Ali POV
I made it back to the apartment after signing the documents with Sheldon in a relatively good mood. That was until I walked in on Penny making out with a random man on my couch. I mean full-on tonsil hockey. It was jarring—not unexpected, but still surprising. Penny has always been physical when it comes to expressing her feelings. Unfortunately, that often leaves me to pick up the pieces when her relationships come crashing down.
I cleared my throat in hopes of getting them to stop grinding one out on my couch. When that didn't work, I chucked a magazine at her head. She disconnected her face from his and yelled, "HEY! What was that for?"
I looked her straight in the eyes and said, "For almost fucking on my couch. Go desecrate your own room, not the common areas. I don't want to ever sit somewhere you've had sex."
Penny rolled her eyes as she pulled her mystery thumper into her bedroom. It didn't take long before I heard her music floating through the walls. "Well, at least I don't have to listen to her have sex," I muttered as I went about unpacking my kitchen.
It took me about two hours to get everything washed and put away. In those two hours, I heard some very questionable noises from Penny's room that I haven't heard since I left the farm. I'm definitely teasing her about that pig squeal later. It startled me so badly I almost dropped the pan I was washing.
Just as I was wondering if her mystery man was staying the night, I saw her bedroom door open. He walked out with a blushing Penny behind him. They stepped into the hallway, and curiosity got the better of me. I ran to the door and peeked through the peephole just in time to see them kissing goodbye. That's when I saw Leonard and Sheldon coming up the stairs.
The look on Leonard's face when he saw Penny in another guy's arms was almost pathetically sad. I snorted at the thought and went back to unpacking.
Penny POV
I was saying goodbye to Todd when Leonard and Sheldon came up the stairs. The look in Leonard's eyes—it was the saddest thing I'd seen outside of a funeral. I felt bad for the guy. He's sweet, but just not my type. Ali would tell me to tit up and not string him along. Blunt honesty and all that. But I just can't do it.
He seems like a good guy, so I guess I'll just have to let him down easy. Yeah, that's the plan.
After a steamy goodbye kiss from Todd, I turned to the guys and said, "Oh, hey! How was your day?"
Leonard tried to maintain a smile as he said, "It was fine. Did you know Ali came by the university today? Sheldon won't tell us what it was about."
He shot Sheldon a reproachful look, and I chuckled. "Oh, it must be about her new book. I can't tell you much more than that—her publisher made me sign a non-disclosure agreement before I moved in."
Leonard's jaw dropped as he looked between Sheldon and me. Sheldon finally spoke. "It's not a big deal. I am working to help her with the math and science ideas for her new book. Nothing groundbreaking. The university is using it as free publicity in hopes of drawing in funding."
Leonard finally cleared his throat and said, "That's cool. I'd love to read her book once it's out."
I smiled, knowing how much Ali hates when people she knows read her books.
Todd chose that moment to speak up. "Hey, Pen, I gotta go. Got to get to the shop. Call you later?"
I nodded and went to hug him, but he picked me up and grabbed my ass, making me laugh. I kissed him one last time and watched him leave. It was a nice view.
Feeling Leonard's eyes still on me, I decided to head back inside. "Well, I gotta get ready for work. I got stuck with the dinner shift. Have a good night, guys."
Sheldon POV
Deciding I had enough of social hour, I opened the door to our apartment and went inside. Leonard stayed in the hallway for a moment, still staring at the closed door of 4B, before finally joining me.
"Why can't she just see that I like her and would be a better boyfriend than whoever that was?" Leonard groaned.
"Is that a rhetorical question, or do you actually want me to answer it?" I asked.
He shot me a look. "It was rhetorical, Sheldon. I know why she doesn't see me as a potential love interest yet. I just have to try harder until she does. Maybe we should go to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner tonight. We could invite Ali too."
I didn't even think before I said, "But tonight is when we eat at Bob's Big Boy."
Leonard almost whined. "Please, just this once, can you not be so stubborn and do this for me? Maybe I'll have a chance with Penny, or Ali. Please?"
I looked at him for a long moment before saying, "I can cope with a change in venue for dinner if only to stop your whining. But I want it known that I don't think you have any chance with either woman. Ali especially. She has already shown a distinct discomfort in your presence. I may not be the most adept at picking up social cues, but she isn't exactly subtle in her dislike of you or Howard."
Leonard just laughed off my words. "I'm gonna call the guys and let them know about the change in plans. Can you go invite Ali?"
He walked off into his room to make the calls, leaving me to invite Ali to a dinner I'm almost certain she wants no part of, given the company she would have to keep.