Page 48 of Greed

“Look, Skye, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. If you hadn’t noticed I didn’t want to sit with the two of you anymore than you wanted to sit with us. Now can you please let go of me? I want to go home.” Minetta tried to reason with no success.

“This isn’t a joke. Riker may be a dick in your eyes, but he is a decent man. He doesn’t need some little miss ‘I’m better than everyone else’ coming in and making trouble for him.”

Minetta gave Skye a hard push and was surprised when the woman stumbled back. The look on Skye’s face mirrored her own. But seriously, it was like Skye hadn’t expected her to lash out. “For the last time, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I do not have any plans to see Riker again.”

“Maybe if I drop you off in the middle of Siberia, you’d take the hint and stay gone.” Skye pointed a finger at her, and she had this urge to smack it away, but instead, she just glared at Skye, not backing down.

“Don’t touch me again. Whatever it is you think I’m doing, I’m not, and I don’t appreciate your accusations or attitude.”

Skye took a threatening step toward her. “You think you scare me? You have no idea what I’ll do to you if you keep this up,” Skye growled.

“Enough, Skye, leave her alone.”

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Penny Wise. How are you enjoying your pathetic existence? Find a clown that will stick around, or are you still wallowing in your self-pity?”

Penny walked out of the shadows like she’d simply appeared out of thin air. She would never have seen Penny if she hadn’t spoken and walked forward. She looked like her normal self, but there was an edge of power emanating from her.

“So original, Skye, and so not like you. Now scurry back to whatever rock or hole you were pulled from and leave Minny alone, or you’ll have to deal with me.” Penny blocked most of her view of Skye.

“You two know each other? Why doesn’t this surprise me,” she mumbled and crossed her arms. This night had gone from strange to worse, and somehow it had taken another step into the realm of insane. Then again, that was par for the course lately. How exactly had she walked off the trail of her normal quiet existence into this?

“She needs to stay away from Riker, she is fucking with his head, and I don’t let anyone screw with him,” Skye barked out.

“I’m not! I barely know him, and he’s the one that keeps showing up where I am, not the other way around. Except for yesterday, but I had no idea that was his building. Like I’d want to see that,” she argued. Penny looked over her shoulder at her, and she took the hint, looking away and sighed.

“Skye, that is one thing you and I actually agree on. I will talk to her. So, you can scurry off now.” Penny made a shooing sign with her hands.

“If I find you sniffing around him again, I’ll not be as friendly with you,” Skye threatened.

The comment rubbed Minetta the wrong way, and anger flared in her chest. “Bring it.” She glared at Skye. “I’m not scared of you, and you don’t control me.”

“Keep your pet on a shorter leash, Penny, or she may get bitten by a much nastier dog.” Skye turned and marched off.

Penny stared after Skye until she was completely out of sight before turning to face her. “You seem to be attracting a slew of not-so-friendly people lately.”

“I wouldn’t call that thing that was in my home a person—and what the hell? Are you following me now? Your stalking is not confined to my house or at work but also on my dates?”

“I told you we need to talk.” Penny’s hair that had come loose from the bun was floating around her face. Had it always done that, and she just hadn’t noticed?

“Oh my god, it’s obvious you’re not going to let this go. If I let you speak to me, will you stop following me around?”

“Honestly, probably not, but once we speak, it will all make sense.” Penny looked down at her feet as she played with the small loose pebbles on the blacktop. “I need you to understand I really am your friend Minny. I don’t have many friends. Well, any other than you actually, and I don’t want to lose you.”

Penny’s face was shadowed, but it was easy to tell she felt dejected. “Fine, you win. My night was ruined anyhow. Where do you want to talk,” Minetta asked.

“My place, and before you argue, I already picked up Toby.”

My arms fell to my sides. “You stole my dog? Are there no lows you wouldn’t stoop to?”

“I didn’t steal him, I grabbed him for insurance purposes, and I like cuddling him. Come on already and stop bitching. Being a whiner doesn’t suit you.”

Minetta watched Penny walk around to the passenger side of the car and couldn’t decide which was worse, the date she’d been on or this.

Shoulda just stayed in the restaurant and eaten because it really couldn’t have gotten worse, could it?

“Nice car, by the way, it totally suits you. Love the racing stripes on the black, very sharp,” Penny said as Minetta unlocked the doors and got inside.

Was it possible to go back in time and not volunteer at the triathlon? Her entire life had been turned upside down ever since that day.