His brows lift on a surprised laugh. “Pennjamin?”
I shrug. “It suits you.”
He shakes his head, tossing me another playful grin.
It’s been a busy six weeks. I encouraged Penn to delegate, suggesting other bartenders could pick up his slack at Curly’s. Theo is plenty capable. I also helped him apply for an LLC, made an easy-to-maintain budgeting spreadsheet, and persuaded a very enthusiastic investor—Mac, who boasts both an impressive megaphone collection and a trust fund—to support Penn’s efforts in connecting the community. He’s even setting him up with a friend to talk through possible app opportunities.
I’m doing my best to give Penn what he needs. Not just startup capital, or an extra set of hands, or my CIA-level attention to detail, but also a vote of confidence. Someone in his corner.
Outside the sandwich shop, Penn points to Paws ’n Claws next door. “Remember when Ryan wanted a guinea pig,” he says, “and you delivered a long, completely made-up argument on how it could give him rabies?”
“I believe that was the same summer you advertised as a ‘non-dog walker’ and strolled the neighborhood with a turtle in a basket, so I’m not sure you can point any fingers.”
“I was an innovator.” Penn laughs. “And I’ve actually beenlooking around for my old business brainstorming notebook. There were some real gems in there.”
I raise my eyebrow, making sure he knows I’m teasing. Then I nod toward the store. “Let’s go inside. I’ve been thinking about getting a pet. Some fish, maybe.” He stares back, his lips pressed together. “Fish count as pets, okay?”
“You are not a pet person.”
“Penn, that’s like saying I have no heart.” He doesn’t disagree. “Come on,” I say, taking the excuse to grab his wrist, delighting in how his gaze drops to my hand as I drag him toward the door. “It’ll be good for me, taking care of something that isn’t my adult brother.”
His eyebrows lift. “Wow. How healthy of you. That’s growth.”
“Thank you,” I chirp, swinging open the door. “I’m trying.”
As I hoped, Katie stands behind the counter, wearing that same blue apron. This time, I have the wherewithal not to blurt out her name, since I’m not supposed to know her.
Except she looks at me like she’s trying to place me. Briefly, she clocks Penn, whose eyes have become saucers, and then she faces me again, her stare so intent, I wonder if she recognizes me. Maybe the veil between worlds is thinner than I thought.
Maybe this was a mistake.
“Well, hello,” Katie trills. She gives me another look before she fixes Penn with a smile. “So. She was my competition, huh?”
Penn eyes me sideways and starts to blush.
My stomach drops into my toes.
When I woke up in Penn’s bed and overheard him talking about Katie, I assumed it was this Katie. I hoped that maybe he’d connected with her about Earl, and that today I could convince him to hire her.
But they obviously have a history, and I’ve just planted myself in the middle of a messy situation. This is what I get for acting like I’m three steps ahead.
“No,” I stammer, gesturing between Penn and me. “We’re not…”
Katie’s brow arches. “You don’t work for him?”
I turn to Penn, confused.
“This is Ruby,” Penn tells Katie. “And no, she doesn’t work for me. She’s just doing me a few friendly favors.”
Friendly.A quick twist of a dull knife.
Katie laughs and brings a hand to her face, embarrassed. “Sorry. You’ve had me worried about my résumé for weeks.” To me, she explains, “I gave Penn my information more than a month ago, and when he finally responded, he said he already has plenty of help, but I thought he was just letting me down easy.”
Interesting, because I’ve told Penn for weeks that he needs to line up another hire. And yet he’s kept PennPals for just us.
I face him, awaiting an explanation, and he goes crimson.
Clearing his throat, he tells Katie, “Ruby here would like some emotional support fish. Could you please point us to the aquatic section?”
