Holy shit. The door isn’t that far. I could jump up and sprint across the room and just start running. He’s fast, but I’ll have adrenaline on my side. Just call me Shane Gump because I’m pretty sure once I start running, I won’t stop. Ever.

He loves us both? Like love love? Bro love? What the fuck is even happening right now?

“Forever?” Penelope says in a weak voice, and I’m stoked that I’m not the only one with doubts. “Because I’m not easy to love,” Penelope says. “I get weird and sometimes closed off and I don’t always know how to talk to people.”

I let Fletch say the words to reassure her because I’m having a hard time swallowing, much less talking. I can’t stop thinking about the part where he said love. I mean, we’ve done the bro-dude versions of I love you over the years, but now that we are sleeping in the same bed most nights and sometimes touching peen, does he mean the next level love? Like now we’re boyfriends?

I can’t even say I love Penelope, am I supposed to be able to love them both?

I didn’t hear what he just told her, but she looks cool with it. And he doesn’t seem to be circling back to his comment, so maybe the best thing to do is ignore it for now.

“Did they say what was wrong with Sami? Your dorm roommate?” I ask.

“No. I just hope it means she’s getting the help she needs.”

Damn. She’s so sweet. If that had been my dorm roommate, I’d have probably been less nice about it. That girl caused her a lot of drama. But that’s just Pen I guess. She thinks she’s bad with people, but I don’t see it the same way. After all, she’s been a pint-sized bottle of glue in this house.

I lean over and kiss her. ‘You’re smart.” I kiss her again. “You’re sexy.” I kiss her one more time. “And I’m really glad you’re staying. You make me happy.” This time she kisses me. When I come up for air, Fletch is smiling wolfishly as he watches us. That always gets my motor running, having him watch. “I say we celebrate Thanksgiving our way. Starting with giving Velma so many Os she passes out harder than a turkey coma.”