her like a princess. Grams’ voice floated through my head. I clenched my back teeth together. I didn’t need any other advice. My head was full enough as it was.
I got Willow back to her feet. “What do you sleep in?”
She jerked back as if I’d struck her. “No. Get out of my house, Penn. Now.” She tried to stomp her foot, but she couldn’t lift it very high.
I felt a smile tug at my mouth. I tried to bite it back. But this whole situation was beyond ridiculous. I was literally fighting with a woman about putting on her PJs. Never in my life had I felt more like a perverted high schooler. I just wanted her to be comfortable, damn it. Was that so hard to believe?
Her lips twitched. She gave me a stern look. “Now.” She pointed towards the door, her chin high in the air.
I crossed my arms. Tried to wrestle my face back into angry lines. I failed.
Her laughter burst from her in one giant yell. She tipped forward at the waist, her arms around her belly. “Don’t think that just because I’m laughing at you, I’m not still pissed off.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, cupcake.” I chuckled as I watched her stand back up.
She truly was a thing of beauty. Her long hair curled along her slim back. Her tits were the perfect size. Her hips and ass enough to grab onto. Curves for days.
“Get that look off your face, Penn. Not happening.” She stabbed her finger in my direction.
“Not my fault I like the way you’re put together.” I shrugged.
“No, but you don’t have to make me feel like a piece of meat in the grocery store. I’ve already told you: I’m not sleeping with you. You can be my friend, or you can get out of my life.”
I rolled my lips in. Hummed. I tipped my head to the side. “Since I’ve met you, I’ve experienced a number of firsts. First time to lie to medical staff. First time to be a hero. First time I'm told a woman has to pee when I’m holding her in my arms. First time I’ve been accused of kidnapping. First time I’ve been flat out rejected before exchanging a kiss.” I studied her. “What is it about you that keeps interrupting my life, cupcake?”
She shrugged. “Maybe you’ve just had a boring life, or you know some extremely boring people.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not my fault you hang out with the wrong crowd.”
The irony of that statement had me tipping forward with laughter. She literally hung out with the mafia and was saying that I had the bad friend group? She was amazing.
I straightened. “Look, I know things ended on a rocky spot with us. I’ve got a lot of shit in my life. You seem to have your fair share. I don’t want to add to yours.” I hoped she understood what I was trying to say.
She licked her lips. “A one-sided friendship is a very lonely position, Penn. You can’t expect people to always give while you only take. That makes you a user, not a friend.”
As if she’d held up a spotlight on my soul, I knew she was right. Taking was all I knew. It’s how I survived. How I’d succeeded in life instead of letting it pound me into hell.
I nodded. “You’re right.” I swiped a hand over my face. “I’m sorry.”
Her eyes were the size of saucers when I brought my gaze to hers.
“What?” I wiped my face again, hoping nothing was on it. Not that there really could have been.
She shook her head. “I didn’t see you as someone who said he was sorry.”
I clutched at my chest dramatically.
She rolled her eyes. “You’ve got that whole ‘I’m the master of my universe and you should bow before me’ vibe going on. Not a lot of apologizing going on in that worldview. At least not from you.”
One of my eyebrows raised. She wasn’t wrong. I’d made my life tidy enough that I didn’t apologize for much. “You’re right. I’m not a good friend. Hell, I’m not really a friend at all. Good, bad, or otherwise.”
She snorted a laugh. “And yet you want me in your bed? If you’re not a good friend, why do you think you’re a good lover?” She raised a brow.
“I’ve not had any complaints. And none of my lovers ended up in—” I cut the thought off. Winced.
She let loose a low whistle.