Chapter 7: Happy

I leave my office, my mind cloudy.

Her mum has cancer.

I can’t even imagine the pain she’s in.

How the fuck can Penelope be so happy all the fucking time when shit is happening to her?

She’s always so cheery. So happy.

“Is she okay?” Nico asks as I slide my shirt off, chucking it beside the fridge.

“I think she’s got a cold.” I mumble.

“She’s pretty cool.” Wes says.

“She’s funny.” Gavin laughs.

“She’s mine, back off.” I glare at them.

“Ha! I knew it would work.” Wes exclaims and they all begin giggling to themselves.

Oh for fuck’s sake.

“See, we knew you liked her because you’re never nice to anyone. But your voice goes all gentle and you’re like a big baby around her.”

“I’m not a big baby.”

My phone dings with a notification and I pull it out. I already know it’s from Penelope from the message.

My lips twitch and I reply. It doesn’t take long for her to message me back.

There’s something about her that intrigues me.

I want to know her. Why is she so happy all the time? Why isn’t she ever sad?

Today was the first time I’d seen her be sad and it made my stomach twist into a knot.

I feel like I’m drawn to her. I want to leave her alone. I want to not see her. But I can’t.

She makes me feel things. And I haven’t felt anything for a long time.

I put my phone back in my pocket and look at my friends as they are all staring at me.

“Fuck off.”

“You can be nice to her and not us, rude.” Nico puffs.

“Oh poor you.” I roll my eyes and slide under the car.

~~

I scull a drink of water and grab my shirt.

“Is Penelope still here?” Gavin asks.

“Taking her home with me tonight.” I say casually.

“Why?”

“None of your business.” I push through the back doors and into my office.

I see Penelope curled up into a ball asleep on my sofa.

I grab my keys, quietly collecting my things trying not to wake her but it doesn’t work.

She sits up and rubs her eyes. She must be a light sleeper.

She looks at me and flinches before blinking slowly, “Oh hi.” Her voice croaks.

“You want to go now?”

She nods and stands up, stumbling. I touch her back and she flinches away.

She slowly turns to me and fiddles with her fingers, “You can’t touch my back.” Her voice is so small and croaky.

“What’s wrong with your back?” I frown, my jaw tightening.

She steps toward me and grabs my hand and puts it on her lower back, just above her ass.

“No higher from there. Anywhere but my back.”

I nod, “Okay.”

She then takes my hand and holds it, leading me out of my own office.

I stare at our hands. Her skin is so soft. So tender.

“Bye, P.” Nico says.

“Bye bye.” She waves smiling.

We reach my car and I unlock it opening the door for Penelope.

She coughs and sniffles leaning back against the chair, closing her eyes.

I lean in and grab the seatbelt, leaning over her body and buckling it, making sure she’s safe.

“Do you need water or something for the drive?” I brush the baby hairs off her face.

“No I’ll be okay.”

I nod closing the door and go over to my side of the car getting in.

I buckle up and begin driving, leaning my arm on the centre console using the other to drive and changing gears when needed.

“Parker.”

I look at Penelope as she’s staring at me, “Hm?”

“You know how you said we are friends?”

I nod.

“What type of friends are we?”

“What do you mean?” I frown.

“Well, you know. There’s lots of types of friends. Best friends, long distance friends, school friends, work friends, friends you see once a week, friends you see everyday. Friends with benefits, wait what,” She shakes her head, “I don’t mean that. We are not friends with benefits.”

“I know,”

“Okay good. So like, what type of friends are we?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, if we were everyday friends that would change my schedule. Kidding, I don’t have anyone to see. But if we were once a month friends then I would have to not tell you everything that happens every moment because what I meant to tell you once a month?”

“This is confusing.”

She sighs, “I know.”

“You can pick what type of friends we are.” I fight my smile.

“Really?”

“Mhm.”

She pulls her thinking face before smiling at me, “Can we be everyday friends?”

I nod and let my lips curl up ways.

Penelope giggles looking out the front windshield, “Now I have someone to talk to everyday.”

She gasps before looking at me, “Hey, you nearly smiled!”

I just watch as she lights up, her smile so big and beautiful, dimples and eye lines so deep and perfect.

I pull the car over and climb out, walking around to help Penelope out but she’s already standing on the footpath talking to an elderly lady.

“Do you need me to call a taxi?” She asks.

“No, dear. My husband will be here any moment.”

Penelope nods and I walk up to her slipping our hands together and walking us into my apartment block.

I don’t really know when holding hands was something we did, but I like it.

“Which one’s yours?” She looks at the buttons as we go into the gold elevator.

“Top floor.”

“Floor 50?”

I nod.

She presses the button and stands beside me holding my hand tightly.

“I can picture you as an apartment type guy.” She smiles at me.

“Yeah?”

“Mhm.”

The elevator doors open and I unlock my apartment and Penelope’s jaw drops as we step in.

“This place is beautiful.”

“It’s not much.”

It’s all black, white and gray. There’s a kitchen to the left, dining table to the right, a sitting room and then a hallway which has my office, bathroom and two bedrooms.

The sunset through the massive windows and Penelope walks over looking at the view.

“Do you live by yourself?” She turns to me.

I nod.

“That must be nice.”

“Do you not live alone?”

“No, I live with my mum and my dad.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty, how old are you?” She replies.

“Twenty-five.”

“Woah you’re like old, old.”

I glare at her and she giggles shrugging her shoulders which then makes her go into a coughing fit.

“Do you want to watch some TV?” I walk over to her, “You need some rest.”

“Okay. Do you um have a shirt I can wear?”

I nod and go off to my bedroom and come back and throw it at her.

To my surprise she doesn’t even use the bathroom to change. She slides her shorts and T-shirt off and puts my black shirt on.

The ache in my groin grows as I see her in just a bra and underwear.

I clear my throat and grab the remote for her as she sits on the sofa. I hand it to her, “You can watch whatever you want.”

“Thank you,” She smiles, “And thank you for letting me stay.”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to have a shower and then I’ll cook you dinner, alright?”

“Okay.” She bats her eyelashes unintentionally.

I need a cold shower.