She did but seemed annoyed about it. I always felt weird driving her car, but I was more concerned for my life than her ego at the moment.
Pulling into the driveway of her house, I noticed her husband’s Lexus was parked at the curb. “What’s he doing here?” I asked.
“He lives here. I guess he got off work early. Don’t freak out. I texted him and told him you were with me.”
I felt like if he walked into the garage and saw me getting out of the driver’s side, things would get very awkward.
He opened the inner garage door leading to the kitchen just as Penny and I reached it. He hadn’t seen me coming out of the car, which was a relief. “Hey Gavin, thanks for helping Penny out with the PTA stuff. I really wish that I had more time for that kind of thing.”
Penny and I just blinked up at him on the other side of the threshold.
“No problem,” I said.
“Yeah, you know, my job doesn’t really give me that much time off. Gotta provide for the family and all.”
He was so smug sometimes. It was fucking obnoxious. I glanced over at Penny, who looked bored. Her mind was somewhere else. I threw my hands up. “Well, I better be going. I’ll head out this way.” I pointed at the still-open garage door leading to the driveway.
“Yeah, I came home for lunch and thought Penny and I could sneak in some husband-and-wife time before our son gets home.”
I already said I was leaving, you fucker. Always pouring salt in the wound.
“See you, P,” I said without looking at her. “Peace, man,” I said to her smug-ass husband.I know you won, asshole. No need to rub it in. I walked quickly out of the garage and as soon as my foot hit the driveway, the automatic garage door began closing.
Two hours later, I got a text from Penny.
Penny: Sorry about earlier. That was weird.
Me: Whatever. It’s fine. I threw up a little in my mouth when he said “husband and wife time” though. Please tell me he doesn’t call it a marriage bed.
Penny: LOL
Pennyloyalty...
16.Fourteen Years Ago
PENNY
I could feel and smell spring coming on. The snow was melting, my feet didn’t ache as much anymore, and my muscles weren’t as sore. Joey and I had three weeks until our finals performance but we were ready.
After practice I met Ling for a drink and then stopped at Pete’s on my way home to see if Gavin was working. We studied together often but he was still seeing Lottie... so there was that.
“Hey,” he said, walking toward my car. “What’s up? Where’ve you been lately?”
I rolled the window down and stuck my head out. “Just practicing a lot.”
“I’m off in ten. You want to get a bite?”
“I just stopped by to say hi.”
He rolled his eyes. “Hi, okay. Now let’s go eat.” He waved to Pete. “Hey man, are we good?” Pete nodded, letting Gavin know he could leave. Reaching for my driver-side door handle he said, “Scoot over, let me drive.”
I crawled over the center console into the passenger seat. He glanced at my body and down to my bare feet, wrapped in tape. “What?” I said.
“Aren’t your feet cold?”
“No, they’re burning up. I had a gross infection on my big toe.”
“You look banged up and a little too thin, P.”
