Page 13 of Punishing Penelope
Stephan throws out his hands, catches my gaze, and winks.
“Turns out being on the road wasn’t all that. Got a job offer. Gonna save up, then I’m off again. Plannin’ it better next time around. How’s everybody? Doing something fun?”
“Work mostly,” Cole says.
No one tells him about Peter and me, which is telling. Everyone knows there were tensions between us. Were. Seeing him is weird, but there is no hesitation. I know who I want. Peter and I’ve shared something special, something I never thought I’d feel, and my body burns for his touch. Always.
This is the real deal.
I’ll just… gather some courage, then I’ll let Stephan know.
He slams down on the chair and throws his boot-clad feet up on the table, making the cups clink when they rattle, and claps his hands.
“Well, fun needs to be had. Let’s do a bonfire. Bring some music, some booze. Hang. I missed you guys.” He looks at me, then tackles me lightly, shoulder to shoulder. “Bring your sis. Bet she doesn’t get out much.”
“Where’re you gonna get booze?” Sandra asks, disbelief written all over her face.
He taps his index finger against the side of his nose. “I know a place.”
“Good enough for me. I’m game,” I say. The others agree with various hums and nods. “Getting Savannah home in time, though. And no booze for my sis.”
“Scout’s honor.” Stephan crosses his chest. “No getting the kiddies drunk. Can she do a joint?”
I half shrug. “If she’s with me.”
“Cool!” He grins his supermodel smile, flashing all the white teeth.
Scout’s honor. What a fucking joke. The man wouldn’t know honor if it hopped up and punched him. I’ll take care of Savannah. She can hang with us a little, then I’ll get her home. I can have my good time after, getting wasted and snuggling with a certain guy.
With two cars available, we pull up outside Stephan’s foster parents’ house. There are no lights in the windows, the nearest streetlight is broken, and the sun has set. We sneak closer, the tension thick and sizzling.
“Sure they’re not home?” Liam whispers.
“They left yesterday.” Stephan gestures to the dark house. “Some fucking wedding anniversary crap. I know where he keeps the booze.”
“Man, I don’t know,” Sandra says, staying back. Lexi stays in the backseat of one of the cars. This is so not her thing.
Me, I’m so excited, I can almost taste the adrenaline, and it has a slight tinge of iron, a little like blood.
“Booze, you said? Tell me he’s got some good stuff.”
Stephan drapes his arm across my shoulders and pulls me to him.
“Gin, Vodka, twelve-year-old whisky.”
“Yuck. Whisky makes me puke.”
“You need to learn to drink whisky, woman! Bet ya like the Beefeater, then. More your thing.”
“Beef eater?”
Stephan laughs. “Oh, you sweet innocent child.”
Child. Woman. Yeah, sounds about right. Most days, I’m not sure myself. I also have the wrong guy’s arm around me, and it feels icky.
I shrug out of his hold, daring a glance at Peter, who gives me an unreadable look, then I punch Stephan’s rock-hard arm.
“I’ll show you who’s a child.” I glance behind me. “You sissies comin’ or what?”