Instead, she’d stood there, watching Lucia flop onto a couch, settle deeper into the cushions, and release a contented sigh.
And Penelope? She’d stood frozen, the current already lapping at her ankles. Dread and awe wrestled inside her—equal parts thrill and terror.
She shook her head and filled her water kettle. After making a cup of peppermint tea, she settled on the couch next to a now snoozing Fuller, and glared at her phone, as if her fingers itching to pick it up and text Lucia was the device’s fault.
“You’re being ridiculous,” she mumbled but still picked up the phone and opened their message thread, pausing and staring at the last message.
With a sigh, she typed,What’s the story with you and Skye?and pressed send.
She had so many questions for Lucia, and it made her want to punch something—all the things she wanted to know about her. She didn’t want to talk about theMadonnaor all that stood between them.
But after their blah of a good-bye, she wantedsomething. So, why not combine the two? As justifications went, Penelope usually did better.
Her phone buzzed.
A long tale, but tl:dr, we dated ages ago and since then, we bicker a lot.
You realize a “too long, didn’t read” summary still needs to tell you something?
Lucia added a laughing emoji to her reply.
Three dots appeared.
Penelope stared at them until her eyes almost watered.
We weren’t together long and it wasn’t serious for either. We were just young and dumb, and I suppose hot for each other, lol.
Then why the bickering? Or does she just enjoy taunting you?
She might. Skye is super protective of Francesca. As if I’d hurt her We have a similar background, Skye and I, but she joined a couple of years later.
So you think it’s about Francesca?
Who knows? Skye… She can be quite charming, but sometimes she has this anger and frustration going on, and I’m an easy target, I guess.
You could tell her to stop.
Like you did? That was very sweet, btw. Thank you.
Penelope blushed, her pulse ticking a little too loudly.
Yes, well, I don’t like bullies.
No, I imagine you wouldn’t.
She exhaled sharply.
What makes you say that? Mind you, it’s hardly an uncommon trait.
I stand by what I said: you seem the righteous type.
I used to think so, but I’m having my doubts recently.
It’s understandable. What happened with your father… It wouldn’t leave anyone cold, and it’s natural to want revenge.
Perhaps, but do all people go for that?
If they have the chance, they might. Most people just don’t.
