The Price of Penny

by T. C. Rybicki

  “Really, you weren’t sleeping with her a few weeks before I met you?”

  “No, we were strictly friends the whole shoot. Well, technically she kissed me once after a night out and a few drinks but I politely shrugged her off. She thought I seemed sad.”

  “And she wanted to cheer you up.”

  “Maybe, but she didn’t. I would never lie to you. I’m sorry that I wait until the last minute to bring up important shit. You bring out my inner coward. I’ll try to do better.”

  “I hope so. Unless you think this new relationship is only casual like you’re used to because you should know, with all I’ve been through, I wouldn’t be taking this risk for a fling.”

  I grabbed Penny and wrapped my arms around her. I positioned her face toward mine. “There is nothing casual about my feelings, Penny. This most certainly is not a damn fling.” I was ten seconds from making a declaration I hadn’t realized existed until that second. She looked down, but I made her look at me again. I licked my dry lips and noticed she was staring at them. Was this my cue? I wanted to try, so I leaned in closer. Penny looked receptive for about two seconds and then stiffened again. She dropped her head and pressed her ear against my chest.

  We separated when she asked for the tour. She stayed the longest time in my room. Penny’s fascination with the sight of my bed renewed my hope until she spoke her mind. “I don’t like it.”

  “What? The whole place or just my room?”

  “Your room; the condo is fine. I’m anxious to see your view. I bet it’s great in the mornings and at sunset.”

  “Stay with me all weekend and you can see for yourself.”

  She didn’t say no, in fact she asked which bathroom she should use. I pointed her to the one in the hall since I wanted to change and I didn’t think she was prepared to undress in the same room just yet. She surprised me when she turned around and let me start her zipper which was the best three seconds of my life.

  We met back in the media room, both dressed a little more comfortably. “There’s a lot of guy stuff everywhere.”

  “Yep. I’m a man. I think that’s what you like about me most, isn’t it?” I raised my eyebrows at her a few times because I knew how much she loved my cockiness.

  “You’re nuts, and there’s a little more to it than merely your gender.” She pushed me and I fell back on the sectional but I held onto her so she tumbled down with me. Penny apologized with sincerity, “Sorry about earlier. I always spoil our special nights.”

  “You didn’t and we’ve had plenty of nights without one of your freak outs.”

  “Watch it,” she warned. “Hey, not to sound like a sow, but I’m hungry. Can we order a pizza? I barely ate that fancy party food. I was too nervous.”

  I reached for her phone on the coffee table to call up my favorite place. I was equally starved. We developed a system with our pizza orders. Penny liked spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and weird cheese and I liked my spicy meatball whenever I could get it. I punched in her passcode and she rolled her eyes since technically she’d never given it to me, but I was aware of it. Yeah, babe, I’m aware of more than you realize. I called for the pizza so my honey’s cravings would soon be satisfied. I was curious why she turned up her nose at my room. We had some time, so I brought it up again.

  “It’s too dark. I feel smothered in there. You need pops of color or new drapes, something. I don’t know.”

  “Okay, but as you established earlier, I’m a guy. I’m not decking the place in throw pillows or adding purple like you and Mags do to everything.”

  “I’m well aware of that, but I still think we could brighten it up a bit.”

  “I don’t want bright in my eyes early in the morning, but I like this ‘we’ you speak of. Does that mean you will be spending more time over here?”

  She bit her lip. “Maybe I memorized your security gate code like you did my phone’s. I might break in now, so don’t upset me or you’ll never know if you’re completely safe here.” This was the way I liked us. We’d grown quite comfortable and the joking and flirting were second nature as much as the bickering and teasing. Penny made the move into my lap which sent an impulse straight downtown. I froze.

  And as quick as she settled in, she left just as fast. “Oh wow, your guitar. Do I finally get to hear you play?”

