Brett tucked that tidbit away. Penny liked Thai food. “Are you heading home to Vancouver?”
Andrea nodded. “Just on my way back from a client meeting in Denver.”
“I don’t think Penny told me what you do.”
Andrea tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m a corporate trainer for Cascadia Crest hotels and properties. We’re expanding into the States, so I’m traveling more than usual right now.”
Brett’s eyes widened. “Wow. Impressive.”
Penny’s fork scraped on her plate. “Well, I’m finished. Should we head over, Dre?”
Andrea nodded. “These were delicious, Brett. Did you put something in them besides salt and pepper?”
Brett grinned. “Just salt and pepper, but I do use a pepper blend.” He picked up the jar from the counter, and Penny slumped over the table.Why did he love that she was annoyed at her sister’s praise?“Uses three different peppercorns. I think it adds a bit more flavour.”
Andrea took it from his outstretched hand. “I agree.” She inspected it, then set it back on the counter. “I think Penny scored with you as a housemate.”
Brett had to admit, hearing her praise fluffed his proverbial feathers.
Penny clenched her jaw. "Right, well, we should get going. So much to do, so little time."
Couldn’t she admit that he was a pretty great housemate?He’d woken up early to try and cross paths with Penny before she left, and when that attempt had failed, he’d jumped at the chance to impress her after finding out she and Andrea were stopping by. Now she was acting like she’d done him some kind of favour.
“You said you had something to take care of today?” Andrea asked as she set her plate in the sink.
Brett turned to pull the pan from the stove to start it soaking. “Yeah, I needed internet to submit a contract. No service up at the site. I took care of it when I woke up this morning.”
Andrea beamed at him. “So you’re free today?”
Brett looked between her and Penny, not sure what his answer should be. “Yes?”
_____
Five minutes later, all three of them piled into Penny’s car. Brett offered to drive, but Penny insisted. If she had no control over this situation beyond how fast they went, she was going to snag it.
“So tell me more about this injury.” Andrea started in on him as soon as they pulled away from the curb. Penny’s thoughts raced as Brett filled her sister in on all the details Penny already knew. Andrea had given an excuse as to why she was so interested in all things Brett, but Penny was beginning to wonder if she had extra motivation.Was she interested in him?
She’d told Andrea plenty of times that she wasn’t trying to get involved with Brett, which meant her sister probably thought he was fair game.Which he wasn’t.Penny’s heart raced as that thought slammed down like a cage. The idea of Brett going out with Andrea or texting her like he texted Penny made her want to pull the car over and throw up.
But what was she supposed to do? She couldn’t claim him for herself. Couldn’t stick a flag in him that read “reserved.”On layaway for when I finally figure out how to be enough of myself to love somebody else.
She thought back to Andrea’s words on their way back from the airport.I’ve already figured you out.Penny just needed to rid herself of whatever insecurities were driving her to want to be right for everyone else. She needed to embrace more of her own opinions in relationships and stand up for what she wanted. She needed to want more and feel worthy of it in the first place.
“. . .our mother finally realized we hadn’t seen Penny in ages, so she sent me to look for her. I found her in the boys’ bedroom drawing an almost-to-scale portrait of our family. In Sharpie,” Andrea finished.
Brett laughed from the backseat, and Penny met his eyes through the rearview mirror. “They had the boldest colour.”
“You never told me you were an artist,” Brett said, still grinning.
“Because I’m not. There’s a reason that was my first and last wall mural.”
Andrea turned in her seat. “Penny had to repaint the wall.”
“By yourself?” Brett asked.
Penny’s smile grew tight. “Lucas helped me.”
Andrea sobered, and they drove in silence a few moments before she said, “So this African festival. Tell me about it.”
