“Penny.” I repeated and knocked three times after. I’d watched enough episodes ofBig Bang Theoryto get that one straight away.
“We have to do that a third time, else it’ll be bad luck.” She pointed at me, like a teacher would to answer a question, only this teacher was one you’d spend your homework time fantasizing about.
I nodded. “Penny.”
We both knocked three times, making the bartender turn round abruptly, causing us both to laugh like it was the funniest thing.
“What’s your name?”
I sipped my negroni. “Leonard. Funny that, isn’t it?”
She grinned, looking at the bar and toying with her glass. “Two more, please.” She gestured to the bartender. When her eyes were back on me they were dancing with mischief. “It’s a real coincidence. Me being called Penny and you being called Leonard. Must be fate.”
“Must be.” I lifted my almost empty glass in a toast. “To Penny and Leonard.”
Penny smiled, pushing her blonde hair out of the way. “To Penny and Leonard.”
The bartender frowned as he put our drinks down on the bar. “Is this to go on your tab, ma’am?”
She gave him a smile that dazzled and nodded. “Thank you. Just keep putting them all on that tab.”
“You can only let him do that if I can buy you dinner.” I wasn’t sure whether she’d go for this; not so much having dinner with me but letting me pay.
She tipped her head to one side and looked like she was considering it. “Are you one of those rich tech boys from Silicon Valley? I only ask because you kind of dress like one; like you’re actually filthy rich but don’t want anyone to really know.”
“Pretty much.” That wasn’t a lie.
“Then dinner it is, Leonard.” She accepted her second negroni from the Bartender. “Or do you preferLen?”
I laughed quietly, really not wanting to draw any attention to us from the large party that had just come in.
Penny angled her body away from them, too.
“I think maybe we should forget about names for the rest of the evening. Where are you staying?” If the night went where I hoped, the idea of her crying out ‘Leonard’ when she came wasn’t going to be a turn on.
She gave me a smug grin. “Here. I managed to get a suite. My a…friendsaw what was coming and booked ahead.” She sipped her second negroni.
“Your friend.” I wasn’t going tonotpoint out her slip.
“Friend. We all need them. Don’t we, Leonard?” She put her glass down. “Maybe we could eat dinner in my suite. I’ll still let you pay.”
“Kind of you. I’m happy with that, although how are you sure I’m not a mass murderer on the FBI’s Most Wanted list?” Some of the group who’d come in were English. I’d picked up on a Brummie accent from a man who was definitely lacking volume control, and I had a very strong feeling that even dressed as I was, he’d recognise me. I wasn’t ready to have my face splashed all over social media which would just encourage speculation about who I was going to sign for.
My agent knew I wanted to play for Manchester Athletic. Arsenal knew I wasn’t coming back; I’d done my farewell tour of the pitch to applaud the fans who’d supported me for the last three seasons at the final home game. I’d been offered a salary increase to a stupid amount to stay, but I wanted out of the capital. Manchester would suit me. It was easy to get into the city centre from the surrounding rural areas, and there were areas where I’d like to live. Put down roots. Any focus on me being in Texas right now would have the press speculating about me signing for an American team, and that would make the Athletic manager twitchy.
I didn’t want to start on that footing with Guy Babin.
“I’m a good judge of character. I don’t think your intention is to kill me. Where are you staying? Did you manage to get a room?” Penny rearranged her hair to hide her face.
I couldn’t place her, but part of me now recognised her. I wasn’t going to overthink it though. Tomorrow, or the day after, we’d be both on our own ways to where we needed to be next.
This was a moment when time could pause, and we could get off the treadmill that I suspected we were both on. We could take a breather from reality and all its trappings.
“No. No room. I was planning to fall asleep on the sofa over there.” I nodded in the direction of a leather chesterfield that had looked comfortable. The man with the Brummie accent was now lounging on it.
Penny nodded. “Nice. I suppose I could be a good neighbour to a fellow Brit and offer to share my room.” She gave a small shrug. “Just to be kind given the situation we’re in.”
I rubbed my glass with my thumb and saw her eyes drift over to it, then back to me. Maybe Penny had a thing for blokes in glasses who looked like tech geeks. Maybe she had a thing for picking up blokes in airports.
