Pen waves her hand. “Ah, it was fine. You know, I ran the numbers again. We’re hitting record sales this summer.”
It’s something I noticed when I met with a financial advisor to go through Gloria’s bookkeeping. Despite the slow start thisyear, the bookstore is having the best summer yet. I push away the sting at the thought… that Gloria would have loved to see it.
“That’s great.” I’m unable to feign enthusiasm and, naturally, Pen catches my tone.
She reaches across the table and places a hand over mine, calming my twitchy fingers. “She would be so proud, Dom.”
“Most of it was because of her anyway,” I grumble, pulling my hand back. Pen’s face falls. “You, too. You’ve done so much creative shit for the store since I’ve been back. Give yourself some credit.”
Pen offers me a weak smile. Not the best start to date night. Dammit, why can’t I just keep my mouth shut? When the server returns with my drink, Pen orders the same for herself. Deciding to change the subject, I nod toward the bag Pen had set on one of the empty chairs at the table. “So what’s in the bag?”
Her cheeks turn pink as she lifts the menu and pretends to scrutinize the choices. It's absurd because I know Penelope well. She had this menu memorized the moment we agreed to eat here. I've never known anyone else who reviews a menu and decides what to eat days in advance like Pen does. "Nothing."
“Nothing? C’mon, Pea.” I smirk and hope she’ll look up to see me smiling. Maybe smile back.
She shrugs. “It’s just something from Chloe.”
“Something from your best friend? It looks like…” The words die in my throat as realization smacks me in the chest. “Pea?”
“Hmmm?”
A knot of anger starts to pull tightly in my chest and I try to press it down. “Did I miss your fucking birthday?”
Pen drops the menu and gives me a guilty look. “Technically, it’s today.”
Sitting back in my chair, I run my hand through my hair. “Goddammit. Why didn’t you say something?”
“It’s not a big deal?—”
“Don’t lie to me,” I growl, leaning forward with my elbow on the table, unable to stop myself from pointing at her. “It is a big deal. I know you. You’re the type to spend an entire month celebrating your birthday. Why didn’t you say something?”
"There's just been a lot happening, Dom," she says with a sad smile, taking my hand and holding it in hers, bringing both our hands down to the table. "I'll always be honest with you. It's really not a big deal. Sure, I enjoy celebrating my birthday, but I'd rather spend time with you. Not dealing with stuff about the store or settlements or"-- she gestures with her free hand— "all of that. I mean it. Being with you tonight, on our first date, is much more important than my birthday."
I want to keep arguing, but what's the point? She's right— we've been so overwhelmed, it's been hard to connect beyond urgent matters. We haven't had sex in a month. I feel like the world's worst boyfriend, stuck in the anger phase of grief, not even knowing when my girlfriend's birthday is.
“I’ll make it up to you tonight,” I promise, giving her a wink.
“Dom, you don’t have to?—”
“Ah, no more arguing on your birthday.” She gives me a warm smile and I’m thankful we can move past this, even if just for this moment. “Now, don’t be studying that menu like you don’t know exactly what you’re getting already.”
Pen blushes, and, like a pendulum, my feelings switch gears to smitten. Fuck, she’s gorgeous.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she says, trying not to laugh.
“Mhmm, right.” I glance down at the menu and back at her. “I’m sure you haven’t looked at this menu several times in the last few days. And I’m definitely sure you haven’t settled on the chicken caesar wrap, subbing the side of chips for fries.”
Pen gasps in mock surprise, her hand flying to her chest. “Why, Dominic Miller, how do you know me so well?”
Smiling at her, warmth spreads from my heart, melting the icy rage and anger I’ve spent the last few weeks hardening up. Standing up from my seat, I step to her side of the table. Her eyes are wide with surprise as I take her chin in my fingers.
“Because I love you, Pea,” I murmur before giving her a deep, passionate, “I-love-my-fucking-girlfriend-and-it’s-her-birthday” kiss.
“Fuck, Dom! Yes, keep doing that!”
Pen tries to squirm out of my grip, but my arms are looped over her thighs. With my face between her legs, I’m getting the most pleasure out of eating Pen’s dripping wet pussy. Fuck, how have I gone this long without tasting her? Hearing her moan in pleasure like this? Time fucking wasted, I think as I flatten my tongue and run it up her slit.
I suck her clit softly and she grinds her hips up, desperate for more. “Please,” she begs.
