I release my gaze from her exposed skin and stand as well. “I think they’re going for a psychotic vibe with the filter.”
“Well, job well done.” She shivers dramatically and wraps her arms together. “God, after sweating all day, I’m freezing now.”
“Do you want me to make you some tea?”
She shakes her head. “No, that’s okay. I think I’m just going to get under the covers.”
“Okay.”
When she starts toward the bedroom, I follow closely, and just as we reach the door, she looks over her shoulder. “You don’t have to go to bed as well.”
I shrug. “Nah, I’m tired.”
“Okay. You can use the bathroom first. I’m going to change into some warmer clothes.”
She takes off toward the dresser, so I go to the bathroom, where I take care of my business and brush my teeth. We just spent the past two hours watching Ozark, and I found myself glancing over at Penny from time to time, watching her reaction. She’s very much into the show, emotionally invested. She clutched a navy-blue throw pillow the entire time and while commenting with little oohs and ahhs every once in a while. It was cute.
She’s really become more animated around me, which I appreciate. It makes hanging out with her easier and actually really fucking enjoyable. She has a funny personality, and when she’s not freaking out about a text message she accidentally sent and is relaxed, I feel this need to get to know her even more.
I walk out of the bathroom to find Penny sitting on the bed in a pair of long johns and a thermal-wear long-sleeve top.
“Ready for your trip up to Alaska?” I ask her with a teasing grin.
“We aren’t that far from it.” She stands and moves past me. “I foresee myself shedding these clothes in the middle of the night. Please don’t freak out if my shirt whacks you in the face, it’s just the hormones.”
“Take off all the clothes you want.”
Once again, she rolls her eyes at me and then retreats to the bathroom. That’s when I go to my side of the bed and reach under it, pulling out my Breathe Right strips. There won’t be any snoring tonight. I fix one over my nose, and just as I’m getting it in place, Penny steps out of the bathroom and sinks herself into the bed, under the sheets.
With my strip in place, I turn over just as she turns toward me, and the moment her eyes land on the Breathe Right strip, she tilts her head back and lets out such a loud laugh that I feel myself wince.
“You know, it’s not kind to laugh at somebody who is trying to make a change,” I say, dabbing at my strip, keeping it in place.
“Oh my God, is that for the snoring?”
I nod. “Yeah, and if this doesn’t help, I found a doctor who can help me.”
Another guffaw.
A clutch of the blankets and then . . .
Tears of joy stream down her cheeks.
She’s laughing so hard that she’s actually crying. Talk about a fucking blow to the ego.
“Wow, you sure know how to make a guy want to off himself.”
She laughs even harder and holds her stomach now. “Oh my God, that’s the best thing I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s a fucking Breathe Right strip. It’s not like I’m wearing a Darth Vader mask to help me breathe better at night.”
She waves her hand in front of her as she attempts to catch her breath. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it? They don’t make these in a nude color. They really should because white is just so obvious.”
“No.” She swipes at her eyes, collecting her tears. “It’s that you actually went out and got them.”
“Uh, yeah, because I don’t want to keep you up at night. It’s bad enough you wake up with nausea.”
She laughs some more, and between her giggles, she says, “I was . . . kidding, Eli. You don’t snore.”
“What?” I say, lifting to a sitting position on the bed. “You were fucking kidding?”
“Yes.” She laugh-cries some more, her handle on the humor slipping further and further as she attempts to gather herself, but it’s not working.
I snag my phone from the nightstand and shoot a quick text to Taters.
Eli: You fucker! I bought Breathe Right strips.
I rip the strip off my nose and toss it to the ground as my eyes water from the pull of the adhesive just as my phone dings with a response. While Penny continues to laugh, I read the message.
Taters: HAHAHAHAHA. Oh fuck, that made my night.