They spent the morning enjoying live music, sampling food from street vendors, and strolling through the artisan market. They then made their way to Eau Claire for Thai food. Andrea and Brett got along so well, it was tiresome. Penny stopped trying to fight it because there was no way to slow the trains on the tracks.
By the time they all finished lunch, the two of them had a handshake and inside jokes. Penny excused herself to the bathroom and tried to convince herself she was glad they’d gotten along.Had she wanted them to hate each other?No, she’d wanted them not to know each other. There was a difference.
When she walked back out, Andrea and Brett both had their phones out, and the slow burn inside her received another log on the fire.
“Oh, hey! Ready to go?” Andrea asked with a look of complete innocence. They’d just exchanged phone numbers. Her sister had asked for Brett’s number.
Penny nodded once, not trusting herself to speak. They walked to the car, and Andrea suggested they should drop Brett off at home since they had time and then he wouldn’t have to drive all the way over to the airport with them. That was fine by Penny. She had some words for Andrea that weren’t appropriate for mixed company.
When they got to the apartment, Brett thanked them both for the fun and exited the car. Penny waited until he climbed the first step to the apartment before taking off down the road. “What the hell was that, Dre?”
Andrea’s eyes widened. “What are you—”
“Is that why you chose a flight with a layover? So you could meet him and shoot your shot?”
Andrea scoffed. “I wasn’t shootinganything, I—”
“You were practically presenting yourself on a platter with an apple in your mouth.”
“I’m sorry, are you comparing me to aroasted pig?”
“I mean, if the cloven hoof fits!” Penny’s foot was heavy on the gas, and she forced herself to ease up even though all she wanted to do was plow through the next intersection.
To her surprise, Andrea started laughing next to her. Penny’s eyes flashed. “What?” Andrea held up a finger. “What is so funny?”
“Thank you for this,” Andrea wheezed. “I wasn’t sure on the phone, so thank you.”
Penny merged onto the Ring Road. “If you don’t start talking, I swear—”
“You’re into him!”
Penny’s face flushed. “I’m not—”
“You’re a goner, Pens! I havenever in my lifeseen you so angry about someone flirting with a guy. Even when that business executive or whatever showed up for lunch to talk to you and Danny about partnering with them—remember? She had that maroon collared shirt with the buttons undone down to her navel?”
Penny snorted in spite of herself. That day, she’d been worried they were going to get dinner and a show. And, yeah. Andrea was right. She hadn’t cared one bit. Mostly because she knew anything Danny said was only to get what he wanted and . . .holy shit.
She knew that about him.
Way back then, she knew that he was a manipulating skeeve, and she’d still stayed with him for another year and a half.Had she actually believed she was the exception to his narcissistic rule?
Andrea wiped her eyes. “Ugh. That was a gift, babe, and can I just give you a smidgen of advice?” Penny waited, knowing it was going to come whether she wanted it or not. “Lock that down because Brett is a triple shot espresso in a world full of decaf.”
_____
Brett went to work Monday still thinking about the messages he’d exchanged with Penny over the rest of the weekend. Since Kelty and Emma weren’t going to be at Sunday Supper, she’d decided not to come along and had spent all of Saturday night and most of Sunday out.
Saturday she’d worked a lacrosse game and he’d waited up. She greeted him pleasantly, but all the walls that he’d thought had come down between them seemed to be ramped back up. Penny was quiet. Standoffish. She blamed it on being tired, but Brett started to worry he’d done something to upset her.
Even when they did their PT session Sunday morning, something had been off. By Sunday afternoon, he’d broken down and sent her a text.
Hey. You okay? Intense weekend. I’m making a baked potato if you want one
He’d waited for her to respond with some fancy word for that, but all he’d gotten was:
I’m good. Went to an art show with a friend from yoga
That had been a punch to the gut. He knew Penny went to the yoga studio in the plaza a few blocks from them, but she’d never mentioned afriend. His mind immediately jumped to some guy obsessed with calisthenics wearing short shorts and a tank top ruminating on impressionism with Penny while he stroked his ironic moustache.
