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“I’ve missed you,” I cried.
“I know.” Marissa stepped back, holding me at arm’s length. “Douchebag guys look good on you, Penny.” Her lips twisted. “Now, are you going to make me stand out here all night, or are you going to invite me up?”
Oh, shit. Marissa was here, standing outside of my apartment. The one that had damp rot, smelled like fried foods, and had no internet.
“I, uh, it’s not exactly homey.” I dropped my gaze, regretting leaving it until the last possible minute to fetch more air fresheners.
“Please. We spent the whole summer sleeping on cots and being eaten alive by bugs, I’m sure I can handle it.”
She had a point.
“Okay, well, follow me.”
Marissa didn’t say a word as I led her into the apartment. I hit the light switch and dumped the bags on the counter. When I turned around, Marissa was standing with her arms folded across her chest with her nose pointed into the air.
“What in holy hell’s name is that smell?” She practically choked on the words.
I winced, eyeing the bag containing the lavender air fresheners.If only you’d arrived an hour later.
“Fried egg rolls with a hint of lavender,” I said, trying to brush it off as a normal everyday scent.
Marissa retched and then burst into laughter. “Lavender egg rolls? That’s fucking disgusting, babe.”
“Tell me about it,” I replied through my own laughter. “Coffee?”
“I might need something stronger than coffee to help mask the stench.”
“Espresso?”
“Geez.” She teased. “You’re like party central up here.”
I made us both coffee and joined Marissa on the threadbare couch, quietly sitting while she glanced around the apartment. “I love what you’ve done with the place.”
“It’s not much, but it’s all I have.”
“You’re a bit of a mystery, Penny Wilson, but I love you for it.” Her endearment rendered me speechless.
We had forged a close friendship over the summer, but I wasn’t sure it would extend much outside of Camp Chance.
Marissa was full of surprises.
“It’s so good to see you, and don’t take this the wrong way, but what the hell are you doing here? You never mentioned coming to visit.”
She had an apartment in Mansfield just south of Akron where she had just started working as an activity instructor at a non-profit.
“Call this a friend-ervention,” she stated before taking a mouthful of coffee.
“A friend-a-what-now?”
“Babe,” she sighed. “Don’t you think I know what this last week has been about? You’re in some kind of post-Blake funk. In fact, I bet you’re considering quitting your job. Which, by the way, is a terrible idea.”
Her gaze roamed around the room again, and I could almost hear her thoughts.
My fingers gripped the mug tighter as I stared down at the steaming dark liquid. “I haven’t decided what to do yet.”
“Penny, you can’t quit. Don’t give her the satisfaction.”
“Her?” My head whipped up to meet Marissa’s gaze, and she gave me a sad smile. “Okay, them. Don’t givethemthe satisfaction.”
