And one thing was certain. I could not wind up in his bed again.
CHAPTER 25
Theo
I finished loadingthe dishwasher while Pen wiped down the stove. She’dseemed jumpy when I’d first come home, but I’d brushed it off. Sometimes she was like that.
It was cute.
Truth be told, I’d been jumpy, too. Which was not like me. But walking in and finding her curled up on the couch had felt like being punched in the gut. I couldn’t decide if I felt guilty over what had already happened or wanted to drag her to my bed and lose myself in her.
Both. Definitely both. I’d coped by taking a shower.
Fortunately, sharing a meal seemed to have cut the tension for both of us. It felt like things were calming down—returning to normal. Granted, I’d almost lost my mind and kissed her again before the call from the assisted living home. Her grandma’s dizzy spell had saved my ass.
She finished cleaning up and went to her room. Probably to grab a sweater or something, since she was leaving to see her grandma. It was odd, but I didn’t really want her to go. Not that I didn’t want her to visit her grandma. That was great. But withthe rest of the evening stretched out before me, it felt a little bleak without her.
I really needed to get my head together.
“Hey, Theo?” she asked as she came out of her room. She’d put her hair up and changed into jeans and a T-shirt with a green cardigan.
“Yeah?”
“I know visiting someone’s grandma in assisted living is probably not the most exciting thing in the world. But, do you want to maybe come with me?”
My mouth turned up in a grin. “I’d love to.”
Her smile filled my chest with warmth.
We put on shoes and coats, then headed out. I offered to drive, so we climbed into my truck, and she gave me directions.
I was genuinely excited. Pen had told me so many stories about Grandma Colleen, I was looking forward to meeting her.
We arrived and parked out front, and Pen led me through the automatic doors that opened as we approached. While Pen signed us in, I helped myself to a piece of chocolate from a bowl on the counter. The place was decked out for fall, with pumpkins and leafy garlands everywhere.
Just past the entry was a large gathering space with a big two-sided gas fireplace in the middle. On the near side were couches and armchairs. Residents looked up as we walked in, smiles crossing their faces. And they weren’t smiling at me. It was all for Penelope.
“Hello, Miss Penelope!”
“Hi, Penelope!”
“Good evening, Penelope!”
She said hi, smiling and waving at each of them in turn. It didn’t surprise me that she knew them all by name.
I followed her past the fireplace to an area with small tables. One had a half-finished puzzle laid out on it, and severalresidents sat at others, some with books or magazines, others with mugs of coffee or tea. A cabinet had a coffee and tea station, and two TVs mounted on the wall played a reality show with the subtitles on.
Penelope approached a table where an elderly woman in a wheelchair sat flipping through a magazine. Her long white hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and she was dressed in a pale blue sweater.
“Grandma Colleen,” Pen said. “I thought you’d be up in your apartment getting some rest.”
She set her magazine on the table. “Oh, Penny, don’t be silly. I’m in a wheelchair. All I do is rest.”
“How are you feeling? Any more dizzy spells?”
“Not a one. I’m fit as a fiddle.” Colleen’s eyes flicked to me and the corners of her mouth turned up in an amused smile. “Did we bring someone?”
“Oh, yes.” Penelope glanced at me, nervously biting her lower lip. “Grandma, this is my friend Theo.”
