Page 11 of Punishing Penelope
This summer is going to be the best summer of my life.
Chapter Three
Penelope
After, we’re silent, sweaty, sticky. My butt is glued to the beige vinyl seat, which has a pinkish wet spot with specks of blood. I grab my panties, wipe myself and the seat, then roll down the side window and toss them. Peter buttons up, and I pull on my shorts.
It’s hard to look at him. I know what I feel, but I don’t know what he’s thinking. My cheeks are hot, and I’m unsure what to say. Thanks?
It’s weird. Are we together now?
“I thought…” He stops. Then inhales. “If I’d known…”
I think I know what he ‘thought’ and where this is heading, and I don’t like it.
“Known what?”
“I was you first?”
I meet his curious gaze but say nothing. Then it pours out of me like a flood of poison, all the years of being treated like I’m less than by every classmate, of never belonging.
“You thought I sleep around!”
I have to fight not to cry.
That was that.
Moment ruined.
Peter takes my hand. I try to pull away, but he’s not having it, and he’s stronger than he looks.
“I do not think you’ve been with all the guys, Pen. Just that you… you know. That you’d been with someone.”
Oh.
Okay. My heart softens a little. I don’t want to forgive him that easily, even though the pull is there to climb back into those deliciously strong arms and curl up against his safe chest.
I pout.
“If it helps. You were my first, too.”
“No shit!” I say it to get back at him for the near ho comment, then realize what he’s really saying. It never occurred to me he hadn’t been with anyone either, but oh my god!
I was his first, too?
“Wait, what? I mean…”
“I’m sorry I came so fast. It’s… it’s emba—”
I put a finger to his lips, then kiss him, and it’s as if a door inside me slams fully open, letting all the warm and fuzzy in as I drink in his smell, the feel of his hands on my skin, his body on mine.
“Did it hurt, Pen? I tried to be careful.”
“Well, at least it was over fast.” I burst out in a liberating laugh.
After a moment, the look of horror on his face is replaced by a goofy grin, and he laughs.
“You with the comebacks, girl!”