"Jenny, I hope you're feeling better." Penny handed her sister a bottle of cold water from her refrigerator and a protein bar.
"Yeah, I know better than to skip a meal." Jenny twisted off the cap and took a deep drink. "Thanks. You sure you can spare this bar?"
"You left it here. I'd rather eat the wrapper. Of course I can always zap you a frozen pizza. Sausage." Penny smiled like this was an old joke between them.
Sure enough Jenny shuddered. "I'd rather eat the box."
"This is Glory St. Clair." Penny waved in my direction. "Glory, my sister, Jenny, who made that dramatic entrance. She's on a vegetarian kick. That's why the shudder."
I smiled. "I get it. I have dietary restrictions myself." I ignored Penny's gasp. She'd just have to get used to vampire humor. "Nice to meet you. Penny and I have known each other awhile. I've persuaded her to move in with me. Share the rent. She's moving in tonight."
"No kidding?" Jenny's eyes went wide. "That's odd. I thought you liked it here, Pen." She gazed around the cluttered room and winced. "Though I never could understand it. Where's your place, Glory?"
"On Sixth Street in an apartment over my shop, Vintage Vamp's Emporium." I put Booger on the floor when he scratched my hand to be let down. He ran to Jenny and hopped up into her lap.
"I love that store. Perfect for finding a Halloween costume. You own it?" She gave the cat a quick pat. "Down, big guy, you're shedding all over my new skirt." She sat him on the floor.
"Yes, vintage clothes are my thing." I could see at a glance that everything on Jenny was brand-new, right down to her silver thongs. Her toenails were painted a hot pink to match her clingy T-shirt. The skirt she didn't want decorated with cat fur was a dark-wash denim and now had orange hair on it. She got busy plucking it off and dropping it on the rug.
"Well, now you can mention Penny's name and get a discount." I kept smiling but Penny's sister was a little too perfect and perky for my taste. I didn't read her mind. I wasn't in the habit of prying unless I felt it was absolutely necessary.
"That is so cool." Jenny frowned when Booger tried to jump up into her lap again. "You are letting her take the cat with her, aren't you? I just can't have him with me in the sorority house."
"Of course. I had less of a problem with the cat than with what she calls her big-ass computer."
Jenny laughed. "I know what you mean. What a mess." She patted Penny on the arm. "She says she knows where everything is in that pile of junk, but beats me how she finds anything."
"Speaking of, I need more boxes and to get packing. Did you still need help with that math, Jenny?" Penny glanced at her watch. "It's getting late."
"No, I've got it. Just wanted to touch base. You said you had a date. How'd it go?" She looked around, like maybe she doubted the date story.
"It was fine. It's the frat guy I saw last weekend. Josh. We hit it off." Penny edged away from her sister.
Surely she wasn't being hit by the bloodlust again. After taking Josh down a pint or more? I jumped up.
"I met him. He's cute and into Penny. Which is great. Right, Jenny?" I watched her reaction.
She gaped at the open bedroom door. "You brought him here? You didn't - "
"No! Geez, Jen." Penny flushed. "Give me a little credit. Yeah, I'm a slob, but guys don't notice stuff like that. He said he'd call me."
Jenny pasted on a bright smile and jumped up to hug her sister. "Then I'm sure he will. Guess I was wrong about that party after all. I wish I had time to hear all the details. Call me tomorrow and we'll dish." She brushed at her skirt. "I've got to go. Need my beauty sleep, you know. It is late. Surely you're not going to move stuff tonight."
"We'll just take a load or two." Penny ignored the party comment. "Glad you stopped by. You can always text me when you want to get together but I'll be super busy for the next two weeks. This grant project is coming to a head. If we meet, it'll have to be at night."
"Sure. And I've got finals looming." Jenny looked me over, taking in my vintage designer jeans