Penny laughed. “Thank you, but I’m okay. I’m just going to go put this one down. But before I do…” she looked back and forth between us. “I have to ask. Please tell me you two are dating.”
I glanced at Kennedy, who looked down at the ground.
“We’re just friends,” I said. Every time I said it, it killed me a little more.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” Penny said. “I feel like I keep jumping to wild conclusions that are wrong.”
“It’s fine, Penny,” I said.
“So you’re not dating Kennedy,” Penny said. “Or anyone else?”
“Nope.”
“Definitely not me,” Kennedy said. “We’ve been friends for forever. It would just be…weird. Right?” she said and looked up at me.
I swallowed hard. “Right.”
“If you’ll excuse me.” Kennedy left Penny and me alone in the kitchen.
Penny sighed. “Being your matchmaker is hard work. Say goodnight, Liam.” She turned around so I could see Liam’s cute little face.
I booped him on the nose and he burped.
Awww.
“I’m exhausted so I’m going to call it an early night too. It was nice seeing Kennedy again. I’m sad that she’s not the one for you.”
I wanted to tell her that she was right. That Kennedy was the one for me. But I held my tongue. I felt guilty for hiding another secret from her. I was pretty sure Mason had already told Bee about Brooklyn by now. And Rob had probably told Daphne. I’d asked them to let me tell Penny though. And it didn’t seem like she knew yet. I was lucky that they hadn’t spilled it at girls’ night. I’d tell Penny soon. But not right here where our friends could probably overhear.
Before Penny left the kitchen, she turned around. “You know what? Let’s have dinner. You and me tomorrow night.”
Well that was easy. Tomorrow would be a perfect chance to tell her everything. “Sure. That sounds great.” I already felt a little relieved. Penny was right. Secrets sucked.
She gave me a weird grin. “Despite what James thinks, I’m pretty sure I have everything figured out.”
Wait, what? “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know. It’s a surprise. Besides, I owe you an apology dinner after freaking out on you about Poppy. James told me you’re doing it for Scarlett. And you know we’re both so grateful. Really, I can’t thank you enough for putting yourself into this mess. Dinner is the least I can do. See you tomorrow night.”
“Goodnight, Penny.” I shoved my hands into my pockets as she walked out of the room. And my fingers collided with a piece of paper. I pulled out one of the notes Nigel had put in my lunch. I had no idea where the washing machine was in Tanner’s apartment and didn’t feel comfortable asking Nigel about it. I was pretty sure he’d insist on washing all my stuff himself and do something strange with my boxers or something. So I’d worn the same pants a few days this week. And it was a damn good thing I had.
Because I was pretty sure Nigel was the answer to all my problems. He was a sneaky little man who would literally do anything for me. As Tanner had put it, serving people was Nigel’s sole purpose in life. Nigel had told me if I ever needed anything all I had to do was text him. And I needed his help to bring Poppy down.
Chapter 41
Friday
I pulled out my phone, ignored the unread messages from Poppy, and shot Nigel a text. “I need your help with something.”
His response came immediately. “Mr. Caldwell? Is that you?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be right there. I just need to dry off.”
I hoped he meant he’d been swimming again. And not that he was bathing and texting me right now. Or something somehow worse than that. “No need. I can just text you,” I wrote back.
“I only need 15 minutes. Please, Mr. Caldwell. Let me come to you. Let me serve you properly.”
First I had to see if he could even help. “Do you have connections to other house managers?” I wasn’t really sure of Nigel’s official title. Surely he didn’t consider himself a houseboy or whatever Tanner called him.
“Every single one on the Upper East Side,” he replied. “And several others. And all of them know several others. I have access to anyone you desire. At a moment’s notice.”
“Do you know Poppy Cannavaro’s house manager?”
“Yes, sir.”
Perfect. I really hoped I wouldn’t regret this. “Great. I’m at James’ place.”
“I know.”
Creepy. “I’ll meet you outside in 15 then.”
“I won’t be tardy.”
I have no idea why, but I had a feeling he’d resisted texting, “And if I am tardy, punish me.” I shoved my phone into my pocket and headed back out into the great room. I glanced at the texts from Poppy. Two just asking me when I was coming. I shot her one back saying I’d be there in an hour.
Kennedy was laughing when I walked out of the kitchen and I couldn’t ignore how that sound warmed my heart.
“I never called you Tiger,” Kennedy said.
“I swear you did,” Rob said. “Homecoming sophomore year. You were plastered and you called me Tiger and rawred at me. Legit rawred.”
“Oh God.” Kennedy cringed. “I really don’t remember much about that night. But I do vaguely remember hearing about something like that.”
Rob laughed. “Don’t be embarrassed. I know I’m the hottest of the four of us. I don’t blame you for having a thing for me back then.”
Kennedy looked over at me. And she didn’t need to say it. I could see it all over her face. She didn’t think Rob was the hottest. She thought I was.
“Sorry to cut the night short,” I said. “But I have to get going. Kennedy, can I walk you out?”
“Yeah, sure.” She stood up. “It was really nice seeing you guys again. We definitely need to do this again sometime.”
“Anytime,” Mason said. “I’m so glad you’re back in the city.” He hugged her goodbye, giving me a not at all subtle thumbs up behind Kennedy’s back.
She gave hugs to everyone else too. Tanner whispered something in her ear and her face flushed.
Seriously, what kind of stuff had he been saying to her all night?
“Later, guys,” I said as Kennedy joined me by my side. I didn’t care that we’d just told all of them we were friends. I put my arm around her shoulders as I led her to the door. Friends did that too, right?
“You’re really bad at this,” Kennedy said as we stopped in front of the elevator.
“At what?”
“The friends thing.” She lifted my arm off of her.
“Friends touch each other too,” I said.
She laughed. “Not the way you want to touch me.”
I smiled. “And how do you think I want to touch you?”
She rolled her eyes and stared at the elevator doors. “I think Tanner’s right about you.”
“What did Tanner say about me?”
“Oh, a lot of things. He was wingmanning hard for you tonight. I like him. He’s an interesting guy.”