be really good together. I know all of your baggage and even have some of the same. I’m great with the kids, you saw that tonight. I proved it!”
Now, I’m uncomfortable. “That didn’t need to be proven … you should have done it out of the goodness of your heart.”
But Corey isn’t listening to me, his voice only reaching new levels of loudness. “Pssh, come on, Penelope! All women want a little show of chivalry. Your sex lives for that shit.”
And in this moment, the creep of awareness that I might be in a threatening position slowly makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“You need to be quiet. My children are upstairs sleeping. And I’d like you to leave now.” I cross my arms around my body, suddenly feeling very vulnerable in this situation.
I live in Fawn Hill, which is a sleepy Pennsylvania town where women walk their dogs well after dark without fear of anything. So I haven’t often felt intimidated by a man in this way. But right now, I’m getting a big dose of unwanted male attention that is causing my whole body to go rigid with tension.
Corey looks like he might say something else, but I back away, ready to do what, I’m not sure. But my children are upstairs, and if there is anything more lethal than a mother lion who feels her cubs are threatened, I haven’t seen it yet.
“Okay, okay. Things didn’t need to get this heated. I’ll go. Have a good night, Pip.”
The burly, bordering on heavyset, man stomps out of my living room, and I rush to the door immediately after I hear it click closed to lock and bolt it.
He had to use that nickname one more time, making it feel tarnished and dirty in the disaster he just caused.
17
Forrest
Why do I feel like I’m about to walk into the Colosseum to be mauled by lions?
Oh, right, because my sisters-in-law sit in front of me, their arms crossed and lips pursed, ready for battle.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Forrest?” Presley begins, always the more aggressive of the two.
“And before you start, just know that we aren’t leaving here without an apology.” Okay, so apparently Lily is in a sassy mood today, as well.
I don’t blame them, though. I was a jerk at the Goat & Barrister.
Keaton set this meeting up at his and Presley’s place, about ten days into the women refusing to have anything to do with me. It’s been tense and awkward, and I’ve been miserable. Because no one knows what truly happened, or how pissed off Penelope really was at me.
Per usual, my family had turned their backs on me. They didn’t understand me, so they chose not to deal with me. Story of my life.
“And I plan on giving you one. I’m truly sorry for what I said the other night. It was done in a moment of stupidity, and I take it all back. I know that I’m an asshole ninety percent of the time, but know that from the bottom of my heart, I am very, very sorry.”
And also, I’m tired of my brothers blackballing me from hangouts or pickup basketball games, so I was more than ready to apologize for my shitty attitude and move on. Not that I didn’t mean what I said, because I know how dumb my words about Penelope were.
I just wish I could give them the full story. But, this apology would have to do.
“There, he apologized. I think we can all go back to being one big happy family?” Keaton suggests, hope tinging his voice.
Ah, the peacemaker, always on edge if someone is in a fight. My big brother wanted everyone to play nice in this world. If only he saw the disturbing underbelly of this universe like I did each day.
“Not so fast.” Presley holds a hand up in her husband’s direction. “Have you apologized to Penelope? Because you know she knows, right?”
Instinctively, the first thing I think to say, sarcastically, is thank you for that. But they can’t know just how serious the argument between their friend and I was … or it will defeat the whole purpose of trying to keep all of this bullshit under wraps.
Jesus, how did it get to this level of batshit crazy?
So instead, I tell them a half-truth. “I texted her saying how sorry I was after she confronted me in town. And then I called and left a message. I haven’t