Penny leaned back against the bed. “So I’m supposed to stay so he feels worthy? I don’t have that power, Kelty. Trust me, I’ve killed myself trying to conjure it.”
Kelty pursed her lips. She knew exactly what she was referring to. At UBC, she’d seen Lucas at what they both thought was his worst. They had no idea then how much farther he had to fall.
“I’m not saying you need to stay. I’m only saying . . . maybe it isn’t a good idea to do this. If you aren’t planning to stay, maybe—”
“Don’t you think I know that? Why do you think I fought it so hard?” She closed her eyes and groaned. “It turns out it was impossible because Brett is . . .”
“Amazing.” Emma finished. “You should hear the stories Tyler has. It’s like Brett doesn’t see the world through the same lenses we do. He’ll be late so he can sit down on the street and talk to homeless people. Tyler told me one time they were downtown and Brett gave a guy his shoes. Walked to the car in socks. In February.”
Penny opened her eyes and stared at her. “Do you think this is helping?”
Emma grimaced. “Sorry.”
Kelty twisted the tassels on the pillow. “I mean . . . do you have to go? If this is good, wouldn’t it be something to consider at least?”
Penny bit the inside of her cheek. It was good.It was so good.But every relationship felt that way at the beginning, and she had a one hundred percent track record of running them into the ground.
_____
Brett’s heart hammered in his chest as he walked up the steps to the apartment. The door swung open before he could reach for the handle, and Penny threw herself into his arms. He dropped the sleeping bag on the landing and shuffled inside with his lips never leaving her skin. She smelled like honey and warm spice.
“Were you cooking?” he breathed.
“Spanakopita. For Sunday Supper.” She pulled at the straps of his backpack as he pushed the door closed and locked it with the sleeping bag still outside. If someone stole his gear, he didn’t give a damn. “How was the lake?”
“Not as good as this.” Brett snuck his hands under her shirt and felt her lower back flex. Penny slipped the tip of her tongue into his mouth, and molton heat pooled at his center.
“Kelty and Emma know about us,” she breathed.
“You told them?”
“No.” Penny kissed along his jaw, then moved to his neck, nipping at the skin. “Kelty just knew. Said she could see it on my face.”
“Damn right, she could.”
Penny hissed a laugh. “You don’t care?”
He worked to unhook her bra. “I’m glad. It also explains the cryptic messages from the boys on our team chat.” Brett pushed her toward the hall, glancing at the container on the counter holding some kind of golden pastry. “I want some of that later.”
Penny pulled back. “Are you hungry? I can—”
“Get your ass in the bedroom, Penny.”
She grinned and fisted his shirt, then pulled him down the hall. “Yes, please.”
Brett spent another week regretting every minute he had to sleep and work while drinking in every breath, every touch, and every second with Penny. He had tunnel vision, and once he admitted that to the guys on his team, they stopped trying to get a feel for his mental health.
He texted Tony, which was how he received a “called it” message right before:
We’re hanging out Thursday before the concert right?
Btw Leanne said crashing at your place wasn’t romantic enough. Got a hotel
Brett sat up in bed and stared at the screen. What day was it?Wednesday.He checked his calendar, and sure enough, he’d put Tony’s visit on the twenty-second.
“Everything okay?” Penny turned onto her side and threaded her leg between his.
“I completely forgot a friend is coming into town tomorrow night for the Mother Mother concert.”
