I’m not drunk, but I’ve had more than my fair share to drink.
“Another one?” Kenny from the warehouse asks and I nod my head as he grabs us two more cocktails. “You threw a hell of a party.”
“It’s better than some stuffy dinner at a banquet hall, that’s for sure.”
He fakes shivers, and I laugh. Kenny is nice, a good guy, probably the kind of guy I should want. But when I look at him, there’s no spark, no real interest there. Maybe I’ve always just wanted what I can’t have.
“Definitely. The party was great. You’re great.”
I blink at him. He’s cute, in the boy next store kind of way. He’s a few years younger than me, and it shows.
“Thanks Kenny.”
“I’ve always thought you were great,” he says again as the captain announces it’s time to disembark.
We’re leaving the boat together, and he keeps rambling.
“I don’t know if you’d be interested, but I’d like to take you to dinner sometime,” he says.
I’m lucky that I’m headed off the ramp to dry land, giving me a few moments to come up with an excuse. But when we’re finally off the boat and on the dock, I have to look at him.
“I’m sorry, Kenny, I don’t think I’m in a place to date right now.”
He nods and gives me a half-smile.
“If you ever are in a place where you want to date, you’ll let me know?”
I’m about to answer when a familiar voice behind me startles me.
“Let’s go home, Pen,” Lincoln says in his dark timbre.
I inhale deeply and turn around.
“What are you doing here?”
“Aiden said you’d need a ride. I was in the neighborhood,” he replies, looking Kenny up and down like he’s sizing him up.
“Right, have a nice night,” Kenny says behind me, and I don’t even turn around.
“That was rude,” I chastise him.
“He couldn’t take a hint.”
“I was handling it. It’s none of your business.”
He scoffs and looks down at me like he isn’t the least bit amused.
“Whatever, Penny, get in the fucking car.”
“Great to see the asshole is back.”
“Never went anywhere,” he says, slamming my door shut behind me and rounding the vehicle.
He’s rough with his door and sits in the seat like he’s super annoyed being here.
“You didn’t have to come and pick me up,” I say and he doesn’t reply as he starts the car and drives home without a word.
The silence is pissing me off, and I snap about halfway home.
