Page 88 of While the Sun Shines

“Did you steal that?”

“Sure did.”

“You went into the attic and took my eighth-grade soccer trophy out of whatever box it was in?”

“And you’re welcome, too,” Cooper says. “In presentation of first place, which is also a tie, but also a loss, to Penny Morales, bartender extraordinaire, wonderful friend, even better roommate when she knocks on the damn bathroom door, and our very favorite person.”

Penny laughs hard enough her eyes water. “This is the most mortifying evening of my entire life.”

But Deb’s clapping and Courtney joins in too. And when Cooper finally pushes the trophy into Penny’s hand, Abelardo hugs her around the shoulders, pumping his other hand in the air.

“Drew, I’m blaming you for this,” Penny says.

He holds up both hands in defense. “Farm reg thirty-seven point four, no blame assigned against those who plan epic events.”

But Penny swings the trophy at him anyway, and Drew grabs it, and though he doesn’t mean to, not really, the momentum pulls her closer to him.

He hugs her. Quickly, but tight, the trophy wedged against his ribs and his hands on her back.

All this time, he could’ve been pouring energy into making her laugh like this. Hard enough she has to wipe at her cheeks, embarrassed and delighted all at once. And Penny’s still smiling as Cooper starts passing out drinks, as Courtney starts an order of burgers and fries for them to share, and as Deb comes over to try slices of the cheese they’ve brought.

What the fuck has he been doing, when he could’ve been doing this? The farm, he thinks with that old, well-worn anxiety. The clawing worry of what’s waiting for him back at home.

Well, it’ll still be there.

Drew grabs a burger when they come out of the kitchen and slices some of his own cheddar over it. A squirt of ketchup on the bun, a pool of ranch dressing next to the fries.

“For you,” he says to Penny.

She’s still holding the trophy, tucking it under her arm as she takes the plate. “Oh my God, perfect.”

“Hey,” Drew says softly.

Penny looks up at him as she takes a bite of the burger, and when she puts it back on the plate, there’s a smear of ketchup next to her mouth. Gently, slow enough she can see him do it—and stop him if she wants to—he wipes it away with his thumb.

“Can I—later, can I drive you home?” Drew asks. “Can we talk?”

“Okay.”

“Good.”

He wipes his thumb on a napkin. Smooths his shirt. Breathes. In and out and in again. Then, he grabs one of her fries.

“Hey!” Penny smacks the back of his hand. “Farm reg forty-six point—”

Drew takes another fry, and this time to stop him, she grabs his hand. Then laces their fingers together, holding tight.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

When the bar starts to fill up for the evening, diners trickling in looking for burgers and beers, Drew and Penny slip outside.

“I’m keeping this,” she says, tapping his arm with the trophy. “Hey, thank you.”

“For your new trophy? I can’t believe Cooper even found it.”

“Thanks for tonight.”

“Well, I think we’ve now created a monster with Cooper, so you can fully expect to have to do that again.”