You’d love the lake this morning
Yeah? Describe it to me
The sun came up burnt orange. Made the trees look like they were on fire and the water like it was melted copper. My new favourite colour
That was my nickname in high school
Do you turn turquoise in the rain?
I guess we’ll never know, especially since I’ve been deemed irrelevant by my own country
lol. I miss you
Miss you, too. Enjoy the romance ??
She got up and visited the farmer’s market hoping the vibrant colors and bustling atmosphere would be a worthy distraction. She listened to an audiobook while she cleaned the apartment, then headed to the lacrosse practice.
A player rolled her ankle and Penny worked with her on the bench, which made the time fly. By the time she got home, her body and mind were so exhausted, she ate, stretched, and went straight to bed.
Her heart leaped when she woke and realized she’d made it to Sunday. Emma and Kelty insisted that if she didn’t show up for Sunday Supper, regardless of her claims that Brett was out of town, they’d be forced to call and report her as a missing person.
Penny chose to make spanakopita as her contribution, purely because she loved it and it took at least three hours to make properly which would help pass the time. The familiar scents of lemon, garlic, and oregano filled her home as she meticulously chopped vegetables and reduced sauces, losing herself in the process.
By the time she drove over to the Thompson home, she was counting the hours until Brett would arrive. She also spent the entire ride prepping herself to play it cool if anyone asked about him or why they’d both been MIA for the past week.
He’s slammed with work.
I’ve got more patients than I can handle.
I caught a cold—don’t worry, I’m past it now.
Brett’s focusing on physical therapy and it’s taking a lot out of him.
Penny was confident she had plenty of alibis when she knocked on the door. She smiled normally as Emma swung the door open, then walked past everyone in the living room to drop her pan in the kitchen. She was about to pat herself on the back when Kelty appeared from the hall, caught sight of her, and stopped dead in her tracks.
Her friend’s eyes lit up. “Ugh. Finally!”
Penny gave her a questioning look. “What? It’s only been a week, Kelt.”
Kelty stalked toward her. “When were you going to tell us, hey?”
“Tell you what?”
“That you and Brett finally decided to stop torturing yourselves and get together.”
Penny’s face went blank. It took her so completely by surprise she couldn’t begin to drum up her explanations. “Wha—how did you—”
“It’s written all over your relaxed and contented face. You got laid, and Brett did the laying. Or is it lying?” Kelty grabbed her arm and pulled her to the hall. “C’mon. Emma’s going to lose her mind.”
ChapterTwenty-Two
Penny criss-crossedher legs on the floor of Emma’s childhood bedroom. “No, I’m still going back.” Emma and Kelty stared at her like deer in headlights. “What?”
“You realize Brett hasn’t been in a relationship for years, right?” Kelty hugged a decorative pillow to her chest.
Penny ran a hand through her hair. “Yeah. I get it.”
“Pens, I don’t think you do. Brett has been through hell, and he’s convinced he’s never going to be good enough for someone. If you leave—” She shook her head.
