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I felt bad for getting rid of him, but I wanted to see Penny alone.
The kitchen door clicked shut behind Ben just as Penny reached me.
“Hi,” she mouthed, her lips curving in my favorite smile.
The one she reserved just for me.
“Hi. Happy birthday,” I mouthed back, sliding out the handmade card and giving it to her.
My heart pounded so hard against my rib cage that I thought I might pass out. I knew most girls would think a scrappy hand-decorated card was lame, but I hoped Penny would like it. Derek and the foster momster hadn’t even bothered to buy her a card.
Her eyes ran over my handiwork, but her face gave nothing away.
“Later? Usual place?” she mouthed.
I glanced down sheepishly, but she nudged my shoulder, refusing to let me look away. Shaking off the nervous energy I felt around her lately, I flashed her a cocky grin and nodded.
“As if there’s anywhere else I’d rather be.”
She flushed and I felt ten feet fucking tall.
“See you later.”
“Later.”
As Penny walked off, her hand brushed mine, leaving a million jolts of electricity buzzing through me and a pang in my chest I didn’t quite understand.
* * *
“I thought you weren’t going to make it.” I stood up, brushing off my jeans as Penny appeared in the clearing.
Our place.
She rushed over to me and launched herself into my arms. I caught her midair, and she pressed her lips firmly to mine.
Penny Wilson was kissing me.
Me.
It wasn’t my first kiss; I’d fooled around with girls at school before, behind the bleachers playing dares, but this was different. I held her close, never wanting to let her go.
But as quickly as her lips brushed mine, Penny pulled away, leaving a hollow pit in my stomach.
“Sorry,” she said breathlessly, dropping her gaze.
I brought a hand from behind her back and tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at me. “Never be sorry. Happy birthday, Pen. My lucky Penny.” I leaned in to kiss her again.
It was just a quick peck on the cheek, but it was everything.
Before things got awkward, I grabbed Penny’s hand and yanked her over to the blanket I’d laid out.
For the last couple of weeks, I had been stealing everything I needed to make tonight perfect. A blanket from a box in Derek’s garage and cartons of juice and cookies from the cafeteria at school. I’d even managed to swipe a candle and a lighter from one of Marie’s drawers. She must have confiscated it from one of the other kids because birthdays didn’t happen in the Freemans’ house.
It wasn’t much, but Penny’s wide grin told me it was more than enough.
“I can’t believe you did all of this,” she said, slightly awed.
“You’re only fourteen once.” I offered her a choice of juice. “Birthday girl chooses.”
