Page 55 of Rival Season
Well, if you need to get out of there, the offer to sleep in my bed is still open. I’m sure you’re missing me and want to be in my bed anyway.
Hazel
Actually…you know who’s missing you?
Penn
Who?
Hazel
*pic of Fluffy*
Penn
You’re evil, Hazel Palmer.
CHAPTER 20
HAZEL
On Thursday afternoon,Ally texts me, telling me we need to have a top secret meeting. The guys have been on the East Coast all week for away games, so it’s good to hear from her. I haven’t seen Penn since he brought me tiramisu a week ago, and I miss having excuses to go up to the loft. I keep telling myself I don’t miss Penn, and that I simply miss the excuse to get away from Chadwick…but I’ve replayed that almost-kiss in my mind too many times to keep track of. And I can’t help wondering if it would have been so bad if I would’ve just let myself lean in and let go with him.
The flirty texts we’ve been sending all week haven’t helped these thoughts.
Chadwick must have Penn’s schedule memorized, because he’s hung around the apartment all week, trying to hang out, appearing in every room I walk into, ordering us food. He never even mentioned the mess of dirty dishes in his bed that night. Which was strange.
But whatever. I’m so ready for him to move out and be out of my life for good…I’m counting down the days...
I meet Ally in the parking garage of our building at five. Her cool blonde hair drapes over her shoulders and she’s wearingleggings and a light pink hoodie. I feel overdressed in my platform loafers, tights, and simple black shift dress layered with a baby pink sweater vest for warmth. Ally is always so effortlessly cool-girl casual. I would look sloppy in leggings and a sweatshirt, but she doesn’t.
“Hazel!” Ally beams, pulling me into a big hug.
I hug her back. “Hey, girl. So, what’s the top secret meeting about?”
“Come on.” She waves a hand and takes a step toward a small white SUV, unlocking it and opening the driver’s side door. “I’ll tell you while we drive.”
I shrug and get in the front passenger seat. Ally backs out of the parking space, then starts talking. “Okay, so first of all, do you have any big romantic plans for this weekend?”
I’m assuming she means a belated date to make up for Penn being gone on Valentine’s Day. I shake my head, hedging as I try to drum up a reasonable answer. “Uh, not really. We kind of did a romantic pre-Valentine’s night before the guys left.”
Ally looks over and frowns at me. “I meant for Penn’s birthday.”
“Oh, of course!” I force a laugh. “Penn’s birthday.” His birthday, that I, the supposed girlfriend, should know about. His comment from the last time I saw him about how he’spractically twenty-threepops into my head, and I suddenly regret not asking what day his birthday is. “Um, no big plans for that.”
I half-expect Ally to call me out for being the world’s worst girlfriend, but she just smiles. “Okay, good, I was hoping you hadn’t organized anything for Saturday night. Fisher and Noah enlisted me to plan a surprise party for him while they’re gone.”
“But don’t they get back tomorrow?”
She grimaces. “Ugh, yes. I got busy with rehearsal this week and put it off. But Penn is super low maintenance, so I’m confident we can get everything done tonight.”
“Tonight?” I squeak.
Ally exits the parking garage and stops at a red light. “Yeah, we just need plates, food, booze, and some decorations. It'll be fine.”
I take a deep breath. Being a planner by nature, this seems really last minute for my nervous system. “Ok, so this party is pretty low key, then?”
“Totally low key,” she answers, nonplussed. “Just you and I, the team, and some acquaintances.”
