Page 19 of Chivalry is Not Dead

He throws his head back in laughter. “You are quite the harlot, my love.”

That sobers me up quickly. “I think it’s my turn for a shower.”

Moving out of my way, he gestures into the bathroom. “Be my guest.”

“Good use of phrases.” I go to pass but his arm comes out to block me. “Yes?”

“I need my morning hug.”

I blink at him. “Like this?”

Sanders takes his bottom lip between his teeth, nodding. I roll my eyes at him but comply. He pulls me in, swaying from side to side as my face is pressed into his naked chest.

“Tease,” I mumble, feeling the roll of laughter echo through his body.

“Enjoy your shower, Penelope,” he says, letting me go.

“Not as much as you enjoyed yours,” I joke, shutting the door behind me.

When I get out of the shower I see another Post-it from Sanders.

On a run.

Right next to it is our original to-do list. He’s modified it again.

Cereal Wars

Learn new phrases (ongoing)

Be on TV

Bake a cake

Learn a new game (NOT monopoly!)

Kiss Penelope Graves

Do more with Penelope ;)

My first thought is, who the hell taught him how to do a winky face?

11

If I am ever able to make a wish, I would wish for her.

It’s Thanksgiving. A holiday we don’t really care about in Auraria but we all use it as a day off. I personally don’t love celebrating the colonization of Native lands, and when I explain this to Sanders he spends a long time silently contemplating his role in medieval colonization.

“Reflection is important, Sanders. Reflection and changing patterns as we learn and move forward.”

This year Thanksgiving happens to fall on my birthday. We are going to kill two birds with one stone—a phrase Sanders did not like—by baking a cake and learning a new game today.

Well, I am not involved in the cake making process. Sanders and Mom have sequestered themselves in the kitchen with the promise to emerge with the World’s Best Cake.

I honestly cannot remember the last time Mom baked, and obviously Sanders never has, so this should be interesting. Mom assured me that she’s been watching YouTube videos and is confident in her abilities to make a delicious cake.

“Do not worry, Penelope. It will be a piece of⁠—”

“Don’t say it!” I cry, regretting teaching him that particular saying.