4.

                                    

                                          
"So tell me everything," Gen said as she plopped down on the chair across from Penelope.
Penelope picked up her iced latte and shrugged, "Nothing to tell."
"I don't think so Featherington, out with it," Gen demanded.
Penelope smiled at her impatient friend, "It was nice..."
Gen wove her hand to get more information.
'Nice' obviously wasn't a satisfactory response for Ms Gen.
"Ok fine, it was good, like really good," Penelope blushed while nibbling at her lip.
The kiss was everything.
"He's so into you, it's crazy," Gen said smugly.
"Hm, do you really think so?"  Penelope asked a little nervously.
Gen nodded frantically, nearly spitting out her tea, "are you fucking kidding me Pen? The man couldn't keep his eyes from you that night when you were posing like some Greek goddess on that old sofa." Penelope went bright red, "I still can't believe I agreed to that, you still owe me a wine night for that one."  Gen scoffed, "I think I'm the one owed wine, since it got you lucky." Penelope laughed and threw a napkin at her across the table.
"Are you seeing him again?"
The aged old question.
"I hope so," Penelope replied with a small smile.
She had only seen him last night and hadn't heard from him today.
Was that normal?
She had been in a few relationships since landing in the Big Apple, but nothing ever lasted past the six-month mark. It was every time the 'love' word got introduced, she either wasn't ready or just... didn't feel it. In comparison to her 'other' encounters, no one had ever made her stomach flip the way Benedict did.
This time was different, she could feel it in her bones.
Gen rushed off to teach a class she had around twenty minutes later. Penelope on the other hand curled up in her usual comfy corner with yet another coffee (this time a warm one), and her trusty book - obviously. She loved this little café. It was close to her old campus, and she knew the owners pretty well, after all, Maria (the owner) always said she was 'her best customer'. She loved the quiet atmosphere and the old and cosy feeling it had. It was a home away from home, and not to mention she had read countless books in this very spot.
She truly loved her life in New York.
"Hey" she looked up and there he was sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "Hi" she replied while uncurling herself from her little nook. He pointed to her book and sat down across from her, "Any good?" Penelope smiled and nodded, "Yeah it is."
He placed his coffee on the table and smiled.
That smile.
Penelope noticed his leg shaking ever so slightly, and the overarching silence that currently laid between them. She was nervous, and it was evident so was he. Whatever this was between them was unchartered waters, they had known each other for so long, so many years, it was definitely going to take some adjusting.
He seemed to just be looking at her, and Penelope felt her throat go a little dry – did she have something on her face? Before she could question it, he shook himself out of a daydream.
"What are you doing with the rest of your day?" he asked.
Penelope sat up a little and held her book and coffee up slightly to his gaze/