Page 38 of Crazy Love

“Turn up that chorus, please, Clara,” he calls.

Bebe Rexha singing “Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)” blasts through the speakers and Penn and Sam glance at each other, moving to stand side by side. They start twisting their bodies in a way that has me laughing right away and then they shift and do this head-up nod thing in perfect time with the beatandwith each other. Everyone starts cheering and clapping, and then both of them break out into a full-on hip thrust, booty-shaking dance for a few seconds until the chorus is over, which makes the shop erupt…and then they walk up to the counter like nothing has happened.

Once I’ve stopped laughing and cheering, I walk up next to them and put my arms on each of their shoulders.

“Oh my God, you guys were so good! Where have you been hiding those dancing skills?” I say, starting to laugh all over again.

“Not hiding it. Are we, Sam?” Penn asks Sam, coolly.

“Nope. Pretty much right out there in the open,” Sam says.

I point at him. “How old are you again?” I ask.

“Eleven,” he says.

“We’ll have to watch this one,” I tell Penn. “He’ll have the girls lined up.”

Penn stares at me for a beat before he says, “Yes, we will. And he already does.”

Sam laughs and they high-five each other. I roll my eyes and that makes both of them even happier.

Once we’ve ordered—The Celestial Donuts that I should have never tried because I’m already addicted—Goldie leans in.

“Seeing Penn on the TV screen is not even close to experiencing him in person. He’ssohot and so magnetic and he isall about you. He’s a keeper, Addy. He’s crazy about you.” She squeezes my arm, as if she’s breaking it to me gently.

“I can’tkeephim.” I shake my head, trying to play it off. “But how do you know?”

She gives me a dry look. “Have you seen the way he looks at you? That’s all I need to know right there. I thought he was going to scorch your clothes right off with those eyes!”

“Goldie! Keep it down,” I tell her, looking around to see if anyone heard her.

“Don’t worry. I’m the only one who heard that,” Camden says. “And I have to agree with my sister.”

“That’s a first,” she teases.

The moment Goldie slides into the chair next to me, eyes lit up with purpose, I brace myself. I glance across the table at Penn with Sam, looking blissfully unaware of the grilling he’s about to endure. Goldie’s been dying to interrogate him ever since shearrived in town, and now that she has him cornered, I know she’s on a mission.

“Penn Hudson,” she begins, leaning forward. “Tell us something important about yourself. Something deep.”

Penn, who has just taken a sip of his caramel macchiato, pauses mid-swallow and flicks his gaze to me as if I’ll save him. No can do. I’m here for this.

He sets his cup down, eyes narrowing. “Deep like…childhood trauma? Or deep like my thoughts about pineapple on pizza?”

Goldie grins. “Both, please.”

Sam laughs next to him, happily chewing on a muffin and fully entertained. Camden is sitting next to Goldie and he groans. “Sorry, man. She’s like a chicken pecking for the truth.”

Goldie swats his arm. “I am not a chicken.”

Penn exhales. “No pineapple on pizza. It’s an abomination. That’s Rhodes’ and Sadie’s territory. I’m a purist.”

I gasp. “You monster.”

Sam fist-bumps Penn. “I’m with you.” He gives me an apologetic glance. “Sorry, Addy.”

“Okay, so you’re not into the sweet and savory pizza,” Goldie says. “What about your childhood? Any pets? Tragedies? A schoolyard nemesis?”

He laughs and looks at me likeIs she for real?

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