Chapter 08 – After Hours
The weekend passed, as most others did, uneventfully. The lesson that had been issued to Mindy on Friday night was still fresh in my mind as I headed to the office on Monday morning. As I sat there for the day and tried to concentrate on my work, I could not shake the images of Brooke and Leslie in my head. They really did a number on me and I wondered what Mindy was thinking of our game now.
I was startled at how fast the day went by. I was grinding through a boring presentation that was due in the next few weeks when my phone rang around 5pm.
"Hello," I answered casually.
"What time will you be home," Penny's lovely voice asked pleasantly from the other end of the phone.
"I'm not sure," I admitted, thinking of all the things I had not gotten accomplished that day. "It could be a late one tonight."
"Ok," was all Penny said in response before hanging up.
I put the receiver down and returned to the project in front of me. One by one, the members of my department said goodnight and headed home. I noticed it was after 7pm when the last of them waved and headed for the parking lot. I concentrated on my presentation for a while longer, until there was a knock at my door.
I was floored when I looked up and saw Penny standing in the doorway of my office. She was dressed down, wearing a faded 49ers t-shirt and jeans with her ballet flats. Her hair was up and she looked adorable. I immediately became nervous because Penny never visited me at work before.
"Are you ok," I asked hurriedly.
"I'm fine," she giggled. "I just stopped by to see you."
"Is everything alright at home," I questioned. "Vivian is ok?"
"We are all fine," she reiterated. "No big deal. I just missed you."
She moved to one of the chairs in front of my desk as she shut the door behind her. She sat, staring at me with her crooked little smile. I tried to focus on my presentation, but Penny's stare was intoxicating. I couldn't help but look at her.
"Are you freaking out again," I asked her plainly.
"No, I am not," she replied sternly. "I am just being selfish and stealing moments with you."