After another drink, Penelope was sure that she liked Marcus. And it wasn’t just the wine talking.

“Let me,” he said, pulling his card from his wallet before she could grab the check.

“This was supposed to be my treat!” she protested.

“You’ll get it next time,” Marcus said confidently.

“I’m just going to keep owing you drinks, aren’t I?” Penelope said, smiling.

Marcus looked at her, smiling back. “Yeah, that’s the idea.”

After he signed the tab, he walked with her outside. “Which way are you headed?” he asked.

“I live near Neon Dreams, actually,” she said.

“That’s not too far,” he said. “Want to walk together?”

“Definitely,” said Penelope, letting him take her hand.

***

Twenty minutes later, they were outside the loft, and predictably, all of the lights were on inside. However, Penelope knew Nolan well enough to know it could either mean he was home or long gone His habit of turning every light on and forgetting about it wasn’t the most annoying thing about him, but it was the most consistent.

She decided to take a chance. “You want to come in? For a nightcap?”

As she waited for Marcus to answer, Penelope’s mind raced. Oh no, I pushed too hard, she thought. She quickly said out loud, “Or not, it’s totally fine, I’ll see you next week anyways when we work—”

“I’d love to,” said Marcus, reassuring her.

Penelope held her breath as she opened the door. Please don’t be home, please don’t be home, please don’t be home…

“Penny!” came Nolan’s voice from the couch. “And hey, Marcus!”

Flo’s voice came next. “Penelope, lovely to see you.”

Wait, why was Flo here? Penelope thought. And then she realized: of course. Nolan was using her time away as more bonding time with Flo.

“Join us,” said Flo, gesturing to the wine bottle on the coffee table. “Nolan invited me over for some company and conversation.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’re tired,” protested Nolan. “We all had a late night last night.”

“I love conversation,” said Penelope, forcing a smile. “Marcus and I were just talking about a nightcap. Flo, this is…our co-worker, Marcus.”

“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Marcus said, reaching to shake Flo’s hand as Penelope went to the kitchen for glasses. She hadn’t purchased real wine glasses yet, so she reached for coffee mugs instead.

“Hope these are ok,” she said apologetically to Marcus.

“Great,” he said, smiling in response.

Flo poured them each a mug of wine. “To wonderful tenants,” she said, raising her cup in a cheers.

They all sipped and sat for a moment in awkward silence.

“So, how was your date?” Nolan said, a bit loudly. “It took Penny an hour to get ready. I couldn’t get into the bathroom. She must really like you.”

Is he actually tipsy, or just pretending? Penelope wondered, as she felt herself starting to get heated.

“I think she looks great,” said Marcus.

“We had fun. We actually have a lot in common,” said Penelope, trying not to raise her voice.

“It looks like you do, considering you matched your outfits,” said Flo with a laugh.

Nolan looked at them and snickered, as well. “Yeah, who died?” he added.

Penelope didn’t understand…until she looked at herself and Marcus. She hadn’t noticed earlier, but they were both wearing black from head to toe as if they were headed to a funeral.

“Ah, New York uniform, you know,” said Marcus, taking it in stride.

Penelope was having a hard time taking the joke. Jake would always “joke” with her too, in small ways that made her feel bad about herself. Later she’d learn to call them microaggressions.

“You know what, I am actually a little tired,” she said, standing up.

“No problem,” said Marcus, rising with her.

“Aw, don’t go, Penny. You look so cute when you’re angry,” Nolan giggled again.

“What is up with you tonight?” asked Penelope. “I saw you take three shots in a row, like nothing. Wine is what gets you?”

“Oh, not wine,” said Flo, winking, and revealing a small hand-rolled joint in her breast pocket.

“I see,” said Penelope in annoyance. Not because she was judgmental, but because she was left out of the bonding activity—and was now the target of their jokes.

“I’m going to head out,” said Marcus, understanding the tension in the room.

“Me too,” said Flo, rising. “Nolan, thank you for the hospitality. Marcus, will you help me get downstairs?”

“Of course,” he answered, looking back at Penelope. Another kiss isn’t in the cards tonight, Penelope thought, her frustration growing by the minute.

Flo let Marcus take her arm. “See you guys soon,” said Marcus, as they disappeared out the door.

Penelope stared at Nolan, who was still giggling.

“What?” he asked, innocently.

“I know you’re mad that Marcus and I are…hanging out, because he was your friend first, or whatever, but you didn’t have to embarrass me like that,” Penelope said, starting to clean up the mugs and clinking them in her hand loudly.

“What? No, I didn’t mean anything by it,” Nolan said, stopping to think. “Why are you upset?”

“Because, Nolan, I don’t like it when people—especially men—criticize me. My last boyfriend…really made me feel crappy.” Penelope could feel the words start to tumble out of her. “Tonight I was having a great time with Marcus when I thought I saw my ex, and it ruined the night. And then I come home, and you did the same thing that he used to do: laugh at me. Do you know how it feels to be talked down to or underestimated, or constantly made to feel small?”

“I’m sorry,” said Nolan, patting the seat next to him lightly. “Do you want to talk about it?”