CHAPTER 16

                                    

                                          
CHASE
I'm already halfway to the car when my phone buzzes in my pocket. It's late, probably too late to be driving anywhere, but right now I'm a man on a mission. I pause at the driver's side door to check the message.
Julia: Don't bother going to the cabin tonight.
Frowning at the message, I quickly type out a reply. Julia knows something, but what is the question.
Me: Is Penny back home already? I need to see her.
I hit send and wait, my impatience rising by the second. Sitting around isn't doing me any good. I just need to figure out where Penny is so I can go to her. To tell her-show her-how I feel. Everything I should have said back at the cabin runs through my head. The way we left things doesn't sit right with me. She asked for space, but how much does she need? And what if waiting means losing her to all the confusion she's dealing with? I can't let that happen.
Julia's reply finally comes through.
Julia: No, she's not at her house. Trust me, Chase. Just leave it for tonight.
My heart sinks. I don't understand what's going on. Trust her? I need to see Penny. Right now. Something is off, but I can't quite put my finger on it. The more evasive Julia is, the more certain I am that she knows something she's not telling me. I type furiously.
Me: Where is she? What's going on?
Nothing.
Another minute passes, and I send another message.
Me: Come on, Jules. I'm serious. What's happening? Is she OK?
Still nothing. My patience is running thin, so I dial her number, pacing back and forth on the driveway as the phone rings.
"Chase, I told you-" Julia whispers, finally answering.
"Why are you whispering?" I ask, cutting her off, more frustrated with each second that passes.
"Because Penny's working through some stuff, and you need to just wait." Her voice is hushed but firm, like I'm a kid being scolded for asking too many questions.
"Wait? What the hell does that mean?" I run a hand through my hair, my composure fraying with every failed attempt. "Julia, I can't just sit here. I need to see her."
"No, Chase. You don't." Julia blurts, but then her tone softens. "Look, I know how much you care about her, but tonight... it's not the time. Trust me, okay?"
My jaw clenches. Since when did Julia become the gatekeeper to all things Penny? I hate how she's keeping her from me. What's really going on here? Is Penny avoiding me? Is this Julia's way of breaking it to me gently?
"Where is she, Julia?" My voice lowers, sharper now. "Enough with the riddles. I'm not playing games tonight."
Julia sighs, but still avoids answering the question. "Chase, please. Just let her work through this. I promise you, it'll be worth the wait."
My thoughts spiral. Is Penny avoiding me? Or worse-Is she hurt? What if something happened to her and Julia's trying to keep me calm?
"Is she at your place?" I ask, more determined than ever.
There's a pause on the other end of the line. It's just long enough for me to know I'm right.
"I'm coming over," I blurt.
Before she can protest, I hang up and jump into my car. My ears thud with the pounding of my heart. Pressing hard on the accelerator, the tires squeal as I make a beeline to Julia's. If Penny's there, I need to see her. I need to tell her I'm ready to fight for her, that I've made my decision. No more holding back, no more second-guessing. This is it.
By the time I get to Julia's, it's almost midnight. The downstairs window has a faint glow, so I know someone's there. My pulse races as I climb the steps to the stoop, knocking on the door just loud enough to alert Julia without disturbing the entire neighbourhood.
Slowly, the door creaks open, revealing a pyjama-laden Julia. She stands in the small space between the doorframe and the door, raising a finger to her lips.
"Shh."
I push past her, my eyes scanning the living room for any sign of Penny. "Where is she?"
"Chase, stop-" Julia tugs at my jacket sleeve, but I shrug her off.
And then I see her.
Penny. Curled up on Julia's couch, fast asleep. Her hair spilling over the pillow, her body nestled into the blankets like she's been here for hours. She looks peaceful, angelic even. My heart clenches at the sight of her, so serene, so... beautiful. God, I've missed her.
Julia tugs at my sleeve again, pulling me back toward the door. "You can't wake her."
I hesitate. Everything in me wants to shake Penny awake, to tell her that I'm here, that I'll always be here if she'll have me. But then, seeing how peaceful she looks, I know I can't disturb her. I can't wake her up and dump all my emotions on her like some selfish idiot. She's been through enough.
"Leave her, Chase. She needs rest," Julia whispers, almost pleading with me.
I glance between Julia and Penny, my heart twisting with indecision. The part of me that was ready to storm in and say everything I've been holding back starts to fade. Penny deserves more than a late-night confrontation. She deserves someone who can be patient, who can wait for her to come to her own conclusions without being pushed.
I sigh, defeated. Julia's right. I can't force this.
Reaching into my jacket pocket, I pull out a small notepad I usually carry around to jot down reminders and shopping lists. Scribbling my heart onto the page, I tear it out and hand it to Julia.
"Can you give this to her when she wakes up?"
Julia takes it, nodding. "I will."
With one final glance, I commit every part of Penny to memory. Just in case this doesn't pan out the way I hope it does.
Walking back to my car, a strange sense of relief intermingled with regret hovers over me. I wanted so badly to tell her everything in person. But tonight wasn't the night.
My thoughts are racing as I drive through the quiet streets. Going home isn't appealing, not when my head's spinning with what-ifs. I can't help but wonder if I should have just stayed. If I should have woken her up. But I didn't. I couldn't.
An iridescent glow from a bar's neon sign draws my attention, like a moth to a flame, and before I know it, I'm pulling into the parking lot. It's not somewhere I frequent, but right now, it feels like the only place I can be. Inside, I plop down on a barstool and wave the bartender over.
"What'll you have?" he asks, glancing at me over the counter.
"Whiskey," I say without a second thought. "Double, please."
The glass slides over to me, and I knock it back in one go. It burns on the way down, but it's not enough. I ask for another.
As I sip the second drink, Penny's face flashes in my mind. Her peaceful expression, the way she curled into the couch, oblivious to the storm swirling around us. My stomach knots, and I shake my head, trying to drown it all out.
I pull out my phone and stare at the screen, half hoping Julia will text me and say Penny's awake, half knowing I'll have to wait until morning.
So, I wait. And hope. And drink.