Penny for your thoughts

POV

Millie

I step outside of the hotel and right in front is what I'm assuming is Nick's gray car.

He rolls down the window, "hey em," he says with a smile and my nerves are in overdrive.

I get in and we lightly converse about our days as we drive for what seems to be only about five minutes when we pull into a restaurant, Blue Lagoon the sign on the building reads.

We step out of the car and I'm thankful when we walk in and the atmosphere seems casual. There are sharks and other sea life creatures hanging on the walls. A hostess greets us and then guides us to a table alongside a window that has a view of the ocean. The sun is starting to set giving the sky an orangey hue. The scene brings me back to all of the nights spent with X and the deep conversation we've had that made us fall in love in the first place. Sitting here with Nick is feeling off-kilter but I need to make new memories even if it hurts in the process.

A waitress walks over to our table introducing herself as Ashley. She pours water into the glasses in front of us.

We order some cocktails as we glance over the menu. I have my head down deciding on what I want to order when I hear Nick say, "Penny?"

I glance up from my menu and I swear my eyes practically bulge out of the sockets.

Penelope?!

My whole body is frozen at the sight of her and on top of it Nick knows her?

"Em, this is Penny, we used to work together, what like 4 years ago?" He asks her as he looks her up and down, clear as day checking her out.

What surprises me more than my date checking out another woman, is the fact that it's not bothering me like it should.

"Yeah, something like that," Penelope says to him.

This is a real nightmare, the last time I saw this whore was a week ago, and naked at that. Wow, the balls this girl has to come up to us right now is literally mind-blowing.

"So what are you doing here Penny? What have you been up to?" Nick asks her.

You've got to be kidding me right now…

"I just started bartending here, I just wanted to say hi to you guys, maybe we can talk later Millie?" She asks looks down at me and I just want to throw my water at her overly made-up face.

"Mmm," I say with a fake smile.

"Okay, well I'll leave you guys to it," she says before walking back behind the bar as Nick stares at her ass the whole time.

I clear my throat to indicate that I noticed.

"Sorry, um how do you know Penny?" He asks me in confusion.

"Oh, uh, it's a long boring story, let's save that for another time," I say wanting to avoid the topic at all costs.

What the hell can she even want to talk to me about? And since when am I Millie to her? I've always been Nellie.

This date is in turmoil before it's really even begun, first the ocean view, then Penelope, and then my date checking Penelope out what else can possibly happen tonight?

Ashley sets down our cocktails in front of us and I take a nice long sip needing it faster than it's going down. Nick excuses himself to use the bathroom and as soon as he does Penelope doesn't waste a minute taking his spot.

"What is it, Penelope?" I ask downing my drink and not wanting to say a single thing to her, I'd rather just talk with my fists but we're in public so I have to appear civil.

"I'm sorry Millie. I just got in over my head being at that house, I wanted to be like them and just be near them all the time and I don't know…I just was really shitty to you and I wanted to apologize even though I know it doesn't mean anything to you." She says and I think her apology may be sincere but what happened can't be taken back.

I just want her to leave so I say, "apology accepted."

She gives me a half smile, "Nick's a really good guy."

I don't know if she's telling me that or herself at this point and I don't give a shit either way.

She stands up from the chair, "I'm sorry to hear about what happened to X," she says gently and with a sad expression.

Hold the fuck up.

She starts to step away but I grab her wrist preventing her from doing so.

"What happened to X?" I demand and her face goes blank clearly unaware of me not knowing something she does.

"Oh..um nothing, nothing. I should get back to the bar," she says nervously trying to escape.

I stand up, pushing her against the wall to corner her with my arms on either side of her.

"What the fuck happened to X?" I say in a harsh tone.

She looks down awkwardly.

"Uhh, I'm sorry I just thought you would've known.." she says with furrowed eyebrows.

"Penelope, so help me god, if you don't start getting actual words out of that mouth of yours I will deck you right in your fucking plastic face in front of this whole restaurant with a smile on my psychotic face." I threaten.

She knows I'm not messing around, she looks me straight in the eyes and delivers excruciating news.

"He um..he overdosed the other day.." she says glumly.

No.

No. No. No

"When?" I ask panicked.

"Wednesday night." She says quietly.

"No" I whisper.

"I'm so sorry Millie, I thought you knew," she says embarrassed.

"No, I didn't fucking know," I say half enraged, half hurt that no one told me.

It all makes sense now, Steph knew. That's why she's been acting all weird since then.

What the fuck!

I don't even know my emotions right now, I'm feeling every single one of them all at the same time.

X overdosed?

How could he? How could he do this?

My heart rate is accelerating to the point that I feel the blood pumping in my ears, I need to get to him. I need to see him, I need answers.

I remove my hands from the sides of Penelope.

"I need your car," I demand.

"What?" She asks full of confusion.

"I need your car Penelope, if you want my forgiveness then give me your car for one night." I say desperately.

She gives in, pulling keys out of her denim shorts and hands them to me.

"What about Nick?" She asks.

"Penelope, I have bigger issues to deal with right now," I say matter of fact.

"Well, what should I tell him when he comes back?" She asks looking at the table.

"I do not give a fuck what you say," I tell her as I leave as fast as I can.

X.

X is my only priority right now.