We walk up the steps that lead deeper into the house, but both of them are already halfway through their kitchen, coming to meet us.
I guide Arden into the room until I feel her hesitating. Sweets is right at the edge of their kitchen island, wearing a blue, matching sweat suit. She doesn’t bother looking at me for longer than it takes to give me a smile, because this is what Penny does. She’s good at it, too. She makes sure new women always feel welcomed when they’re brought around her.
“Hi. I’m Penny.”
Arden dips her chin, her eyes fixating on Sweets. I think she’s piecing it together. This was the chick Declan was freaking out about that night, and now they’re here. In this big house. Happy. In love. I can see the gears turning. She’s worried she might have been part of the ‘during’ Penny and Declan stage, rather than the ‘before’.
“Hey, Arden. Nice to see you. Drink?” Declan comes in, nice and easy. He flashes her that stupid, dreamy, dimpled smile, and Arden relaxes a bit at my side.
I shoot Declan a look. She doesn’t relax around me likethat. He has to chill with his stupid face and his stupid inability not to flirt with pretty women. I mean, I’m not one to talk, but this woman in particular. Okay, he didn’t even flirt. He just said hello, but with dimples like that, it’s pretty much involuntary flirting. He’s never allowed to smile at her again. I have decided. I’m calling Lemmy to get her to pass it into law.
Declan shoots me a confused look, like I’m being ridiculous. Yeah, probably, but if Arden is going to eventually pretend to be my girlfriend, she’s going to have to be able to act like she prefers me.
“I’m okay,” Arden says quietly.
Penny raises a brow at me, but I just shrug as inconspicuously as I can. It’s clear this wasn’t Arden’s idea, and it’s beyond apparent that she doesn’t really want to be here. I’m drowning, and I’m drowning fast. Sweets, who is watching me carefully, is my last chance at a life raft.
So, she does the saving.
“White, red, or water?”
Arden shifts on her feet.
Declan pulls out two beers from the fridge.
“Or coffee. I’m always down for coffee,” Penny continues with a little shrug.
There’s a pause, but then Arden answers in a quiet, little voice. “Red, please.”
“Of course,” I say under my breath, stifling a laugh. A glass of red for Red.
Arden glares at me for that one.
“A girl after my own heart.” Penny smiles, glancing over her shoulder. “Grab that new merlot for her, Dec?”
“On it.”
“You like red, too?” I cock a brow, because no, she doesn’t. I’ve been around this girl a lot over the past couple of years and have never seen her willingly drink or order a glass of red wine.
She looks at me briefly, like my comments can stay to myself. “I’ll drink it if it’s open, but my best friend’s preference is red. Every white wine girl needs a red wine girl, Carter. Keep up.”
I shake my head, breathing a laugh. Girl math, I guess.
Declan rolls his eyes as he uncorks the bottle.
“So,” Penny says, leaning against the edge of the island. She crosses her arms in front of her casually, keeping her face nice and warm in contrast to the cold and uncertain bundle of a woman beside me. “I hear you like dogs. I also like dogs. Big fan. I kind of have a problem. I’ve been collecting them like Pokémon.”
Arden perks up a bit. “How many?”
“Three right now, but I have my eye on a fourth.”
“No fourth!” Declan hollers, pulling down the long-stemmed wine glasses.
Penny expertly ignores him. He said no second and no third, too. He’s convinced he’ll never love a new one the way he loves the rest, even though he does all the same every time. She just sort of brings them home, he falls in love, and the cycle repeats.
“They’re out back. Want to meet them? We can have our wine out there. We were thinking about ordering some wings and pizza if you guys would like to stay.”
I risk a glance at Arden. It isn’t up to me. I would love beer, wings, pizza, and more time spent wearing this chick down until she likes me enough to want to help me. She offers a polite smile when Declan hands her the full glass of red wine.
