Page 38 of The Perfect Play

She nodded. “I can drive you if you want.”

“Thank you. Yes, I need to talk to Penny right now.” As much as I didn’t want to, I turned to Nate. “Tell Dax I’ve got a ride.”

Serena was a surprisingly decent driver, although she preferred speed as we maneuvered through several intersections with ease, making it back to my street in a matter of minutes. She pulled over in front of Penny’s house and put the car in park.

“Good luck, Jake. You’re going to need it.”

“Thanks.” I opened the door and stepped out, when she spoke again.

“Fix it. Penny isn’t going to survive another heartbreak from you.”

Her words caused me to hesitate, and I leaned back down to see her face. “What do you mean ‘another heartbreak’?”

“She’s liked you since you were kids, or so Kate tells it. You broke her heart the first time you stopped hanging out with her, and I don’t think she’ll make it through another one. You’re the question mark on her notebook.”

I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, and I took a step back. “Uh, thanks.” I shut the door and watched as the little compact car moved away. I’d nearly forgotten about theI heart ?on her notebook. That was for me?

I turned and ran to her front door, knocking several times and pressing the doorbell over and over again. I’d stop from time to time to listen for any footsteps but just heard a TV coming from the front room.

After at least five minutes, the door swung open fast, causing me to jump back in surprise.

“What do you want, Jake?” Derrick glared at me, and for the first time, Penny’s younger brother looked my size.

“I need to talk to Penny. Now. Is she in there?” I stepped up on tiptoe, hoping I’d catch a glimpse of her walking through the room or something.

Derrick shook his head and started closing the door. “I doubt she wants to talk to you right now. She came in sobbing and went straight to her room. Might be a good idea to just leave her alone. You don’t want to hurt her worse, do you?”

I shook my head, feeling overwhelming helplessness.

Derrick shut the door with a firm click, and I stepped back, running a hand through my hair. That usually helped me put things in place, but I still had no idea how I was going to get her to listen to me.

Walking around the house to the side, I picked up a few pebbles and tossed them up to Penny’s window. There was a dim light on in the room, but even after several minutes, there was no movement I could see.

Sitting in the driveway, I pulled out my phone, opening a text to Penny.

Serena told me what you thought you saw. I got to the party after you left. It wasn’t me.

I pressed send, hoping to see a response soon. After another minute, I kept writing.

I wouldn’t do that to you, Penny. Please believe me. You mean more to me than anyone ever has. Please call me or text me.

Again I paused, trying to collect my thoughts.

I know I’ve been a jerk this past week, and I’m sorry.

I sat on the driveway looking up at her window for at least thirty minutes, hoping I’d catch some glimpse of her and be able to signal that I was there.

“Jake, I think it’s time to head home,” a deep voice called out from the porch at the front. Mr. Davis.

I hung my head and shook it. “She has to know it wasn’t me, sir.”

Mr. Davis walked over and sat next to me. “Why don’t you explain it to me, son?” He put his arm around me, resting his hand on my shoulder.

Emotions ran high, and I wiped my nose with the back of my hand. It took only a few minutes, but I told him everything Serena had told me and how I’d come back here as soon as I’d heard.

He nodded a few times, looking like he was chewing on something as he studied the ground in front of us. “Well, Jake, just know that things will work out. But that’s not to say you should just wait for her to call you. You’re going to have to prove, in some way, that it wasn’t you at the party. You know how Penelope gets with things. Once something is in her mind, it’s hard to pry her from that opinion.” He paused and looked over at me, studying my face. “You’re worth it, and she’s so much happier when she’s with you.”

“You don’t think we’re too young to be dating?” My parents’ words had popped up in my head, suddenly making me doubt everything I’d been worried about over the past half hour.

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