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Liam's Pov
It was time and I locked my apartment and went downstairs, but as I stepped into the fourth floor hallway, Penny's door swung open.
She stepped out in a soft, sleeveless summer dress — pale yellow with a subtle floral pattern.
Her hair was loose, slightly wavy, and her skin carried that healthy glow that could've sold skincare commercials.
She looked… well, like Penny on one of those rare days where she'd actually put extra effort in, and the result was worth it.
"Hi," I greeted, giving her a warm smile. "You look gorgeous."
She smiled, a hint of color touching her cheeks. "Thanks. You clean up pretty good yourself."
We walked downstairs together. Casual conversation flowed easily — the weather, some neighbor drama she'd overheard, me dodging details about my night.
As we crossed the lobby, she glanced at her phone. "What's the restaurant called again? I'll text Bernie so she knows where we're going."
"La Sorella. Over on West Melrose. Rooftop seating."
She nodded and typed it in, her fingers flying. "Got it. Sent."
By the time we stepped out into the sunlight, the rest of the group was already gathered near the entrance, chatting among themselves.
Leonard was dressed in his usual layered uniform — faded jeans, a graphic tee, and that ever-present tan hoodie, slightly wrinkled like it had just been pulled from a chair instead of a closet.
Sheldon stood beside him, crisp as always in a striped long-sleeve shirt under a short-sleeve superhero tee, paired with perfectly pressed khakis.
Raj was rocking a patterned sweater vest over a collared shirt, his hair neatly styled, but still wind-tossed in a way that probably took effort. His corduroy pants looked straight from a 2009 style guide.
Howard, of course, was Howard — tight, shiny pants, a tucked-in shirt with a massive belt buckle, and a flashy, patterned scarf draped around his neck like he was auditioning for a '70s revival band.
They were deep in conversation about something — probably a debate only two of them actually cared about — until they noticed us approaching.
Leonard spotted us first as Penny and I stepped out of the lobby. His expression flickered for just a second — that faint, uncomfortable look he got when he didn't quite like what he was seeing — but he quickly slipped on the mask of the "responsible one" in the group.
"Hey, Liam. Penny," Leonard greeted.
"Hey, Liam," Sheldon greeted, giving a polite but oddly formal nod. "And Penny. You're both punctual. I appreciate that."
"Hi," I replied. Penny gave her usual warm smile and added her own, more familiar greeting, "Hey, Moonpie."
Leonard gestured toward the other two. "You've met Sheldon… this is Howard, and that's Raj."
Howard gave a quick grin. Raj gave a polite nod but stayed quiet, eyes flicking away — apparently not eager to speak much in front of Penny.
They were already discussing the ride arrangements. Leonard, as usual, was driving Sheldon, with Howard and Raj squeezing into the back. Penny casually chimed in, "I'll just take my car. Liam can ride with me."
Leonard's head snapped toward her. "Actually—" he started, the beginnings of a protest in his voice.
Before he could get momentum, I pulled the small fob from my pocket and pressed the unlock button. Across the street, the sleek black Mercedes-Benz blinked to life, lights flashing once.
Howard's jaw dropped. "Holy— Is that yours?"
Sheldon, unfazed, simply nodded. "The brand is irrelevant. What matters is crash test ratings. Do you have those?"
Raj barely reacted, giving it the kind of casual glance that came from someone who'd grown up with even more expensive toys in his family garage.
Penny's brows lifted slightly — impressed but not starstruck. She'd been around wealth before, dated guys with far flashier rides. Still, the corners of her lips curled up in appreciation.
Leonard, meanwhile, stood frozen for a second longer than he should have, eyes darting between Penny and the car. His brain was already working overtime, imagining how a shiny Mercedes might tilt the scales in my favor.
"Yeah," I said, tossing the fob lightly in my hand. "It's my mom's. She lets me borrow it when I'm in town."
Howard whistled low. "Man, you could fit me, my workshop, and about a dozen bad life choices in there."
"Tempting," I said with a faint smirk.
"Alright then," Penny said, stepping toward the passenger side of the Benz. "Looks like we're riding in style."
Leonard didn't look thrilled, but he gave a tight nod and motioned for his passengers to follow him to his own car.
As Penny and I crossed toward the Mercedes, I caught Leonard watching us from the corner of his eye — the kind of look that stitched together a whole imaginary relationship in his head. I'd seen that expression before.
What he didn't know — and honestly didn't need to — was that Penny and I were just friends. She was fun to be around, sure, and maybe she had her own hopes tucked away somewhere, but I wasn't in the mood to date anyone. Not now.
And I wasn't about to go out of my way to explain it to Leonard. We weren't that close, and I wasn't going to change my actions just so he might feel a little less insecure. If a casual conversation and a car ride with Penny was enough to make him uneasy, that was his problem to work through.
Penny slid into the passenger seat with an easy smile, while Leonard herded Sheldon, Howard, and Raj into his car like a man trying to keep a flock of very different, very loud birds in line. I started the engine, the smooth purr of the Benz filling the air, and glanced in the rearview to see Leonard pulling out right behind us.
Penny buckled up and adjusted her dress so it didn't wrinkle, giving me a sideways glance as I pulled out of the parking spot.
I kept the car steady as we cruised through the city streets. Penny sat beside me, her summer dress catching the sun, eyes occasionally on the passing scenery.
"So… your flight's at nine, right?" she asked casually, glancing at me.
"Yep," I replied. "And I'll be back in New York around 6am."
She nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "And… your trip here? Did you have fun?"
I shrugged. "It's been good. Lots of catching up with family"
She smiled, a quiet warmth in her eyes. Then, leaning slightly forward, she asked, "What about you? You ever think about… goals? Like, big life stuff?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Goals?"
"Yes. I mean… you just seemed like someone who knows where they're going."
I chuckled softly. "Right now? My focus is on this new job at the DA's office. A lot to learn, a lot to do but it's a good start. I'll figure the rest out as I go."
Eve's voice popped up, lightly sarcastic but caring. "Translation: Liam's excited, but don't tell anyone. He's trying to sound calm and collected."
Penny just smiled, then turned the conversation back to herself. "I want to be an actress. The waitressing job… it's just to support me until I get a break."
"Any previous work?" I asked, curious.
Her cheeks tinged pink, and she quickly looked out the window. "Nothing important."
I smiled faintly, already sensing she was holding back. "Embarrassing?"
She nodded, unable to meet my eyes. "A little."
I didn't push. "Alright. Doesn't matter. We all have things we're proud of—some private, some public."
After a long pause, she finally admitted, voice small, "There was… a role in Serial Ape-ist. I played one of the lead roles and had… a topless scene."
I chuckled. "It's fine. Honestly. You're putting yourself out there, working for your dream, and taking on challenges most people won't. A scene or two doesn't define you."
Eve's voice cut in again, half teasing, half advisory. "And just so you know, Liam, the fact that you're handling this like a human being is impressive. She's embarrassed—she's human. You're calm—also human. Balance achieved."
Penny groaned, burying her face in her hands, but there was a trace of a smile beneath. "You're never gonna let me live this down, are you?"
I just shook my head, keeping my hands on the wheel. "Not in a million years."
The rest of the ride was quieter, the kind of comfortable silence that wasn't awkward. I could feel her relaxing beside me, and I focused on the road ahead.
The restaurant wasn't far now. We had a few hours before my flight, and I wanted to make the most of it.
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