His smile only deepened, and for the first time in a year, we took each other in.
“You look good, Pen.”
Warmth rushed to my cheeks as hope swelled in my chest. “Thanks. You do too. I missed you.” The last three words slipped out, but I didn’t want to snatch them back. I wanted him to know.
His smile faltered. “I… I have a girlfriend.”
My muscles all stiffened as embarrassment swamped me. I stepped back, and my lower back hit the counter. “Oh. What’s her name?”
What else was I going to say?
Thankfully, my dad came back into the kitchen right after, filling the room with baseball talk while I stood at the stove. I tried to recover, scooping out the chicken and orzo onto three plates while dread wrapped around me like an octopus, pulling me down into the dark depths of the ocean.
I had no idea what it would be like to watch Decker with another girl. But I had a feeling I was about to find out.
“Is dinner ready, Mommy?” Hazel’s voice pulls me out of the memory as she barrels into the kitchen. “Decker’s stomach is making noises.”
“Tattletale.” Decker tickles her side, and she squeals, running away.
She runs to my side, clinging to my legs, and my eyes catch and hold Decker’s.
Those familiar eyes say so much more than the words that ever come out of his mouth. I’m still a fool.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Decker
* * *
Peeper’s Alley is mostly dead tonight. The regulars are perched on barstools, watching replay games since no Chicago team is competing tonight.
This evening at Penelope’s house floats through my mind as I try to process how normal it felt. Normal. Not awkward but for a heartbeat when I first arrived.
The three of us, her preparing my favorite meal. The way the kitchen felt like somewhere I’d been before even though I’ve never set foot in her house. The farther the Uber drove from her house, the more lost I felt.
Ruby comes out from around the bar with a beer in her hand for me. “I thought I was going to have to call the missing person hotline.”
I follow her into the private room in the back, reserved for those of us who live in the building, although we’ve had to share it with the Falcons a few times over the years. But they’re mostly busy raising children and riding off into sunsets these days.
“Our schedule has been crazy.” I sit at the table and turn on the television to ESPN. Anything will do as long as it takes my mind off of earlier. Chase tag? Sure, I’ll watch people run and try to get away from their opponents.
“You look like you need something stronger.” Ruby stands next to me.
“Beer is good. Thanks, Ruby.”
Her hand lands on my shoulder. She’s always seemed to have a softer side with me than with the others, and I try not to think it’s because she feels sorry for me. “I hate to ask, but girl problems or baseball problems?”
I shrug at first, then since it’s just the two of us, I decide to open up a little. “Both.”
“You know I’m not a yapper. You can trust me.”
I laugh quietly. “I’m okay, Ruby. But thank you.”
She squeezes my shoulder. “I’m not gonna try to get water out of a dry well, so if things change, let me know.”
“I will.”
