I groaned and ran a hand through my messy hair.
Penelope: That’s okay. I don’t want you to think I’m intruding on your family in any way. Boundaries are good. I’ll be more professional, I promise.
Shit.
I didn’t want professional.
I wanted…
If the guys could see me now.
I wanted a damn adult friend.
I wanted someone I could talk to about my kids.
I was… lonely.
Funny how you can be surrounded by fame, fortune, people shouting your name, and you still feel like the most isolated person on the planet.
Me: God no, please don’t. If one more person smiles at me and tells me it’s going to be okay I’m going to lose my mind. I need more adult friends who aren’t happy bandmates or people who want something from me. Sorry, overshare.
Penelope: That’s not an overshare. And I get you. I just moved here, remember?
Me: Is this the point in the conversation that I ask if we can maybe hang out? As adults sometime? Not a date.
Great, I really was going to die alone with my drumsticks clutched in my hand. Music would be my mistress. Fantastic. The guys always did tease me about music being more important than anything.
But they didn’t know. It was the only thing that never let me down. It was my constant. I needed it like I needed air to survive.
Penelope: Hah don’t worry I’m a good adult friend. I’m an even better friend because I won’t hit on you. I don’t date famous people. I don’t want anything to do with the spotlight. I’ve seen what Dani goes through. I mean, not that you’d be interested. That came out wrong. My turn to apologize…
I grinned down at my phone.
Me: You mean you didn’t have a poster of me in your bedroom when you were fourteen? I’m almost insulted.
Penelope: I may never show my face again. Guilty. One poster, but I was more of an Andrew girl.
Me: You’re fired.
Penelope: But the drummer and sometimes lead vocalist did have a really great…
I could have sworn I started to sweat. What was I? A teenager again? Not that I’d even dated much, I was too petrified I’d somehow knock up a groupie or end up in the tabloids.
Me: Great?
Penelope: Beat ;) He had a great beat, nice hair too, teeth—
Me: Are you trying to bruise my ego?
Penelope: Is it working?
Me: No, not really. I saw you staring at my abs today.
Penelope: OMG who just changes in front of strangers! You deserved that! I didn’t know where to look, okay?
I burst out laughing.
“Dad? Someone here?” Eric called.
