The residential street is quiet again, besides the buzz of overhead power lines. My attention is drawn back to the house at the sound of the front door opening. Penny steps out in a short pink-and-blue sundress and bare feet—she looks like an ocean sunset. She’s pure sunshine, and I can’t help but stare.
Penny skips down the porch steps and sits, balancing a soda can in her hand. I shake my head, dropping next to her and stretching my legs out in front of me.
She holds the can up, offering me a sip. “You didn’t want to go totheparty of the summer? Half the graduating class will be there.” She leans into me, her tanned bare shoulder bumping mine.
I laugh, locking eyes with hers. “Nothing says ‘I’m cool’ like a guy who graduated three years ago throwing a party for high schoolers.”
There are three reasons I would never go to this party. First, the house is on the same block as my dad’s house. Nothing could make me want to go to that part of town again.
Second, Danny and our “friends” will just be doing drugs the whole time and acting like I’m a loser for refusing. Not so much Danny, he’s never pressured me. He knows why I don’t even want to try weed. But the people he hangs with are total shit.
The third reason is because if I went, Penny would want to come, and then the whole night I’d be worrying and watching every asshole who comes within ten feet of her.
Luckily, we agreed to have a movie night in.
“Both Nan and Fia are already asleep.” Penny winks at me before lowering the blinds in the living room, turning on the table lamp and bouncing onto the sofa excitedly.
I’ll finally get to kiss her in peace. The Hansons sleep like rocks, and if anyone does wake up and comes down the steps, there’s plenty of warning in this old house—everything creaks and squeaks.
“What do you want to watch?” I ask, and Penny lies back, resting her head on my lap as she looks up at me. I play with her fanned-out hair while she coyly smiles at me, humming like she is thinking of choices, but I already know what the answer is.
She smiles big, reading my mind.
“Again?” I groan, but truthfully, I don’t really care. We always put something on and end up talking the whole time anyway. Or kissing. And tonight, I want to kiss Penny all over.
She sits up and plants a quick peck on my cheek, and I get a whiff of her strawberry lip gloss.
“Okay, put it on, I’ll make popcorn,” I tell her, never able to say no to that face.
We turn off all the lights until it’s just the glow from the TV lighting the downstairs. Penny changed into her pajamas—a large t-shirt I think she stole from me—and now sits happily, hogging the colossal bowl of popcorn.
I don’t even like popcorn, I just make it for her.
“I get why she stays, you know true love and all, but I mean, I couldneverlive in a small town like that. I can’t wait to have a city apartment with a view,” she says wistfully, stuffing more popcorn into her mouth. I smile and nod, my arm dangling over her shoulder.
Sweet Home Alabamaplays on the TV for the third time this summer, I swear. “A classic,” both Penny and Nan claim.
With my arm around her and a blanket draped over our laps, I draw her back into my chest, and she leans her head on my shoulder.
It’s my favorite fucking feeling in the world.
“Hey… I talked to the guy at the garage today,” I start, and Penny pauses the movie, turning to look up at me. “He said he can bring me on for twenty-five hours a week. So that’s something, right?”
I never really thought about what I wanted to do post-high school. Up until I moved in here, my future wasn’t on my mind. I was just trying to survive. But I’ve always been into cars, so Penny suggested I work in a garage and see if I want to get into mechanics. It’s a solid idea, and I’m actually starting to get excited about it.
Penny squeals and hugs my neck. “Babe, that’s awesome!”
I smile softly at her.
“I’m still bummed that I have to live on campus for two years, butyou’llhave an apartment and we can finally have real sleepovers.” She slides her hand over my crotch quickly, torturing me.
Penny feels guilty that she got a full ride to UNC and I have to live a bit out of town in a rented room, but I’m so proud of her. She was always going to go places. I’m just happy she wants me to come along for the ride.
“Don’t be bummed, you’ll have classes and I’ll have work, but our free time will beours. It’s all going to work out,” I reassure her with a kiss.
“One more week! I can hardly believe it.” She does a little excited dance and grabs my face until I’m looking at her, her expression growing serious. “You know how much I love you, Jesse Rivers, right?”
I laugh. “I think I do. But I love you more. Now and always.”
