Page 92 of Finding Storm

“Fucking hell, Pen,” I hiss. “I told you to stay put.”

“I’m sorry.” She pouts. “I just wanted to see the rock star.”

“You saw him yesterday!”

“But I didn’t know who he was then,” she whines.

I let out a hint of frustration. My eyes swing Gran’s way. “You couldn’t have stopped her?”

Gran’s hands go up in surrender. “She snuck past me when I was in the pantry.”

I pin Pen with a stare. “You’re officially banned from the B&B.”

“What?” Pen yelps. “No fair!”

“Until Nick,” I emphasize the name, “has left or you can learn to behave yourself, you’re not allowed to come here.”

She pouts again, arms folding. “You’re being mean.”

“I’m being a good B&B manager and protecting my guest from a crazy fangirl.”

“Hey!” she exclaims. “I’m not a fangirl.”

“No?” I do a girlie giggle, imitating her a moment ago, and flick my ponytail. “Hi, Nick. I’m Penny. Total fangirl,” I say in a high-pitched voice. I add another hair flick for good measure.

She’s glaring at me, less than impressed. But I’m not feeling so impressed with her myself right now.

He’s probably sitting in there, feeling shitty because he knows we know who he really is.

I just need to tell him it doesn’t matter to me who he is, and I’ll keep his identity a secret for however long he wants me to. And so will Penny, if I have to gag and bind her and lock her in the garage.

We’re in a staredown at the moment. I know I’ll win because Pen is shit at the staring game. She always cracks first. Me, I could go on until the end of time.

“Fine!” She blinks. “I was totally obvious. I didn’t mean to be. But he’s so famous, Stevie. And you know I’ve never met anyone famous before. He’s this famous rock star with abs that go on for days! And you know abs make me stupid. I mean, come on, have you seen his abs?”

“Actually, yes.” I fold my arms over my chest, eyes narrowing. “When did you see them?”

“Calm down, tiger.” She rolls her eyes. “I saw a pic of him shirtless online. He was photographed on the beach last year.” She mimics me, crossing her arms over her chest, and fixes me with a look. “But more importantly, when did you see them?” I open my mouth to speak, and she cuts me off, “And do not say online ’cause I’ll know you’re lying.”

“Fine,” I huff, dropping my arms. “I saw them yesterday. When I went to tow him. He didn’t have a shirt on because he’d spilled coffee on it. He was just wearing his leather jacket.”

“I saw them too.” Gran waves her hand again from her spot by the coffee machine that she’s now cleaning down. “He took his shirt off in the gas station when I was there. That’s where he spilled the coffee on himself.”

“Sweet Jesus.” Pen fans herself. “You’re telling me that he had on just a leather jacket? And those abs?”

“Yep,” I answer.

“How did you not maul him on sight?”

“Because I’m not an animal.”

“Dude, we’re all animals. If those abs were put in front of me, I would have climbed that eight-step ladder all the way to sex god heaven.”

I laugh despite myself. “You’re a perv.”

She grins and shrugs. “I just really like abs.”

“Don’t we all?” Gran says on a sigh, making Pen and me chuckle.