She smiles softly, steps a little closer. “I like you too.”
She presses her head against my chest and I embrace her. “This is nice.”
“I agree.”
“I needed this,” I say.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. I had a rough night last night.”
“Really? What happened?”
“Well, that’s something I actually wanted to talk to you about.”
“Is everything okay?”
I take a deep breath and tell Penelope about the arsonist. By the end of my explanation, her face is a mask of horror.
“I can’t believe this,” Penelope says.
“What? Did I do something wrong?”
“You didn’t do anything, Harper. That’s the problem. You act like nothing’s wrong all evening, like you don’t have a care in the world, and then, out of the blue, you tell me there’s some crazy guy trying to kill you and Kailee. What’s wrong with you?”
She’s really upset. I’ve never seen her like this. I don’t know if she’s gonna start screaming at me or burst into tears. Her lower lip is jutting out. I hate seeing her like, and I wanna fix things. Bring that smile back. But I’m tongue-tied. Standing there like an oaf.
“Penelope . . . I just—“
“What, Harper? Do you want to be sweet to me again for an hour and then tell me, ‘Hey, by the way, I’m also going back to Iraq tomorrow for a few years.’ ”
“I deserved that. My timing tonight was—”
“Really shitty?”
Man, she’s really pissed. I don’t think I’d heard her swear until tonight.
“Yes,” I say. “Really shitty. And that’s because I’m an idiot. I hate to say it, but it’s true. My last and only relationship was with Laci, and I’m not even sure if you can call what we had a relationship, it was so toxic. I put off telling you about the arsonist because I was worried it would scare you away. I wanted to enjoy another hour with you before you before I ruined the evening.”
“I’m with you, Harper. For good and bad. But I want to address two things.”
“What are they?”
“One. Next time you have something like that to tell me, just tell me. Don’t play games. Don’t put if off.”
“I will. I promise. And two?”
“Kiss me before I change my mind.”
* * *
After spendingone more night at my mom’s, me and Kailee pack our bags and go to Penelope’s place.
Of course Kailee thinks everything about her apartment is just the greatest thing ever. From the spoons in the kitchen drawer to the hand soap in her bathroom—it‘s all magical as far as my daughter is concerned.
Our first night there, Kailee picks up a Day of the Dead figurine from Penelope’s bookshelf. A cute little dog. She is mesmerized by the bright colors and the electric pink flower petals encircling each of the pup’s eyes.
“What’s this?” she asks, holding it up.
