Eli: Hey, just checking on you, making sure you’re good and don’t need anything.
Eli: Not trying to be a nuisance or anything, but it’s getting pretty late. You good?
Eli: Penny, just let me know you’re alive.
Penny: Alive, coming home soon. <3
Bags of lingerie in hand and feeling like I’m totally owning this situation, I walk through the door of my apartment and kick my shoes off.
Eli whips around from where he’s sitting on the couch in only a pair of athletic shorts. His hair is messy, as if his fingers have been pulling on it all night, and his eyes are searching me. For what, I can’t be sure, but they’re looking me over frantically.
“Hey, I didn’t think you’d still be up.”
“Of course I’m up,” he says. “I was worried about you.”
“Worried about me?” I ask with humor. “Why? You realize before you came along, I was more than able to take care of myself and make it through a night without any worries.”
“But you’re pregnant now.”
“Yes, I am, and that doesn’t mean I’m incompetent or have to be a hermit, Eli.”
“I’m not saying you’re incompetent or have to be a hermit, I’m just saying . . .” He trails off. I don’t think he knows what he’s trying to say.
“Okay.” I work my way into the bedroom and set my bags down in the closet. I reach in and pull out the cream-colored silk nightgown the girls liked the most, and I quickly change out of my clothes and into the nightgown. I bought four others just like it, and honestly, they’re really comfortable. They have a very thin strap, and the neckline dips down to skim just above my areolas, leaving nothing to the imagination. And the hem hits me mid-thigh, offering enough coverage so if I so choose, I don’t have to wear underwear. Which is exactly what I’m doing tonight.
I free my hair from my ponytail and let it fall over my shoulders before ruffling my hand through it to break up the waves a bit.
And of course, because I thought ahead, I spritz a little perfume on my wrists and rub my wrists down my neck and over my cleavage.
Pleased, I step out of the closet, half expecting to see Eli, but when I see he’s not in the bedroom, I walk out into the living area, where he’s sitting on the armrest of the couch. The TV is shut off, and he’s massaging his forehead. When he looks up, his hand falls to his side as his eyes narrow in on me.
“Just grabbing some water, and then I’m going to head to bed. You must be tired. Get all of your adrenaline out?”
“No,” he says through a clenched jaw.
“Oh, okay, well, feel free to stay up as long as you want.” I move past him and his blazing eyes, fill up a glass with water, and walk back to the bedroom, where I grab my phone and text the bosom buddy alliance while I brush my teeth.
Penny: I think we might be at a breaking point. There’s some serious anger brewing in that man.
Blakely: Really? Wasn’t happy about you “going out”？
Penny: Didn’t seem like it. He texted me several times, and now, he looks absolutely distraught. I kind of feel bad.
Winnie: Don’t! He’s being ridiculous. He’s trying to uphold some stupid promise to Pacey, which Pacey has no right making in the first place. Break him, Penny. BREAK HIM!
Blakely: Agreed. He clearly likes you. You’re just pushing him into the light.
Penny: Okay. P.S. this nightgown is fire, ladies. Oh my God, I’ve never felt sexier. I’m not wearing underwear.
Blakely: WHIPS BRA OVER HEAD Yeahhhhhh, girl, get some!
The door to the bedroom opens, and I spit out my toothpaste, rinse my mouth, and turn off the light.
“Oh, I thought you were going to stay up longer,” I say when I spot him.
His gaze falls to me as he pulls on the back of his neck, his veins tense, straining.
“No. I’m just going to try to get some sleep.”
“Great. Well, the bathroom is all yours.”
“Already brushed my teeth.”
In a cheery tone that is probably driving him nuts, I say, “Oh nice.” I move to the bed and flip down the sheets and comforter. “You really did play such a great game tonight. It was fun seeing you out there on the ice.”
“You watched the whole game?”
“Most of it. There were some things I had to take care of, but yeah, I watched most of it.” I slip under the covers, and I can feel the fabric of my nightgown play dangerously close to exposing my breasts, but I honestly don’t care at all.