“Spill,” Amanda said when Penny opened her door that weekend.

“What?”

“You’ve put us both off for two days now, and something is going on, so we are ambushing you and demanding answers,” Amanda said.

“And we brought pizza,” Lexi said, holding up the box when she walked in behind Amanda, shooting Penny a small smile.

Penny had successfully avoided talking about it for the last three days since Ethan had left. Her shoulders slumped. Sam’s words. Ethan’s laugh. They echoed in her head, drumming up every doubt she’d ever had. She’d tried to find anything about Ethan and the trainer’s wife online, but nothing came up. At that point she’d begun to doubt her doubts.

“I think I’ve made a mess of things,” she said, shutting the door behind them. She walked into the living room to plop down on the couch. They knew where everything was if they were thirsty.

“I knew something was up,” Amanda said.

“What happened?” Lexi asked, grabbing a bottle of wine and glasses from the kitchen.

She told them about that night. About Sam and Ethan. About why he left New York. About Ethan running after her, trying to explain. She should’ve listened to him. After dwelling on it for a few days, and reading the texts he sent her each night, she’d known she was wrong to assume. She bit back her snort. What did they say about assuming?

“Oh, Penny. He didn’t agree with his agent, did he? And you didn’t find anything to substantiate the rumors, right? You should know that rumors are just that—rumors,” Lexi said.

“I know. And he told me he loved me. But that doesn’t count when you’re in a fight, especially when it was the first time he’d said it,” Penny said, picking at the pepperoni on her pizza.

“Or it could mean that he loves you and just hadn’t found the perfect time to tell you,” Lexi said.

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better,” Penny grumbled, but her heart told her to believe him. To believe in them.

“Stop making excuses, Penny. And stop avoiding him. I’ve watched you together. It’s not a game to him. You’re scared that you found something worth hanging on to. Michael screwed you up, and your parents didn’t help matters, but Ethan is the real deal. Sure, he doesn’t have the best track record, and it might not work out, but what if it does? Why not hear him out? Let him explain,” Amanda said.

“I know. I panicked. I’m not proud of it. And he’s been texting…” she trailed off.

“How often? What’s he saying?” Lexi asked.

“Every night,and that he can explain, and he’s sorry. God, I’m an idiot. But I’m still scared. I love him. Like, more than Michael, and I was going to marry Michael. It would destroy me if it didn’t work out with Ethan.”

“Look, no relationship is perfect. You’re going to argue, say stupid shit. And you work at it because you can’t imagine your life without that person. Can you imagine your life without Ethan?” Lexi asked.

“No.”

“So knock this nonsense off and talk to him now,” Amanda said.

“He’s not home yet. I was thinking of apologizing at the game tomorrow night.” It was the right decision. She wasn’t going to give up on them so easily.

“Then we are going to need to make a sign,” Amanda said. “Got any poster board?”

Penny laughed, it was the first in days, and her nerves began to fade away. She loved him, and she was going to fight for him, even if she had to fight against her fears.

***

She squashed down her nerves as she knocked on Alan’s door. He’d requested a meeting and she had no idea why. When she walked in, Robert was sitting in one of the chairs, and her stomach turned into a knot.

“Penny, please take a seat. We wanted to talk to you.”

Oh God, were the rumors ramping up again? More pictures online? She took a steadying breath, willing her breakfast to remain where it was—in her stomach.

“Is anything wrong?” she asked, taking a seat and twisting her fingers in her lap.

Alan smiled at her. “No, not at all. We wanted to talk to you about taking on a new role at the company. It hasn’t escaped our notice how much you do for our clients and how you always go the extra mile to help train new colleagues. My wayward son included.”

“Thank you,” she replied. Not sure what else to say, besides it’s about freaking time!

“You manage some of our largest clients, which we know is no easy task,” Alan continued.

She nodded in agreement.

“And with that in mind, we want to move you up to an Accounting Manager position. You’d have your own team of accountants that will report directly to you. You can keep your own clients or they can be moved to other colleagues.”

“Wow. Umm.” This is what she’d been waiting for and her words failed. She’d worked so hard to get here, and instead of jumping up and agreeing, something held her back.

“So you’ll take the position?” Alan asked, just as his door opened, and Kevin poked his head in.

“Ready for lunch, Dad?” he asked, taking in the room. “What’s going on?”
“Kevin, now is not the time. Please wait in the hall, and when I’m done, we can go to lunch,” Alan admonished.

“Let me guess. She’s getting promoted?” he sniveled, ignoring his father, and glaring at her. What the hell was this asshole’s problem?

“Excuse me,” she bit out, clenching her fists and attempting to keep her temper at bay.

“Dad. You know she’s screwing Robert’s nephew, right? Trying to sleep her way to the top,” Kevin said.

Penny gasped. “How dare you imply that I have not earned this position,” she said.