  I leaned over and took a few familiar cooling off breaths with my elbows braced on my legs. Maybe she was that clueless or perhaps she enjoyed torturing me. Either way, I was a glutton for punishment. I stood up to follow her. She seemed genuinely excited to talk about my music hobby.

  “You do really play, just like Holden Rickie.”

  I cracked up at her reference to the old character I played when I was fifteen.

  “I thought your singing and playing was dubbed.”

  “Blasphemy, woman. Step back and prepare to be amazed. I’ve been getting back into music lately.”

  I had little time for music when I got involved with Voyagers but the past few weeks, I’d been inspired. Funny how feeling romantic made me want to sing and play again. We had some time before the pizza arrived, so decided to show her what I’d been working on.

  I picked up my acoustic and told her to have a seat. I started up the melody of “Penny Lane.” I guess with her name, it was likely she’d have instant recognition.

  She sat up at the edge and clapped her hands to the rhythm. I stopped after the first chorus. “So my little English girl appreciates The Beatles, I see.”

  “Of course, sorry you aren’t the first to mention this song to me. You realize what happens when people discover my middle name.” I guess that was unavoidable since I knew her given name was Penelope Elaine. “I’m impressed, please sing more.”

  “How about I change it up a bit, something a bit more romantic?”

  She rolled her eyes, but looked like she highly anticipated what was next. I strummed a few chords. She looked puzzled, like she struggled to figure out what I was playing. Her eyes widened at the first few lines, but when I belted out, “The first time I saw you . . .” she covered her mouth and blinked away a fresh tear. This was the one song I’d practiced endlessly because it reminded me so much of the moment we met. I even called her my Penny Lover in my mind that day.

  I knew the song well so I could play and sing while I watched her reaction. Until this moment, I practiced thinking about Penny and now I was singing to Penny. I’d never been a sappy, sentimental type, but the looks passing between us made me rethink who I actually was. This relationship skipped the primary stages and skidded to a stop at intense. Hell, I’d never even got a kiss, but something big transpired over the course of an 80’s love song. I got a little shaky toward the end because I honestly had never experienced a moment like this before. She hung on every lyric that I sang straight to her, about her.

  When I finished, she covered her face with her hands. Penny peeked between open fingers, so I wiggled my brows at her again. “Well, are you a Lionel fan also?”

  “Yes, of course, Mum’s nuts about him. It’s her age, I think but seriously, he’s timeless. I can’t believe you learned that entire song for me. I love . . . I loved it. Nice job, Romeo. Got anymore?”

  “Oh Penny, I’m very talented. I could go all night. Sure. Here’s one of my other favorites.”

  I went with a joke next because I was fighting the impulse to sit down my guitar and pin her against my sectional. Penny said ‘snail’s pace’ when we started and it still wasn’t the right time.

  I strummed a few chords of the jingle. She jumped. “Oh, forceful. What’s this?”

  I replayed my intro, “This, my dear, is Penny, You’re the One. Hold tight, this is going to rock your socks off.”

  She mouthed the title back to me and shook her head. I’d found a Penny song she wasn’t familiar with. I sang the money song I discovered on YouTube and she lost it. It was an actual children’s song to teach the value of a penny. She bent over from laughter, I sat the guitar to the side and
held out my arms for her. Penny came over and sat on my leg.

  “I think we found your true calling if this acting mess doesn’t pan out. Oh my gosh, Chet. That was hysterical. It will forever be our song. You could totally pull off a children’s album. Your voice is so uptempo and fun.”

  “Thank you. Maybe, I could sing it to our kids one day, help them get really smart and ahead in life.”

  The familiar stiffening overcame her. I was prepared to make a joke to get myself out of the kid comment, but the pizza guy buzzed my intercom and saved the day instead. She jumped up so I could let him in.

  We snuggled up in the corner of the sectional to watch that damn Marco Polo again. I’d decided there wasn’t enough tits and ass to get me through the lulls in that series, but she liked it, kept reminding me we’d have season two, eventually. Pizza was demolished in a hurry and we both had our share of specialty root beer. Penny hadn’t mentioned going home once since our tiff in the car. It was pretty late. I was afraid to bring it up. In fact, I decided the best thing to do was not say anything and let her fall asleep with me.

