My Next Door Neighbor

Chapter 11

Penelope's POV

"You okay doll?" I snap out of my thoughts when I hear Cherry. "Huh? Yeah I'm okay, I was just thinking on some things, why'd you ask?" I turn to face her with my hand still on the counter, wiping the spot where a spill has happened.

"Because you've been wiping that spot for a minute now and the spill is long gone by now boss" I stop my movements and look at the spot where there is no spill. I chuckle and turn back to a smirking Cherry.

"Is a certain tall and dark haired man keeping your thoughts floating?" Her smirk switches to a smile when she sees me blush. She claps and points at me. "I knew it! Something happened! Tell me!" She grabs my hand and pulls me into my office. "Wha- Cherry the customers!"

She waves a hand off to dismiss me. "George and Lilly got them, they're fine doll" I sigh as I sit down at my chair and look up at her. "So? You gonna tell me what happened or what?" She indicates to me to talk. I look away and sigh. "Gray called me while he was drunk last night and he said a few words that was a bit unusual and yeah, that's it"

I finished, looking back up at her. "Is that it? What he say?" I shake my head. "I'm keeping that to myself" She starts laughing. "Oh he totally said something about his feelings for you, didn't he? Doll I told you, scratch that, everyone told you that he's in love with you" I groan softly and lean my head back. "He may like me in that way, but I don't"

She hums and raises her eyebrow. "Yeah right, look doll, I can see that you love this cafe and you want to see this place thrive, so do I, but you also seem lonely in the sense of the love department. You don't think I see the way you look at me and Vicky when we're together or when you told me about Travis and his fiancée.

You're envious, doll. Maybe it's time to stop having comfort in the workplace and start sharing comfort with a man that loves you. Look there's nothing wrong with working in the place you love, but it's wrong if you're using work as a distraction from something in your life, it's not healthy" I put my hand up to stop her and she does. I stand up and walk to her and hug her. "Thank you" She tenses. "For what doll?" I pull away and smile at her.

"For being right, I've always wanted to open a cafe but I got sidetracked a few years back and something happened that I don't want to happen again with a partner, I had a relationship but it was very toxic, abusive and different and yeah, I am jealous of your relationship sometimes but that doesn't mean I want you or Vicky.

I want something like it, I want to be loved by someone like that but I'm scared. I'm not blind, I've noticed how Gray treats me differently than others but I just denied it to myself and just said that he was doing that because we're friends. It's true about what I said, I don't like him like that, I think.

But even if I did, I'm scared that he'll leave or something happens and I loose him. And I don't want to take that chance, I really love and care about him. I know it's hard for him to hide his feelings and not say anything to me but I just can't, I'm scared" She nods and grabs my hands gently. "Then maybe you should voice your concerns to him when you're ready"

~*~

I bite my lip as I knock on his door, smoothing down my clothes, I wait for him to open the door. I hear some footsteps until the door opens. "Sunshine!" I smile softly as a wide smile rakes across his face, his eyes had softened at the sight of me. I'm sorry Gray for making you hide your feelings.

"Hey big guy! How's the hangover?" His eyes goes wide and he blushes. "Uhh how'd you know? I mean it's good, T gave me an advil but how did you know?" I giggle and go inside his apartment, I hear the door close behind me and footsteps following me to the his couch where I sit down. He sits down next to me.

"You called me when you were drunk and I'm the one that told T to give you an advil" His eyes go even wider than before and he blushes, he coughs slightly and clears his throat. "You did? Thanks and what uh, what did I say?" I giggle and grab his hand. "Nothing bad, I promise. You were just saying you missed me and couldn't wait to see me today" He releases a sigh of relief.

"That's good, and that's it? I didn't say anything else?" He looks at me like he's expecting more. Technically yes but he can't know right now. "Yep, that's it, oh I missed you Thumper!" I hug him and he holds me tightly against him and sighs, resting his chin on top of my head. "I missed you too Sunshine, and hey, how are you doing? His death anniversary is in two days"

I stiffen and pull away, sighing. "I'm going to take a personal day off that day and I was wondering if I could be here with you, watch movies and maybe have a sleepover. But you can say no Gray, I'd-" He hold my face in his hands and kiss my forehead.

"Of course you can stay here with me and we can do all that stuff. We'll do anything you want" He pulls me back into his arms and hold me gently, rubbing his hand up and down my back. He's so sweet.

"I know it's going to be a tough day but you'll get through it Sunshine, because you're Penelope Jones, the strongest woman I know" I laugh softly and smile. "Thank you Gray" He sighs and holds me tighter. "You're welcome Pen"

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