by D. Love
“Zack always told me I was his song,” I blurt out. “Every time I would ask him what his favorite song was, that would be his answer. ‘You, Penny, are my favorite song.’ I say with a lonely tear sliding down my cheek. I continue, telling her how he used to sing to me over the phone on his way home from work. He also used to tell me that when you're confused about a situation in life, all you have to do is listen to the lyrics of a perfect song, and it will hold the answers to all your questions. She smiles as she eats, the whole time listening to me ramble on. After we finish our dinner, she starts cleaning up. As she is wiping down the counter she asks me if I am feeling better. I tell her yes, and get up to help her.
“So, Penny, tell me, is it possible that you do have some kind of feelings for Kain?”
“Truthfully, I don't know. I know that I get a weird feeling when I read his words, and when we Skyped the other day, watching him dress in front of me sent butterflies buzzing in my stomach.”
“What the fuzz! You didn't tell me about him being naked, for Pete’s sake.”
“Fuzz, Tina?”
“Naked, Penny?”
We both start cracking up. Once we are finished with the kitchen cleaning, we go into the living room. “So, are you going to tell me about this naked Skype session?” She giggles.
I watch as she grabs my laptop, clicking away at the keys. I inform her that I will absolutely not talk about it and I change the subject by asking her what she is searching for. She replies that she is checking the updates from Delphina’s post. She lets out a big squeal, grabbing me and pulling me closer to her and the laptop. “You have to see this.
“I cannot believe the way that your fans are going crazy over you and Kain. I wonder if he has seen any of these comments.” She claps her hands together.
“I hope not! His publicist is probably furious with all the publicity going on from my interview,” I snap, a little worried about the repercussions.
“Penny, we have to go shopping tomorrow to get the perfect outfit to wear to this concert.”
One thing about Tina, she can change a subject as fast as she takes a breath. She’s rambling on about some boots that she has being dying to buy. Her happiness is so infectious, I find myself getting excited too. She tells me she is going to stay here tonight, that way we can wake early and go shopping. I go and find her some jammies to wear, throwing them at her with a giggle.
“I am going to bed, Tina, because I am sure you will have me up early.”
“You’re right, now go get some rest. We have a busy day ahead of us. I am calling off work.” She sounds so excited
After brushing my teeth, I slide into my bed. I just lay there, trying to replay everything. When did all this start with Kain? What am I going to do? I lay on my side staring at a picture of Zack that sits on my night stand. I tell him I love him, like I do every night. But tonight, I say something different to him.
“Zack, I will never stop loving you, but would you send me a sign that maybe you will be okay if I accept Kain in my life?” I start crying again, feeling like I am betraying him. Grabbing his photo, I squeeze it tight and fall asleep, still clutching it to my heart.
Next morning...
“Good morning glory!” Tina enters my room singing, shoving coffee towards me.
I roll over, throwing my pillow at her, and she sits the coffee down and starts jumping on my bed like a three-year old.
“Really, Tina?” I say, my words muffled due to my face being pressed into the mattress.
“I am so excited, I can only imagine how excited you are,” she giggles, and continues to jump. I hear her saying something about being sixteen all over again. Rolling out of my bed, with her still jumping, I head to the shower.
“Hurry up, Penny! All the boots and clothes are going to be gone,” she yells.
She is always so infectious, so dramatic. Sometimes I think she should be the writer. Returning to my room to get dressed and I see Zack’s photo back on my stand. Tina must have found it when she was making my bed. Once I am dressed, I head for the kitchen to warm up my coffee. Opening the microwave, I hear Tina tell me to listen to something.
“I have been a fan of Penny’s since I read her first book. I think Kain is a great choice for Penny. I truly believe Zack would be happy,” Tina reads. “Is that a good sign or what?” she adds. I raise my eyebrows, but then go back to heating up my coffee. For me, it’s just not the sign I am looking for. But I am not going to tell her that.
“Tina, shut the computer and stop reading all that stuff. I think you're addicted to gossip.”
