Page 6 of Someone You Deserve

“Why you don’t cross the line.”

“Cross the line?” Dallas interjects. “He’s so far away from the line that he can’t evenseethe line. Hell, the line is a dot to him.”

Willow arches her brow at him. “Was that your attempt at aFriendsreference, babe?”

Dallas grins. “Yeah, Goose. How’d I do?”

“Well, you didn’t quite use it in the right context, but I appreciate the effort.” Willow kisses his lips and then turns back to me. “We’ve been bingeing the series together because I make references to it and your brother has no idea what I’m saying.”

“Sounds exciting,” I say sarcastically.

Willow rolls her eyes at me. “It’s the best show ever, and just because you can’t appreciate it, doesn’t mean you should yuck someone else’s yum, Penn.” I chuckle silently as her gaze softens. “Astrid has been through a lot, and she’s about to take on an entirely new level of responsibility of owning a business,” she says, returning to the topic from before, even though I was hoping she would leave it alone. Looks like I’m not that lucky. “Just continue to be there for her the way you’ve always been. She appreciates you, you know.”

Sighing, I nod. “Yeah, I know. Look, I’ve got to go. Make sure she gets home all right?” I say to Willow, standing from my stool.

“I will.”

With a parting jut of my chin, I head for the front door, but get stopped by Mrs. Hansen before I can leave.

“Penn!” she calls after me.

I spin around to face her. “What’s up, Mrs. Hansen?”

“I was wondering if you could stay later at the hardware store tomorrow?” she asks, batting her eyelashes at me. Elizabeth Hansen is older than my mother, so when she does this, I just get creeped out. But she’s my boss, so I hold in my reaction.

“Well, I have plans on Tuesdays…”

“I know, but Harold has a doctor’s appointment and he can’t drive himself afterward. He has to get his eyes dilated.”

Sighing, I agree. After all, it’s not like she can help that. And this is what I do. I help people when they need something. “Sure, Mrs. Hansen. I can stay late.”

“Thank you, Penn. Also, there’s a new load of lumber that’s coming in tomorrow that I’m going to need your help with too.”

“What about Vince?” I ask, referring to another employee who usually handles the outdoor area of the store.

“He hurt his back. Won’t be in for a few days.”

Shit. Between him and me, we usually handle the heavy lifting around the store, but without him, that means I’ll be the one that will take the brunt of the physical labor.

Nothing I can’t handle, but still.

“Okay. We’ll get it done. But you might want to think about hiring someone new,” I tell her.

“Oh. Yeah. I know.” She turns away from me, avoiding my eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Penn,” she says before walking away, back to Astrid’s party.

With one last parting glance, I push through the door of the restaurant and head straight out to my truck before I can get stopped again. The sun is almost past the horizon in the distance, leading to nightfall. Carrington Cove sits right on the coast in North Carolina, and the view of the ocean I’ve seen for my entire life never gets old. Turquoise and dark blue waves crash onto the white sandy beaches, the last remaining daylight reflecting off the water in the distance. Streetlights and neon signs begin illuminating the coast, and the Ferris wheel on the pier shines brightly against the purple and navy sky.

And as I drive, I hope that I don’t run out of daylight before I can arrive at the place that may be my own little venture in the near future.

***

“They accepted your offer, Penn.” Pam from Cove Real Estate smiles at me as I walk through the house.

“I can’t believe it.” I don’t think the reality has hit me yet, but as I walk around the space and make a mental list of everything that needs to be fixed, I’m sure it will feel real the second I start pouring money into the place. It’s a good thing they took twenty thousand less than the asking price.

“Well, money isn’t everyone’s top priority. Tom and his wife knew you’d take care of the house, and I may have put in a good word for you as well.”

I spin to face her. “You didn’t have to do that, Pam.”