Chapter 32: Penny
The air outside is sharp and cool when we tumble out of the restaurant, laughter spilling into the night.
Tyler’s still cracking up at something Jo said, clapping him on the back like they’re the funniest people alive.
WAL
Everyone’s loud and a little chaotic full of food and energy and that late–night giddy feeling.
I hang back a little, hands stuffed into the pockets of my jacket, watching the group head toward the cars.
We drift toward Zoe’s car first a little beat–up blue thing with a dent in the bumper and a ton of glittery keychains swinging from the rearview mirror.
“Later, losers!” Zoe calls, tossing her purse into the passenger seat and sliding behind the wheel like she’s about to peel out in a movie.
She twists the key.
The engine coughs.
Splutters.
Dies.
She frowns, tries again, pumping the gas.
More coughing.
More dying.
Jo jogs up, grabbing at the hood latch. “Pop it! Lemme see.”
Tyler’s still laughing, leaning against the side of her car like this is just part of the entertainment.
I hover awkwardly near the back, watching Jo fiddle under the hood like he’s pretending to know what he’s doing.
Zoe tries again.
Nothing.
Jo slams the hood down with a grunt. “Nope.”
This is the worst,” Zoe moans dramatically, throwing her head back against the seat. “My car cannot be dead right now. I have work tomorrow! Important work! I can’t walk to the salon like a peasant!”
“You’re not walking, Tyler says, trying to calm hef. “You’ll figure it out in the morning.”
“Maybe it’s the battery,” Jo offers unhelpfully.
“Maybe you have no idea what you’re talking about,” Zoe snaps.
Jo throws his hands up. “Just trying to help, girl.”
Across the lot, someone calls, “Get the Navy guy to fix it!”
I turn to look and sure enough, there’s Asher, leaning against Tyler’s car like he’s posing for the cover of Brooding Monthly.
1/5
Chapter 32. Penny
Arms crossed.
Expression flat.
Looking like he might actually set something on fire with his mind if we keep bothering him.
Jo waves him over. “C’mon, Hayes! Show us how it’s done!”
Asher barely moves.
Just shrugs lazily, deadpan.
“Don’t know anything about cars.”
I bite down on a laugh so hard it hurts.
Because I watched him fix Tyler’s car earlier like he was born with a wrench in his hand.
When I glance at him, he’s already watching me.
That stare.
Heavy, Intense.
Like he can see the joke I’m choking on.
Like he’s daring me to laugh out loud.
I look away quickly, cheeks heating.
Zoe groans again, flopping dramatically into the driver’s seat.
“This is seriously a disaster,” she moans. “I’m literally stranded.”
“It’s fine,” Tyler says easily. “You can get it towed tomorrow. Not the end of the world.”
Zoe makes a noise like it is, in fact, the end of the world.
From a few cars down, Jason shouts, “Yo! I can take three people if anyone needs a ride!”
Tyler straightens up immediately. “Perfect. I’ll drive the rest.”
I don’t even have time to pray for a miracle.
Because of course, Rebecca and Zoe immediately abandon ship, laughing as they skip toward Tyler’s car.
Because why not.
Tyler tosses the keys at Asher.
“You drive?”
Asher catches them one–handed, effortless.
“Sure.”
2/5
Chapter 32: Penny
Short. Sharp.
Like he doesn’t care either way if we live or die on this drive.
Tyler’s already moving, opening the passenger door for me with a bright grin.
“After you, Pen.*
I duck in, cheeks heating at the casual endearment.
And then – because my life is a sitcom apparently – Tyler slaps my butt lightly as I slide in.
I almost launch myself into the dashboard.
He just laughs and climbs into the backseat behind me, completely unbothered.
Zoe and Rebecca pile in after him, Zoe practically on Tyler’s lap before her seatbelt’s even clicked.
Asher gets behind the wheel, adjusting the seat once, sharp and efficient, before turning the key.
The engine hums to life immediately – of course it does.
‘Where to?” he asks, voice low, glancing briefly into the rearview mirror.
Rebecca rattles off her address first, and Zoe tacks hers on after.
Asher nods once, pulling out of the lot with smooth, steady movements.
The car falls into an awkward, sticky silence.
Tyler breaks it almost immediately, nudging Zoe’s knee with his and laughing about some dumb story from practice.
I stare out the window, pretending to be fascinated by streetlights.
Next to me, Asher feels huge.
Not just physically though he is.
But in that way he takes up all the air, all the space, without even trying.
He’s like a personal space heater cranked to max.
The heat radiates off him in slow, steady waves, seeping into the cabin, making the cool night outside feel like a distant memory.
I shift slightly, pressing closer to the door, but it doesn’t help.
He’s still there.
Still burning.
“So, Asher,” Rebecca says suddenly, leaning/forward between the seats like a golden retriever with an agenda. “You coming to Jason’s party next week? Everyone’s gonna be there.”
Asher doesn’t even glance at her.
“No,”
3/5
Flat, Final.
I press my lips together, fighting a smile.
Rebecca pouts dramatically. Don’t be a buzzkill.”
Zoe giggles.
“Yeah, even Penny’s coming.”
I blink.
Excuse me?
“Um, I don’t know about that,” I mumble, but no one’s listening.
Tyler laughs, reaching forward to ruffle my hair affectionately.
“Yeah, but Pen’s way more fun than she looks.”
Rebecca fake–laughs like he just said something hilarious.
I want to melt into the seat.
The drive stretches on.
The girls keep talking – clothes, parties, who’s hooking up with who
–
and Tyler laughs along, easy and warm.
I stay quiet, hands folded tightly in my lap, letting the city lights smear past the window in long gold streaks.
Asher’s steady presence beside me never falters.
Solid. Heavy.
A silent, impossible wall.
The kind you could lean on if you weren’t careful.
Or maybe the kind that crushes you if you get too close.
Hard to say.
Probably both.
When we finally turn onto Rebecca’s street, the tension in the car ratchets up
The girls start gathering their bags, chattering louder to fill the space.
Tyler climbs out first, helping Zoe out with exaggerated gallantry.
Rebecca follows, tossing a wink at Asher before disappearing into the dark.
The door slams shut behind them.
And just like that
without anyone acknowledging it.
Chapter 32: Penny
the car feels different.
Cleaner.
Quieter.
Sharper.
It’s just me, Tyler, and Asher now.