She shuts the lid, and tells me it’s the best way to find out how one’s fans really feel. “Now, let’s go shopping,” she says.
We both grab our purses and head out the door. I didn't even bother to check my email this morning. I will check it from my phone later. As I walk out the door with Tina in tow, smiling, into the beautiful sunny day, I actually feel excited.
Chapter 8
Kain
“So, you’ve only talked to her online?” My best friend, Wayne, asks. Slapping the basketball away from his hands, I smile with a nod. The crumbled cement of the park playground below us, houses our latest legendary one-on-one basketball games.
“We Skyped the other night,” I say, and then dunk the ball through the old playground hoop. He huffs upset at my showing off.
“Skype?” He shrugs with worry in his eyes. Wayne Garner, my best, and only friend left after my painful divorce from Sydney. I found out the hard way that most of my friends were her friends. They all left me as quickly as she had. She insisted it be that way, I’m sure. Wayne was the only one who saw through her lies, and her silly games. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have crawled into a bottle of scotch, and gave up.
“Yes. It was…nice…” I say, drifting off, lost in thought. I toss the ball back to him. “No, that’s not exactly right. It was better than nice. It was exciting.”
“Really?” Wayne smirks.
“Penny is smart, sweet, witty…” I say in almost a rhythm. Wayne watches me, curiously.
“And you’ve only talked with her in messages and a video call?” He is testing me, but only because he cares. Only because he is protecting me.
“You’d be surprised how much you can learn from someone by just their words,” I try to convince him I am right.
“Is she hot?” he asks, bluntly. I snatch up the ball from him again, resting it between my arm and bare skinned ribs. His question annoys me a little, but I let it go. Penny and I have a relationship that is so much more than just physical…but…
“She’s beautiful.” I smile. Her image races through my mind, and I find myself frozen for a second. My imagination quickly traces the lines of Penny’s cheekbones down her chin and then, neck. Feverishly, I want to keep following her female lines down along her hourglass. At that moment I wanted nothing more than to see her smiling face again. I feel a nervous heat build in my chest as I remember her amazing eyes. Wayne decides to spoil the moment with a useless truth.
“Your newly ex-wife is beautiful too,” he says, cautiously. “Looks are not everything. You see how well things ended with Sydney.”
“That’s different,” I grumble. “Syd and I were young. I let her beauty and selfishness blind me. She was my greatest mistake. Is my greatest mistake.” I search his face for understanding. “Penny is the opposite of that. Penny and our manuscript is the future. Penny is my…hope.”
He looks at me with large eyes, “Hope? Damn, you writers sure know how to exaggerate things…”
“Wayne, she’s different from Sydney. Way different. She makes me feel alive again. She makes me happy.” I sigh.
“Happy, huh?” he smiles, slyly. “It’s about damn time.” Wayne smacks the ball from my grasp and quickly shoots it into the hoop. “That’s all you needed to say, brotha. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“Thanks,” I say.
With a slap to my back he says, “Can’t wait to meet her.
Now, let’s get back to me handing your ass on this court!”
“Bring it,” I dare.
The rest of the morning goes by swiftly. I needed to get away from my apartment and laptop. I love running from my deadlines, and meetings with lawyers. But most of all, I appreciate the time I spend with Wayne, my last remaining friend. He can be rude at times, but he always has the best intentions. He is a true and loyal friend.
With a quick wave from his truck window, he disappears around the bend in the street, driving towards his home. I walk up to my car catching my breath from our basketball game, and trying to wrestle my white T-shirt over my sweaty chest and arms. Penny’s face is still taunting me as I reach for the car door. Suddenly, my eyes notice something different. Something’s wrong.
“What the…” I gasp, looking down at my front tire. It’s completely flat. I look at the tire at the back of the car and find the same thing. Instantly, my face is bright red in anger as I make my way around the rest of my car. All the tires are the same…pancakes.
