Page 51 of Devoured

Chapter 13

Saturday

Penny needed time to think through things. And that was fine. I’d give her time. As much time as she needed. A few hours, days, weeks. It didn’t matter. Because we were meant to be. I’d waited this long for happiness. I could wait a little longer if that’s what she needed.

I felt eerily calm as I grabbed my phone and hit Rob’s name.

The phone rang a few times and then Rob answered. “What’s up?” he asked.

What did he mean, “What’s up?” He’d told me he’d be visiting but never told me when. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. It didn’t matter. I was excited to see him whenever he got here. “I’m just checking in. Are you back in the states yet?”

“You sound weird. What’s wrong?”

I laughed. “Nothing.”

There was a long paused. “Are you dying or something?”

“What? No.”

“Well, good. But you still sound strange. You’re sure everything is good?”

I was pretty sure I was just…happy. And I felt bad that Rob couldn’t even recognize me with that emotion. I hoped Penny would be back in my arms by the time Rob visited. I wanted him to know that I was good. That he didn’t have to worry about me so much anymore. “Yeah, everything is good. I’ll have a surprise for you when you get here.” He was going to love Penny.

“Oooh what kind of surprise?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Can I get a hint?” he asked.

“No, that kind of defeats the purpose of a surprise.”

“Boo you whore.”

I laughed. “I know you mean that lovingly.”

“Unless you’re suddenly whoring around town with all the hot, single co-eds.”

I definitely wouldn’t word dating Penny that way. “No.”

“Boo…”

“Don’t call me a whore again.”

Rob laughed.

“So,” I said. “When are you coming?”

“I figured that’s why you were calling. Tell Ellen I’ll be there by next weekend at the latest.”

“And why am I telling Ellen?”

“Because I want her to make me all my favorites. Tell her exactly that. She’ll know what I mean.”

“She’s not your chef, Rob.” But Ellen would of course be excited. She loved Rob. She’d just been telling me this.

“I know. She’s yours. But she likes me better.”

Probably true.“So next weekend? And how long will you be staying for exactly?”

---