  I had the remote in my hand. The next episode was about to start. We were getting close to the season finale, but I didn’t want to start another if I didn’t have to.

  “You can turn it off. We should talk.”

  My first thought was oh shit, but I tried to remain optimistic. Penny sat up, turned toward me and crossed one leg underneath her other one. She didn’t seem like she was about to wig out again so I tried to relax.

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  “Us.”

  “Okay, what about us?”

  “Sorry, I bashed your manly bedroom. I hope I didn’t offend you, but I guess I felt funny being in there. Maybe, I meant that we should talk a little bit about before us, not just Grace.”

  I told her the funny part was I didn’t sleep in my room half the time. I started on the mattress woes to distract us both from the real issue. I think Penny worried how many women I’d taken to my room. She worried for nothing, I was sure it was less than she imagined.

  She laughed at me, “Ten thousand dollars. Are you nuts? The lady saw a rich wanker like you coming from a mile away. Why didn’t you research it better? You have people like Gage or others on your team that would do that for you, I’m guessing.”

  “Hell, I didn’t know I had ‘a team’ and did you just call me a wanker?”

  She giggled. “Sorry, it’s my Nan’s favorite for describing an idiot. Don’t act so modest, sure you have a team, but I could totally help you if you want to get rid of the bed. You deserve one that gives you proper rest. I know several ortho docs and a few chiropractors. I bet you can find a mattress more suited to your needs especially if money isn’t an object.”

  “Thanks, I might take you up on that offer. You can be my official tester and I’m open to suggestions about changing my room a little. I love the wall color though so that stays.”

  She shrugged and mentioned the large art piece over the bed needed to go. “It’s dreary and depressing in my opinion.”

  I didn’t dare tell her how much that cost. Instead, I broached a touchy subject. If we were going for it, I didn’t want her to have any questions. “Penny, about my past . . .”

  “No, don’t. I’m not sure why I suggested this discussion in the first place. You don’t need to give me a rundown of your entire life and you answered all my questions about Grace to my complete satisfaction. I admit to feeling insecure. I mean, I wear a shit ton of clothes compared to her vast array of partial nudes on her Instagram account. I worried you preferred the less is more look.”

  I laughed. Penny’s style was perfect for her. Grace could wear nothing and not compare. That’s how bad I only wanted Penny. “Well, I think you probably guessed she’s not the only one.”

  She shook her head, “Yes, there are plenty of other perfect women that jumped at a chance for a night with you.” I stopped her there and told her the real number. It wasn’t shameful in my opinion unless my mother ever found out. She’d be upset, but I told Penny the truth, the names and the circumstances. Most were friends or friends of friends in my circle. I admitted to a couple of random hook-ups. It wasn’t easy to trust ladies to keep their mouth’s shut, so I stuck with women in similar situations.

  She didn’t get upset, she nodded her head. “I understand. I imagined hundreds.”

  “I could tell and that bugged me. Stereotypes are often dead wrong, you know. I’m not a player, but I have regrets, too. Are we good? I’ve never considered myself in an exclusive relationship since tenth grade. By the way that girl never slept with me and still broke my heart. This thing with us is different, at least, I hope that’s what you believe as well. I’m not and will not see anyone else. I can promise you that. You can trust me.”

  “I do. I’m not seeing anyone either,” she laughed. “Although, Simon keeps inviting me to lunch. I’ve said ‘no’ every time and then this Grace woman presented a similar invitation like it’s no big deal.”

  “If this is your way of telling me you’re going to lunch with that boring ass lawyer if I have lunch with Grace, then points to Penny because that would make me fucking crazy.”

  “Oh, would it really? I didn’t peg us for the jealous types.”

