On Friday around lunch, Penny calls.

I talk about how Ash and I went to this cool speakeasy.

I mention how we're likely going again tomorrow night. Penny says she'll drive down.

Later that night, Penny drives down

It's almost midnight when she arrived. I worked tonight.

We hug and I can feel my nervous system flooding me with endorphins.

I "Oh wow, is your hair purple now?"

"Yeah, you like it?"

I help her carry her stuff into my place. She looks more gorgeous than I remembered.

I feel lucky to

I ask her if she's hungry.

"starving"

I bring out the dish I bought at the restaurant and I watch Penny eat it.

"There's absolutely nothing better than Étouffée, right? It's like the best thing in the world" I say to her.

She grins while she eats it. "You take good care of me"

I talk while she eats. "I'm taking a class again with that professor you think I have a crush on."

Penny says "You do have a crush on her!"

"A harmless crush! I just love how much of an unapologetic capitalist megabitch she is"

Later, we're in bed, and after a few minutes, it's clear she doesn't want to have sex tonight.

I try not to let my frustration show.

She says "It's just hard to come down here and see you once every few weeks or so. It's like ripping off a scab over and over again."

Penny is everything to me.

Saturday

In the morning, Penny wants to meet Ash. We all meet up.

It goes really, really well.

After work, late night, Penny and Ash and me go to the weird place. The three of us go. It's so much fun.