“I can’t believe you. This is why I don’t date men. You guys are fucking idiots. So, tell me, what are you going to do to make it up to her? Because you need to grovel, Mr.”
And don’t I know it.
“I’m working on it.”
“Well, work harder. I’m surprised Penny didn’t put a hit out on you. If you said that about my kid, I would have cut your balls off and fed them to my hairless cat.”
That visual alone has me cringing.
But Iamworking on it. I wasn’t expecting to see Penny today, but I have somewhat of a plan in place for her to forgive me. I just need a few days before I can execute it.
~ ~ ~
Knock, knock, knock.
It’s been a little over twenty-four hours since I’ve seen Penny, and I’m in my makeshift studio working on some drawings.
I head to the door to see who’s here, and a part of me is hoping it’s Penny on the other side. Even if I only get a glimpse of her, that would be enough. Okay, well, maybe not enough, but better than nothing.
When I swing the door wide, I’m greeted by a three-foot-nothing mini version of the woman next door.
“Hi, Dec,” Autumn says with shining, wide blue eyes that mirror her mother’s.
I look across the hall, and the door is slightly cracked with Penny nowhere in sight. I bend down on one knee to get on Autumn’s level. “Where’s your mom?”
“She fell asleep on the couch.”
“I don’t think she would like it if she knew you snuck over here.”
“I know, but I need to give you something.” She takes her hands out from behind her back and gives me an envelope.
“What’s this?” I ask, turning it over in my hand. The envelope itself is blank, but there’s a card inside it.
“Open it,” she says excitedly.
I pull the card out and read it. It’s an invitation to Autumn’s birthday party this weekend. Her birthday that’s on the same day as mine.
“It’s for my birthday party,” she says with a smile on her face.
“I see that…”
“Will you come to my party?” she asks, and all of a sudden, she goes from having a smile on her face to a quiver lip. Her eyes downturn –I don’t even know how one does that– and she stares at me expectantly.
I look towards Penny’s apartment door and then back to Autumn, pausing before giving her an answer. “Of course, I’ll come. I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I tell her, because who can say no to a quiver lip?
What she doesn’t know is that I had already planned on making an appearance on the twenty-first for our respective birthdays. I’m glad I got this invite, though, because it looks like it’s going to be at Alex and Briana’s house and not next door.
“Yay!” Autumn yelps and wraps her arms around my neck. I swallow hard against the knot that appears in my throat. Her easy affection is not something I’m used to. In fact, the only person who ever really hugs me is Kate, and I only see her a few times a year.
My brain flicks back to the memory of Christmas when Penny hugged me and how right she felt in my arms. But everything went to shit afterward, and I haven’t gotten a hug from her since.
I hold Autumn against me for a beat before pulling away. “Alright. You need to get back inside before your mom wakes up and has a heart attack. No more leaving the apartment without a grown-up.”
“Okay,” she drags out the last syllable and nods her head. “Goodnight, Dec. See you at my party.” She gives me a wide smile, and I make sure she shuts the door behind her before heading back into my apartment.
I pour two fingers of whiskey before returning to what I was working on. I have more than enough time before the weekend comes to finish my gift for Autumn, and I hope she loves it. It’s an unconventional gift, but if I were a kid her age, I would love it.
I decide I need to send Penny a message and pull up our text feed.
