7. Penelope

7

PENELOPE

I roll over in bed, moving to my side and looking out my large windows at the lake, at the surrounding trees blowing in the wind and the ripples of the crystal blue water. The sight makes me physically ill.

How the hell can Linc live right on a lake?

His mom vehemently tried to talk him out of it, but it was his request. I never should have agreed to move here, but I can’t seem to say no to Nora. She begged me to give college a shot and said she’d feel better if I lived with Linc, that he could keep me safe and help me to not feel so alone. She apparently has no clue who her son is. But I ultimately gave in, knowing I’d hate it here.

I roll to my other side and stare at the closet door. That’s a little better.

I hold up my hand and look at my right wrist, then squeeze my eyes shut tight. Why did I have to get that tattoo?

May 1 st .

Today’s date.

Colt’s birthday.I move to lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling in my bedroom. Being unable to get comfortable is my thing these days. Being stuck with a restless spirit that never feels calm or settled, that’s me.

I can’t escape the thoughts in my head. The memories. No matter how hard I try.

There’s no way I’m going back to sleep, and I’m definitely hungover from doing shots with some hipster douchebag I met on campus yesterday and walked with back to his place. To top it all off, he was a lousy fucking lay.

I mean abysmal. I was never even close to coming. I left his place frustrated and totally unsatisfied.

I climb out of bed and walk to the only bathroom in the house, desperately needing another shower.

It’s like the one I took last night didn’t take or something.

I constantly feel unclean.

I hear the shower running before I walk in, but I don’t care as I push the door open and lift my t-shirt off over my head.

“What the fuck are you doing, P?”

I roll my eyes and then look at Linc. The shower in this bathroom is all glass with a tile floor. There’s nowhere for him to hide, but he doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before. Although his is by far the best male body I’ve seen, sculpted and hard from years of working out his frustrations. “I need a shower.”

I unhook my bra, sliding my thong down and open the shower door, walking inside. “What. The. Fuck?”

I turn to look at Linc’s face. “Please don’t act shy around me. I see you, Linc.” I repeat back to him the words he would use to taunt me when we were young. I know him just as well as he knows me and always have.

“We don’t shower together.”

I roll my eyes again and move past him to grab the shampoo, lathering it up in my hands. “And yet, the other night you were asking me for an orgasm.”

I stand under the spray of the shower, letting it wet my hair before raising my hands to scrub the shampoo into my brown locks.

His jaw ticks as he watches me with a brooding and angry look on his handsome face. He’s definitely not in a good mood today.

Well, neither am I.

“So, you’re going to blow me then?”

I rinse the soap from my hair and turn away from him, letting the water wash down my face, closing my eyes and enjoying the feeling before I grab the conditioner and rub it into my hair.

I feel him move right behind me, his hands gripping my arms, but not pressing up against me. “You acting out, P?” I close my eyes again, hating this day, hating that I’ve spent every birthday of Colt’s with him since his tenth, until now. “Because of the date on the calendar?”

I swallow, brushing the water out of my eyes as I turn to face him, still looking only at his face. I won’t give him the satisfaction of ogling him. I like pissing him off by acting like he’s unimpressive. “That’s all today is to you? A date on the calendar?”

His eyes darken, and I know he’s trying to act as if he doesn’t care, but he’s swimming in the same sea of regret and sadness I am. “It’s just like any other day.”

I shake my head, letting the water rinse the conditioner from my hair, not saying anything.

“What are your plans for today?”

I move out of the water as I grab a loofah and let him rinse off. When he turns away to wash his face, I allow myself one curious look. My eyes move over strong, muscular arms and down to a perfectly sculpted, round ass before I grab my body wash and lather myself up.

“I’m going to one class this afternoon, and then, there’s a frat party I’m going to tonight.”

He turns around to look at me quickly, water dripping down his chest and the ridges of his abs. I catch myself before I look any lower as he sounds annoyed, “Frat party?”

“Yes, Linc. A frat party.” I nudge his body out of the way so I can rinse off. “I need to get laid.”

“Judging from your appearance when you got home, I would say you did yesterday.”

I shrug and open the shower door, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around me. “It sucked. I need a good lay.”

He turns the water off and grabs his own towel, securing it around his waist. “And you think a frat boy is going to help you with that?”

I shrug and brush my teeth at the sink, spitting out the toothpaste and rinsing the basin with water. “I guess we’ll see.”

“P.” He grabs my arm before I can leave, causing me to look up at him. “I’m going with you.”

“What? No.”

“Yes. Or you’re not going.”

I furrow my brow, irritated by him telling me what to do. “You’re not the boss of me.”

“You either take me with you or find a new fucking place to live.”

I jerk my arm out of his hold. “You wouldn’t dare kick me out.”

His face hovers near mine, his masculine body wash seeping into my senses. “Fucking try me. I don’t have to please my parents all the time. I’m not him .”

I swallow, my throat feeling dry and my chest aching just from his mention of Colt. “No. Shit.”

He takes a step back. “What time are we leaving?”

I hate him. He’s infuriating, but I promised Nora I would at least give it a full year, and I have no doubt the pissy asshole will kick my ass out. He’s right, he’s never felt the need to please his parents. “Nine.”

He nods as I leave the bathroom, walking down the hall to my bedroom to sit on the end of my bed and sob into my hands.

I’m sorry, Colt.