Penny
“Penny! Where are you?” Shapiro calls put.
“Really?” I come padding out of the bedroom. “We are in a loft apartment and I’m not allowed to leave soooo?” I laugh.
He cringes. “I’m sorry.”
“Seriously, it’s totally cool. After last night you could lock me up and throw away the key for all I care.”
I begin to make some coffee and notice half the muffins are gone.
Turning around with hand on hip. “Hungry much?”
Shapiro, who obviously is amused, lifts his shirt and rubs his washboard, hard as stone, abs. All of them. The full eight-pack.
“Do you think a man can pack away all those muffins and still look like this.”
I roll my eyes.
“I didn’t think so.” His shirt slides down.
“Oh Lord.” I pour myself a cup of coffee. “You want one?”
“Yes, please.” He leans against the counter.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I hand him his cup.
“Thank you.” He takes a sip before continuing, “Okay, so I have some good news.”
“That’s awesome!”
I wonder what it is. A part of me wants to just fire off what it is until I guess it right, but I don’t. I want to though. The urge is strong.
“You know that meeting I had this morning about some changes that were going to start taking place at Spotlight?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I took some of your muffins and everyone was raving about them.” Shapiro pauses grinning from ear to ear.
“Annnnnd?”
“They love them.”
I start jumping up and down. “Do they want more? I can make some tonight.” I look around the kitchen. “Do you think we could get a stand-mixer and a few supplies?”
“Penny …” he tries to finish.
“I promise as soon as we figure out Tyler’s intentions I can get a job and pay you back.”
“Penny …”
“I’ll clean up after myself. You will never know I even was here.”
“Impossible.” He smirks.
“I’m sorry.” I huff. “I know I can be messy at times.”
“No. I mean yes.” He pushes of the counter. “No, I mean I would always know you are here and yes, you can be impossible at times.” He taps my nose the same way I did when I was toasted.
“How embarrassing.” I cover my face.
“So, do you want to hear the good news or not?” He pries my hands away.
“Yes,” I mumble.
“Well, they want to open earlier to cater to the business district. Give them a place to have small meetings. Offering up a limited menu of muffins, pastries, coffee and juice.”
“Are you saying what I think your saying?” I bounce from foot to foot. Clasping my hands together.
“They want you to make the breakfast items.”
“Oh my GOD! Yes! Yes! Yes!”
I begin to jump around mentally checking off what I could add to the menu. Maybe a daily special.
“Shapiro! This is a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to do this!”
“Well, there are some rules.”
“I finally have a job. I’ll make my own money.” I turn to him eyes wide. “I’ll get to talk to people.”
“Penny …”
“I can’t wait to work in that amazing kitchen again.”
“Penny …”
I hear Shapiro, but I’m so excited I just have to get it all out. These are things a working woman needs to know.
“So, when do I start?”
“Well, they would like to taste a few more items to build their menu, but that means you can get a little more time in the kitchen.” He refills his coffee and grabs a muffin tearing off the top.
Giving him a once over he looks exhausted. I guess I never took into consideration how tired he must be. He works all night, helps me do chores during the day and last night stayed up to babysit me in the kitchen so I could avoid a nervous breakdown.
“So tonight?” I ask.
“If you aren’t too tired.” He smiles. Popping a piece of muffin in his mouth. “Mmm, best muffin I’ve ever had.”
I give him the side eye.
“Tired from what? Sleeping?”
“Sure.” His smile widens from ear to ear.
“Okay …” I ignore his statement unsure if he’s joking or insulting me. “So, when does this change take place?” I mess with my clothes. “What’s the uniform?”
“Penny, you won’t be baking during the day. That will still have to be done at night. You won’t be an actual Spotlight employee but contracted.”
“Well, that sucks.” I cross my arms and try not to pout, but this was going to be a step in the right direction
“Think of it like this.” Shapiro takes a step closer, lifting my chin. “You own your own business these are your recipes, your products.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Now you need to come up with a name.” He winks.
My eyes shoot up to his. “A name? I get to name my own company.” I start clapping and bounce up and down. “Thank you, Shapiro. Thank you!” I shout as I wrap my arms around his body. “Last night and now today … it’s so much more.”
“What if I told you that wasn’t the good news?”
I lean back, looking him in the eyes. “How could it not be?” I search his eyes for some kind clue.
“Well, I thought …”
“Let us in!” Someone shouts from the other side of the door. Pounding uncontrollable.
“Why don’t you get that?” Shapiro nudges me.
“Uh, okay?” I head over to the cameras.
“The door.”
“The cameras,” I shout back sarcastically.
“Just get the door, Penny.”
“Let us in.” More pounding.
“Is it?” I hurry and unarm the alarm and unlock all the doors.
“Penny!” Nina shouts diving in for a hug.
“Nina, I didn’t know you were back from vacation?”
I squeeze her back.
“We didn’t really tell anyone. Just kind of getting back into the groove of things.”
“Yeah. I didn’t find out till she came into Java Talk,” a voice says from behind Nina.
“Penny, this is Jen.” She waves her hand in between us. “Jen meet Penny.” I know her from the coffee shop, but never really talked to her.
“Nice to meet you.” Jen grabs my hand. “Now, from what I hear, you are in the need for a much-needed girls’ day.”
“Yeah. Let’s go,” Nina chimes in.
“Guys I can’t.” I free my hand and back away. “It’s nice you thought of me, but I have to stay here.”
Nina and Jen turn to look at Shapiro. There’s a silent exchange between the three of them and I’m the only one left in the dark.
“It’s the big guy’s idea,” Jen chimes in.
“Come again?” I look at each of them in shock.
“Yup! The three of us are going to Tip-Top-Tease to get all glammed up and maybe do a little shopping while there,” Nina announces.
“Jail break,” Nina whispers and we all laugh.
“I’m not even prepared. Can you give me fifteen minutes to get cleaned up?”
“Take your time, we are just going to make ourselves at home.” Nina pulls Jen in and locks the door. “Is that your muffins?”
“Take as many as you want,” Shapiro offers.
“I can’t believe you did this.” I run over giving him a quick hug.
He pulls me in tighter.
“I heard you yesterday.” He looks down at me, rubbing his hands along my back. “I just wish I would have listened sooner.”
“This means the world to me.” I reach up and give him a quick peck on the cheek. “Best day ever.”