She thrust out her left hand. A small, sparkly diamond glittered on her ring finger.
"It's beautiful," I said, taking her hand and peering at the stone. I hoped I sounded excited, because I certainly didn't feel it. It wasn't that I wasn't happy for her, I really was, but someone else's wedding was the last thing I wanted to think about with Tony on my mind.
"It was Jeremy's grandmother's," she cooed, grinning at the ring. "He proposed last night. It was super romantic."
"That's wonderful!" I let go of her ring and forced my face into a happy smile. I really was happy for her, just jealous. Incredibly jealous.
"I thought we were going out because he just got this big promotion. He got a dozen red roses, because they're my favorite, and made reservations at Le Chez..." Penny continued, launching into a complete retelling of the entire night. I stood there, nodding and making the appropriate noises, but my heart wasn't in it. Sweet little Penny was getting everything I had wanted in life.
"And then, my mom and dad showed up and I knew something was going on..."
My family was gone. I didn't have any siblings, and all my older relatives had died off as the years passed. Since I had never married, I didn't have any other family. I had some good work friends, but many of them had their own families. I spent most of my evenings alone. As Penny gave every wonderful detail of the proposal, I couldn't help but compare our two lives. I felt I was coming up short. She was telling me all the things I had dreamed of having, but never would.
"The whole restaurant was full of our friends and family, and he just stood up in front of all of them to propose. It was so sweet of him to think of all of it," Penny finished. She had a happy, wistful look on her face. I could see wedding dresses and flowers already floating through her mind.
"I'm so happy for you, Penny." I picked out a bag of coffee and held it in the crook of my arm. "Congratulations."
"Thank you! I think we're going to have a June wedding. My niece will be just old enough to be the flower girl. I'll be sure to get you an invitation!"
"That is incredibly kind of you, thank you. I wish you all the best," I said, my voice cracking a little at the end. Penny was a sweet gir
l. I had even met her Jeremy once or twice, and the two of them seemed incredibly in love; it was my own lack of love and future that pained me. Penny had nowhere to go but up, and I had nowhere but down. I didn't want to hear any more of her perfect life. I was envious enough as it was.
"We'll have dancing, so be sure to bring a date," Penny added. I managed a smile and a nod. I knew I wouldn't have a date. I could try, but I knew my heart wouldn't be in it. If my dreams of Tony recently were any indication, my heart had been given away a long time ago.
"Congratulations again, Penny," I said, patting her shoulder and then bolting to the checkout line. I just wanted to get home and put my coffee away. I thought about just staying in, making the coffee in my single-serve pot, but the idea of a specialty coffee with whipped cream sounded so much better. I needed the treat. I needed something to look forward to, even if it was just a cup of coffee.
I handed my bag of coffee to the cashier and tried not to think about the fact that my life's greatest pleasure was a cup of coffee.
Chapter 4
June 7th, 1990
I lay awake, nestled in the curve of Tony's shoulder, listening to his steady heartbeat in the early morning. I had been awake for at least half an hour, just listening to him breathe. The sun was still just waking up herself, filling the room with a cold gray light that would soon melt into warmth.
I was in love. I knew it already. The feeling filled me from the core of my stomach to the tips of my toes. Even my hair felt in love. I had never met anyone like Tony. He thought I was beautiful, smart, and so sexy. He could barely keep his hands off me. In addition, he treated me like a princess. He opened doors and pulled out my chair.
I took a deep breath, taking in the smell of his skin. It was warm and had the aroma of sunshine. My hand traced the curve of his pectoral muscle, down the line of his abs, each of them perfectly sculpted and beautiful. He was like a Greek statue. I couldn't believe that he was here, in my bed. It had to be a dream. There was no way I could fall this head over heels in love with someone I had met just two days before. It wasn't logical. It was magical. It was fate.
The alarm on the nightstand started to beep, destroying my morning of admiration. Tony groaned and opened one eye to glare at the offending clock. His fingers wiggled along the nightstand until he found the "Snooze" button. With the beeping stopped, he relaxed back into his pillow and I could feel him drifting back to sleep.
"Wake up, sleepy head," I whispered and kissed his cheek.
"Mmmph." He scowled a little.
"Today is your fun boys’ day, remember?" I said gently, still playing with the muscles of his chest and abs. I circled one nipple on his pectoral, letting it harden as I played with it. "You were looking forward to this."
"Well, now you've got me looking forward to something else," he mumbled, his voice heavy with sleep but filled with want. I giggled and kissed the soft skin where his shoulder joined his body. He was all muscle with just enough meat on his bones to make him look real.
"Just think, motorcycles... loose women... money..." I shifted my position so I could take his nipple into my mouth, running my tongue along the upright nub. He groaned with pleasure.
"You certainly do make getting up easier." I could hear a laugh hiding under his words. It took me a moment to get the dirty joke, but when it hit me, I smacked his chest. He laughed and grabbed my fingers, kissing the tips of each one. I bit my lip. Maybe we could get another romp in before...
The alarm clock went off again. He was quicker finding the "Snooze" button this time since he was actually awake.
"You are going to be late," I said, pushing at his ribs to roll him out of bed. Despite my best efforts, he didn't even budge.
"What if I would rather spend my day with you? Here in bed?" He rolled onto his side and up onto an elbow so he could cradle his head in his hand. It made the muscles of his shoulder and bicep pop out. It was such a tempting offer.