Page 71 of Nobody's Girl

Ivo just grinned and shook his head. They heard the front door open.

“Men, I bring food.” Sofia intoned in a deep voice and then appeared in the door way. She held up a bag of freshly made baguettes and a six-pack of beer.

They all fell on the food as if they had been starved. Penn had been staying with them now for a week, helping out with the decorating. Sofia and Ivo loved having him there and although they didn’t repeat their sensual night at the club – Sofia made it clear that only she and Ivo shared their bed at home – the three friends grew even closer.

Now, as they ate, Sofia nodded at the wall they had just painted. “Looking good,” she said, her mouth full of bread and Penn smiled at Ivo.

“See?”

Ivo shrugged, as Sofia continued. “Another couple of coats and taking care of some of the missed spots and we should be done.”

Penn’s face fell and both Sofia and Ivo burst out laughing. He mock-scowled at them. “Oh, I see, this is a set-up?”

“Welcome to the wonderful world of text messages,” Ivo held up his phone. “You’re so gullible, Black.”

Sofia punched Penn’s shoulder. “Seriously, bro, nice job.”

Penn grinned, but felt a small jolt. Sofia saw it in his eyes. “’Sup?”

“I just miss this, you know? With Willa, we always used to joke around. Now that she’s gone…”

Sofia went to him and hugged him. “I’m so sorry, Penn.”

He nodded, gathering himself. “Thanks. You have any siblings?”

“Step. My step-brother, Jonas is wonderful, a real brother to me. My step-sister is a psychotic murderous harpy. So, a mixed bunch.” Sofia said it lightly, but she winced a little.

“Murderous?” Penn looked shock and Ivo nodded grimly.

“She killed her own mother, by all accounts – actually she practically told Sofia she had done it. Tamara’s very much a Daddy’s girl.”

Penn had gone very still, very white. “Tamara?”

“Tamara Rutland is my step-sister. You might have heard of them? Anyhow, Tamara, when she was just a teenager, decided her mother was in the way and pushed her down a flight of stairs. Of course, nothing was ever proved – and besides who would imagine a young girl doing that?”

Penn clambered to his feet and stumbled towards the bathroom. Sofia and Ivo looked at each other in alarm. “Penn?”

They both heard him throw up and up. Sofia darted in to help him, as Ivo grabbed some ice water from the kitchen. Sofia rubbed Penn’s back.

“Penn?”

She realized with horror that he was crying and cursed herself. Willa had died in the same way as Judy Rutland – fuck, how insensitive was she to tell Penn that?

Ivo arrived and made Penn sit down and sip the water. Sofia shot an agonized glance at her husband. “Penn, I’m so sorry, I didn’t think.”

Penn shook his head. “It’s not your fault, it’s just…god. My god…my god…”

He sounded so distraught that Sofia began to panic a little. “Penn, it’s okay…it’s okay…”

He looked at her, his eyes showing a world of pain. “No, it’s not, Sofia. It’s not and I don’t know how the hell it’s ever going to be right again…I have to go.”

He stood suddenly and pushed past a confused Ivo to go to the guestroom. They found him shoving his belongings into his case. Ivo went to his friend.

“Penn, come on, come sit with us and calm down.”

“I can’t, I have to go…you’ll understand soon, I promise. I need to go home.” He stopped, squeezing his eyes shut, then hugged Ivo. “I’m okay…there’s just something I need to do. I love you both, remember that.” He kissed Sofia’s cheek, then before they knew it, he was gone.