“Shit,” I growl. At closer inspection it is obvious that they were slashed on purpose. Cut into by a rather large knife of some sorts. Quickly, I snap some photos with my camera phone, as evidence. I am sure Sydney, has something to do with this. The thought almost cripples me with anger. She has taken everything from me but this, my car. Legally, she hasn’t been able to get her hands on it. This is probably her way of rectifying that fact.
I call Wayne for help and he hurries back. One tow truck bill, and insanely expensive set of new tires later, and I find myself stumbling into the front door of my apartment. With a friendly honk of his truck horn, Wayne gives me a thumbs up, and drives off, again. I sit my keys down, staring at the receipt from my morning adventures.
“Well, that’ll about do it…” I say to the empty apartment. “I’m officially broke.” The realization that I have just spent the last of my reserve money on tires and a tow, humbles me. My next thought is that I won’t be able to pay the rent this month, now. I am already three months behind, and I couldn’t possibly ask Amanda for another advance. With a heavy sigh, I glance up at the lone picture on my living room wall, just over my couch. As the image of my Grandfather’s old cabin stares back at me, it’s apparent that a move is in my future.
“Mount Charleston,” I say, softly. The location of the famous Brooks’ family cabin. Large, beautiful, and remote, it is one of my favorite places to write. I haven’t been there in years. The last time was an extended honeymoon I spent with Sydney in much happier times. Luckily, it’s also still owned by my father, and that meant she couldn’t take it away from me, away from my family. Believe me, she would have, if she could. It was the first thing she threatened to do when she first filed for divorce. I shake the memory from my head and try and focus on the beauty of the cabin. I wonder if Penny would like it. The idea makes me smile.
I set the receipt down on my kitchen counter and notice something from the corner of my eye. On the floor, next to the front door, was a small piece of folded paper. I reach down and scoop it up. With a heavy brow, I read aloud the handful of words scribbled across it.
“YOUR NEXT BOOK WILL BE YOUR LAST.”
The words are written in messy black ink fills me with confusion. There are no other markings on the paper, just those seven haunting words. I crumple up the paper in a tight fist and stomp into my bathroom for a much overdue shower. During the therapeutic rinsing I find my mind drifting from my troubles to Penny. Always to her. For a split second I see her before me, with me. Wrapped in the steam from the shower, and nothing else. With her hair slicked back from the water, trailing down her freckled shoulders, she whispers, “It’ll be okay.”
“Penny…” I say, reaching out for her, but finding only the hot water from the shower. Her silhouette is now gone, and I desperately want to see her again. Quickly, I towel myself off and throw on my favorite T-shirt and worn jeans. I run into the living room and open my laptop with a snap. While holding my breath, I click on the Skype icon, followed by the call button. Penny’s name flashes on the screen as I wait for her to answer.
“Please be home…” I whisper. Four rings later, my screen pops with the welcoming beep of a connecting call. A stranger’s face fills my screen.
“Well, isn't this a surprise!” The woman laughs.
“Umm…” I stumble over my words. Where is Penny? Who is this?
“If it isn’t the generous and talented Kain Brooks,” she teases. She winks at me, twirling a fork in her left hand. I am lost.
“Tina! What are you doing?” Penny squeals, sliding into view on my screen.
“Penny,” I say, a little too excited. She steals a quick and embarrassed glance my way before focusing on Tina again.
“Tina, I can handle this, thank you,” Penny snaps, playfully. Tina scrunches her nose, blushing too.
“Look, Penny…it’s Kain. And he’s got his shirt on this time!” Tina smiles. Penny gasps.
“Tina!” Penny calls out, pushing Tina off screen. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“He’s cute,” Tina says from outside my view. All I can see is Penny’s growing embarrassment. I find her flushed cheeks flattering, and a bit sexy.
“Sorry, Kain…” Penny says, finding my stare again. “That’s Tina, my best friend…umm…but you know that…” She is completely flustered now.
“Yeah, I remember you mentioning her once or twice,” I tease, softly. She pauses for a moment, collecting her thoughts. I wait for her to say something, enjoying the view on my computer screen.
“Kain, I didn’t know you were going to call tonight…” Penny says, fumbling with her hair a little. There is no need to mess with it though, it looks perfect.
