somewhere between the muffled sound of the television and the steady hum of the heat—my last thought is her.
It’s always her.
23
Penny
Now
“You sure you don’t want to come in? I can get you a free drink,” Fia offers again, resting her hand on the inside of the car door as I stop at the curb outside Good Grinds.
I shake my head, eyeing the business she works at. It looks busy in there, considering it’s Friday morning, and I woke up in the mood to be alone today.
