Big Dick Energy - Cindi Madsen Page 0,47
have a better chance of visiting hell than getting your hands or eyes on those pictures.”
“That’s the nicest way anyone’s told me to go to hell before.”
The laugh I was quickly growing obsessed with filled the air, and then her smile dropped so drastically I knew the rest of the story wouldn’t be nearly as happy. “When I was thirteen, my dad passed away, and my mom was so horrified at all the ‘bad habits’ I’d picked up that she spent the next five years doing her best to turn me into a proper lady. She enrolled me in singing lessons and etiquette lessons. It was ‘say please and thank you, Penny’. ‘Apologize right now,’ even when I hadn’t a clue what I’d done wrong, only that she’d gone all aghast. And the worst, ‘How dare you embarrass me in front of my friends, Penny. Are you trying to punish me for your father dying? As if losing him wasn’t hard enough.’
“I know she didn’t mean to shatter my confidence, but I began to question every word and action after that. I tried so hard to please her. Then I entered a male dominated work field and had to attempt to deprogram myself just to earn the tiniest amount of respect.” Penelope bit at her thumbnail and then jerked down her arm. “Anyway, that was the start of my teen angst, and feeling all misunderstood while blasting music through my giant headphones.”
“What were your go-to albums?”
“Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and Kesha.”
“Oh no. Not you, too.”
Her posture went from cuddly to murderous, and why did I have to open my big mouth? “What do you mean ‘not me, too?’” Without waiting for an answer, she crossed her arms, her expression beyond haughty. “Go ahead and judge all you want, but on my worst, saddest, and hardest days, those albums made me happy. I’d put them on, nice and loud, and sing and dance around my room. And if you haven’t heard those artists’ latest albums, they’re seriously fire. Not that you’d get this, but The Man was my theme song this past year.”
I tugged on her hand, and when she didn’t give, I sighed. “That came out wrong. All I meant was that recently, all I’ve heard about is Taylor Swift this and Taylor Swift that.”
“And what albums did you listen to, Mr. Hoity Toity Music Snob?”
“I’m afraid to tell you now.” Another tug and I finally pried an arm loose. Then I aligned our palms and laced my fingers through hers. “Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, and the White Stripes.”
She scowled, leaving me sure we were about to have our first argument of the night. There were certain topics too impossible to justify backing down on, and music happened to be one of mine.
“Well, I actually enjoy those, too,” she said. “But what’s so wrong with having different types of music to go with our different moods? You probably haven’t noticed, what with you being male, but most anything women love—and that goes double for teenage girls—people mock and refer to as fluff. As if we’re only to be taken seriously if we walk around all moody and woe-is-emo-me.”
I did my best to stifle my grin so she wouldn’t think I was making fun but couldn’t quite restrain it. “You’re right. Everyone feels misunderstood at one time or another. If we were all forced to listen to the same music, then several of us would remain that way.”
Penelope’s chin returned to my shoulder. “Don’t look now,” she whispered, “but my girls are seated at the bar, pretending they’re not watching us. Subtlety isn’t one of their strong suits, either.”
I glanced over my shoulder, and both ladies quickly faked being uber-interested in their drinks.
“You’re really bad at taking instructions,” Penny said, and every ounce of my attention homed in those sassy lips of hers.
Longing rose up, leaving my lungs sticky with it. “I could say the exact same about you.” This was it. I couldn’t not kiss her for one second longer. I inhaled a shallow breath so that once I dove on in, I wouldn’t have to come up for air for a long time.
Then I lowered my mouth to hers. A groan slipped out, and soft pliant lips opened beneath mine.
Right as the screech of the microphone rent the air. The spell broke, Penelope jumping as she tended to do at loud noises.
“Welcome, everyone,” the manager of Paddy’s shouted into the microphone. “We’ve got a great show for you tonight,