  “I never had a reason to be jealous before but if some guy can’t stop sniffing around you when he isn’t wanted then maybe there’s cause for concern. How often is he inviting you to lunch? Is that all or does he want more?”

  Penny said it was only three or four times. That was enough to make me hate him. It didn’t help that she reminded me the wedding was fast approaching. They would spend more time around each other but as a group, not as a couple. “Mags said he thought I was his date for the wedding, almost like it was by default. Keats is supposed to break it to him nicely that I’m seeing someone before we run into each other again. Oh, yeah, by the way, you’re officially my plus one. I forgot to ask. Simon is a nice man and he and Keats go way back. I didn’t mean to cause confusion or lead him on.”

  “I doubt you did. Your meddling sister set you up in the first place. Of course, I’m your plus one. That goes without saying.”

  “Thank you. You know that same meddling sister is your number one fan currently.”

  I chuckled. “You sure about that? Have you read my twitter feed lately? I have some true die-hards.”

  “More like raving looneys. I would love to implore a few of them to seek psychiatric treatment, but I can’t out myself publicly. I prefer my anonymity.”

  “Penny, they took pics tonight. You realize that’s soon fading. Your name will get out there someway, somehow and I will protect you, but things might get really crazy before the news dies down. Hopefully, another famous person will do something else newsworthy: hookup, breakup or makeup.”

  “I’d hardly call any of those things newsworthy. How will they find out my name if I’m not famous?”

  “You’d be surprised. I know you and Maggie do the whole Instagram thing and you use your Facebook page for your family and work stuff. You need to check your privacy settings, Gage can take a look with you to double check. Although, I searched and it’s locked down pretty tight as far as I could tell.”

  “You, sir, are a stalker in the worst way. I don’t feel so bad for my searches.”

  “Guilty, but seriously, you might want to deactivate them.”

  “No, I will not! That’s insane. I’m nobody. No one will give a flip what I’m up to and I do very little social media. Most of it is to communicate with my family in the UK and to support Maggie’s career. Her makeup tutorials mean so much to her and her YouTube page has really taken off. I’m proud of her and she deserves praise. I’m carrying on normally, as always. Remember, my Snuggie? I’m plain ‘ole Penny.”

  She could believe that a little while longer. Penny was fairly naive, but what else was new? She was anything but plain to me. She’d lived a pretty sheltered life and her world was very sma
ll. If she and I continued to get serious, and I sensed this was only the beginning, it was about to get a whole lot larger.

  I realized how late it had gotten. Time ceased to exist sometimes when I was with Chet. It was almost one o’clock in the morning and he expected me to stay the night. It wasn’t fair of me to ask him to drive around so late. I didn’t want to lead him on by staying. I was so comfortable with him, but I still wasn’t ready to get overly physical.

  I decided to brush my teeth and get ready for bed. I really liked the sectional in his media room. I’d almost drifted off a few times, it was so comfy. He had two other bedrooms and a futon in his office, but I was happy to sleep in the exact spot we’d been watching Marco Polo. I picked my bag off the floor and rifled through it to find the brand new toothbrush I brought. Chet saw me.

  “Can I leave this here?”

  His face lit up like it was his birthday and he was ready to blow out his candles. “Yes, I’d like that very much, but bring it back to my bathroom. My girlfriend should keep her toothbrush in here, not in the guest one.” He was silly, but I followed him. His room could use some improvements, but his bathroom was gorgeous. It resembled a mini-spa. I looked at all the features and complimented him on everything from the lighting to the fixtures to the glass tile backsplash.

  “Are you going to stand there and watch?”

  “Yep, and you’re naughty saying things like that to me.”

  I tried to insist there was nothing naughty about my question or my tone, but he made a face before reaching for his own toothbrush. We both brushed our teeth, each at our own sink, which were exquisite copper bowls and maybe my favorite part of the entire room. He showed me where to store my toothbrush. I asked if he minded giving me some privacy. I needed to pee before bed after all that root beer since I overindulged.