Chapter 34: Chapter Thirty-Four

Thank God I had Penelope, without her, I don’t know what I’d have done that weekend, about anything. She was looking after Sniffles as well as the shop, and was letting me pilfer shamelessly from her wardrobe.

She had a bigger bust than me and was taller than me, and while I had fuller hips, there were a few dresses of hers that looked cute on me.

“You know who I remind myself of?” I said as I tried on one of her fancy floppy hats in front of the mirror, one that she would wear to the racetrack back when Aiden had still taken her on dates.

“Who?” Penelope asked, as she looked through her closet for me.

“Bridget Jones.”

Penelope threw a bikini at me in admonishment. “First of all, Bridget’s adorable. She got the fellas just fine, as I recall. And second, you are nowhere near Renee Zellweger’s weight when she was playing that role! Maybe like, her in the last movie.”

I made a face at her and threw the bikini back at her. “I hate you. And what do I need that for? It’s cold up in the Hamptons.”

“They might have a hot tub! I’m just sayin’, girl; options.”

I rolled my eyes and we were both grinning when the clearing of a throat drew our attention to the doorway of Penelope’s bedroom.

“Hey, ladies.” Charlie said ruefully, resting a tan forearm on the door frame.

He really had that whole good ole boy thing going on in his faded blue jeans, scuffed work boots, and plain white tee. His brown hair curled becomingly down into his brown eyes, which always managed to sparkle with mischief.

Also, his five o’clock shadow was somehow always exactly at five o’clock.

It was almost eerie, and sometimes I wondered if I couldn’t quite trust those glimmering brown eyes, but I could certainly see why Penelope was so smitten with him.

“Fixed your sink, Your Majesty.” He said to Penelope. “Anything else I can do for you?”

“Yeah, get out of here. You’re just hoping to catch a peep show. This is Girls Only, okay?” Penelope playfully whacked at him with a camisole and he held up his hands, laughing in mock defeat.

“Hey, the door was open, that’s all I’m sayin’.” He grinned down at her and I flushed to see that chemistry spark between them like it did.

I turned away, feeling an embarrassed warmth throughout my whole body.

If only it was that easy for me, I thought.

Charlie had playfully yanked Penelope into his arms to tickle her mercilessly until she was shrieking for him to stop, but she was giggling furiously all the while, acting like a love struck teenager.

But it was good to see. I was happy for my friend, ultimately.

It had been far too long since I had seen her genuinely happy.

Aiden had been slowly sucking the color out of her for way longer than she should have ever allowed. I was proud of her for finally cutting the ties that had bound her to her own funeral pyre.

I smirked to myself at my macabre thoughts as I studied myself critically in the mirror. The white sundress splotched with roses was more Penelope’s taste, and size, but I thought I liked the Me I saw standing there.

Maybe I could do this.

I ran my fingers through my hair, fluffing out my long blonde waves that Penny had helped me make sleek.

Maybe I could pull this off. For Mason. He had helped me so much already and I wanted to repay that favor.

That would make me happy.