“What position were you in when you earned it?” he asked, pure malice in his voice.

“I don’t know what I did to make you hate me, but I’m done trying to figure it out. And the entire office is aware that I am dating Robert’s nephew. And my personal life has nothing to do with my professional life,” she said, trying to remain calm while itching to stab him with a pen.

“Sure it doesn’t. When I’m in charge, your behavior will not be tolerated,” Kevin said.

Alan’s eyes widened, and Penny could only be grateful that Alan was witnessing his son’s horrendous behavior.

“When you’re in charge? Planning my retirement a bit prematurely,” Alan said, his eyes hard.

“But—” Kevin started.

“No. Your mother convinced me to give you this job, and while I would love nothing more than to pass it down to you, eventually, your behavior today makes me question why I thought this would be a good fit. Penny has worked hard for this company for years. Well before she probably met Ethan. We’ve been looking to promote her for some time, and it has nothing to do with whom she might be dating. You could learn a lot from her, but I have a feeling all you’ve given her is grief.”

“But she’s—”

“You called in sick on Friday. Came in late today. And treated your new manager with complete disrespect. Now go home and think about how you can be an asset to this company you think I’m just going to hand over to you.”

Kevin spun on his heel and stormed out of the room. Penny almost felt bad for the dressing down Kevin had received from his father. Almost!

“Penny, I am sorry that you’ve had to deal with his complete unprofessionalism. Alan, we need to have a conversation if he can even have a place here. I know you are trying to please Susan, but this is too much,” Robert said.

“Yes, we will. I’m extremely sorry on behalf of my son, Penny,” Alan said as he turned to face her, embarrassment clear on his face.

“Thank you for supporting me,” she replied, unsure of what else to say, especially since that outburst had made her decision for her.

“I do hope you take the position. I will make sure he is assigned to another manager,” Alan said.

 

“While I have loved working here over the years, and have worked for this promotion, I’m going to turn it down.” She rose from her seat. A mixture of panic and exhilaration rushed through her, but this was the right decision. The only decision.

“Wait. What?” Robert asked, his focus back on her.

“There will always be questions, the rumors, the doubt. And why did it take so long for you both to realize that I deserved to be promoted? I’ve brought in more clients than anyone else, and my error rate is miniscule.” Her confidence flowed through her. She was going to resign, and she was going to be okay with it. Happy, actually.

“Ignore the gossip. It means nothing. You are a highly-valued employee, and it was our oversight waiting this long,” Robert said, his expression calm, but his voice held the faint tremor of panic.

“I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I’m tendering my resignation. I’ll have a letter on your desk within the hour.”

“Penny, you don’t need to do this,” Robert said, the tremor in his voice growing.

“Yes, actually, I do. I want to go out on my own. I will not poach any of your existing clients, Ethan included. I am fully aware of the non-compete clause in my contract, and I’m fully prepared to start my business from scratch.” She was surprised at how calm she sounded, and how peaceful she felt.

“Is there anything we can do to convince you to stay? I’ll gladly fire Kevin,” Robert said.

“Yes, Penny, you are our best employee. What can we do to convince you to stay?” Alan asked, looking chagrin, as well he should. Kevin was an entitled, spoiled brat, but she wouldn’t tell his father that. It wasn’t her place.

“Nothing. It’s been a pleasure working here for the last six years, but it’s time for me to move on. I’ll give you the standard two weeks, unless you want me to leave now?” she asked.

“No. Two weeks is fine.”

They both looked shell-shocked, and she couldn’t blame them. She’d had no intention of dropping the bomb today, but the moment had felt right, and now all she wanted to do was find Ethan and tell him. And tell him what an idiot she was and how much she loved—and trusted—him. But that would happen tonight at the game.

“I’m going to go back to my office then. Thank you again for the opportunity. I’ll make sure each of my files has very detailed notes for the next accountant.” With one last nod, she exited Alan’s office.

“What the hell just happened?” Lexi asked, poking her head into Penny’s office ten minutes later.

“I just got the promotion…and then I quit.”

“I’m sorry, you what?” Lexi asked, plopping down into the chair on the other side of Penny’s desk.

Lexi’s rage grew as Penny told her what had happened with Kevin.

“Holy shit. But do you really have to quit?”

“You know it’s for the best. And I’ve been thinking about this for a while now.”

“I’m really proud of you, Penny. Don’t let them convince you to stay,” Lexi said with a smile.

“I won’t.”

“So, are you nervous for tonight?”

“Nope. I’m ready to fight for what’s mine,” she said. She was totally lying to herself, and her nerves came back in full force. But in a few hours, she was going to prove to Ethan how much she loved him. He’d stopped texting yesterday, and she tried not to think about what that meant. The ball was in her court and she was running with it. She was going to get everything she wanted. She refused to hold back on her dreams any longer.