Penny's POV
"Stay a little longer," I say softly, curled against Andrew on his couch. My hand rests over his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. It calms me in a way nothing else does.
He brushes his thumb along my arm. "I should let you get back before your mom thinks I've kidnapped you."
"She'd probably send Nick over with a baseball bat," I tease.
Andrew chuckles. "Nick would enjoy that too much."
I take a breath, remembering Mom's words, her gentle request wrapped in that knowing mom-look I can never escape. "Actually… she wants you to come over."
He goes still beneath me. "Come over?"
"For dinner," I clarify quickly. "Or not even dinner, just… come hang out with us. Dad misses you. Nick—well, he probably just wants someone to torment besides Jess. And Mom…" I hesitate. "She said you're welcome anytime."
Andrew studies me, his dark eyes unreadable. "You sure that's a good idea? With everything going on?"