“I’m sorry. Should I call another time? Did I interrupt you two?” I ask.
“Hell no, you didn’t interrupt us. The more the merrier!” Tina says, as she forces her way onto the screen again. Penny playfully nudges her off screen once more. “We were just having dinner,” Tina says, wiggling back onto the screen. I try to hold in a building laugh. They were best friends, through and through. Their closeness is written all over their faces.
“I can call back later, Penny. I didn’t mean to barge in on your dinner. I forgot the time difference between Vegas and Virginia,” I apologize, not sorry at all. I wanted to see her. After my morning, I needed to see her.
“No, its fine, Kain. I’m glad you called,” Penny says with smiling eyes.
“I’m glad you were home,” I say out loud, even though I wasn’t planning on it. An awkward smile plasters itself on my face, and Penny watches me, playing with the ends of her hair, slightly. Suddenly, Tina chimes in.
“And on that note, I’m heading home.”
Waking from her daydream, “What? Tina? Where are you going?” Penny mumbles.
“I’m late for a date with my favorite Showtime series. You’ll be fine, Penny…” Tina teases with a kiss on Penny’s cheek. “Kain will be your dinner partner.”
“What?” Penny and I say, in unison. Tina laughs loudly, and waves with one hand before heading out of Penny’s dining room. After twenty seconds of silence, Penny smiles at me, holding up her dish of pasta so I could see what she was eating.
“Well, Kain…are you hungry?”
“Always,” I smile back at her. “Hang on…” Leaving her for a moment I race into my kitchen, throwing open the refrigerator door, and grabbing out the leftover Chinese food I had. As fast as I can, I position myself in front of my laptop, already chewing on some cold noodles.
“Ahh, Chinese. Your favorite, right?” she asks, already knowing the answer. I nod yes, grinning like a fool. We both settle into our surroundings, Penny at her dining table, and me, wedged inside my couch cushions. With our food in front of us, and our nervous smiles lit by our computer screens, we start what can only be called…our first date. Even if we don’t realize it at the time.
Hours pass with silly jokes, comforting laughter, and plenty of brai
nstorming on our new collaboration. Things are light and fun. Her company is exactly what I need right now. Eventually we discuss our days, her shopping adventures with Tina and my morning workout with Wayne. Penny even suggests we get the two ‘besties’ together on their own Skype session. I mention the repairs to my tires, and she offers to help me out financially, but I quickly decline. I will never tell her how bad things are with my finances, and my bloodsucking ex-wife. The last thing I want is to burden Penny with any of my troubles. I also decide not to mention the threatening letter left under my door. More often than not, it was just some silly fan of my old book series. Some of the hardcore readers had an awful time letting go when I killed off a main character. Stalkers are just a sad part of a writer's reality. Good and bad.
It’s getting late in my time zone, so I knew it is extremely late where Penny lives. But she doesn't show any signs of sleepiness. No yawns, no puffy eyes, nothing.
“Penny, I can’t believe how late it is already. I probably should let you go soon,” I say, stretching my back with a few faint pops of my spine. She glances at her clock, watching me from the corner of her eye.
“I’m all right. I’m a big girl,” she smiles.
“I noticed,” I smile back. I remember that tomorrow is the night of the concert, but neither of us had brought it up the whole conversation. I wonder why she hasn’t said anything about it, not even a thank you for the tickets. Maybe she wasn’t going. Maybe I overstepped my bounds with her. Maybe I should concentrate on our writing and nothing else.
“Kain?” she says, leaning closer to the screen. It made the slivers of green in her eyes sparkle on the screen, softly.
“Yes,” I say distant, lost in her gaze.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” she asks, politely.
“It’s nothing, really…”
“Kain, what is it?” She insists. I watch her, enjoying the way she says my name.
“I was just wondering if you were going to the concert tomorrow night. You haven’t said anything about it…about my gift.” I swallow a large lump down my throat. Her face paints over in a soft seriousness. I regret asking, instantly.