Playing at Forever (27 page)

The tabloids were insane, especially at first.  They claimed that Penny had had an affair with just about
everyone,
from Ryan to Graham to someone she had never even met.  A few had placed the blame at Tommy’s feet, but mostly it was she who was at fault. 

She figured Graham had a good deal to do with that. 

Eventually, though, it stopped.  Another celebrity couple took the stage, leaving
she
and Tommy to fade into the background. 

Which was exactly what she wanted.

It was a nice day—one of those kinds of days where winter finally gave way to spring, melting the ice and filling the sky with a bright, warm sun.  Penny stood toward the back of the restaurant, clearing a table, a smile on her face. 

A smile that, upon turning around, instantly faded.
 

“Hello, Penny,”
  Tommy
looked like he hadn’t slept in days, she noted right away.  He wore a suit, but the tie hung loosely around his neck.  His hair was more disheveled than she’d ever seen it, his eyes dark with exhaustion. 

“What are you doing here?”  She asked him, the walls around her heart suddenly cracking. 

“I was in the area.”  He told her.  “My dad died.” 

“Oh, god—Tommy, I’m so sorry—”
  Her
first instinct was to reach out to him and she had to stop herself, crossing her arms over her chest.  “Are you okay?” 

“I’ve seen better days.”  He shrugged his shoulders.  “The funeral was this morning.”

“I’m sorry, Tommy.”  Her heart was breaking for him. 

“It’s okay,”
  he
shrugged again.  “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even had the couple of good months I did have with him.”  Penny’s eyes welled up with tears.  “How have you been, Penny?” 

“I’ve been good,”
  she
lied, nodding her head.  “Business is good.”

“You moved out of the house.” 

“I’m renting an apartment now.”  When had things become this difficult?  “Is there anything I can do for you, Tommy?  I can get you—”

“You’ve done plenty.”  He shook his head.  “I shouldn’t have come here.”

“Why did you?” 

“Because I missed you, Pen.”
  His response was so simple, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.  She fought against her tears.  “We finished the movie.  It’s premiering next week.” 

“I’d heard that.”  She nodded, pulling her arms tighter around her. 

“You should come.” 

Now that was just asking for a world of heartache.

“None of it would have happened without you.  It wouldn’t be right without you there.” 

“I don’t know, Tommy…”  She bit her lip.

“
It’s
okay, Pen.  Just think about it, okay?” 

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”  Tommy nodded his head, though she could tell by his eyes he was disappointed.  “Get some sleep, Tommy.  You look like you could use it.” 

“I will.”  He told her.  “I guess I’ll see you around.” 

“I guess so,”
  she
told him, fighting the urge to hug him.  He looked so broken—so sad.  She held her breath until he turned around, disappearing through the door. 

“Was that Thomson Davis who just left?”  Amy approached her best friend a moment later.  She had taken to calling him Thomson again after having declared him a jerk unworthy of Penny’s love, though deep down, she knew Amy was only trying to comfort her friend.

“His dad died.” 

“Oh no,”
  Amy’s
expression grew soft.  “That’s a shame.” 

“It really is.”  Penny turned around to finish clearing the table. 

“Did I hear him say something about a movie premiere?” 

“
Fate
is premiering.” 

“And you’re going, right?”  Penny turned around, surprised that Amy would even ask such a question.  “This is the movie you played a role in, is it not?” 

“Yes, but—”

“But nothing.
  Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”  Amy took the tub full of dishes from Penny.  “You’re going.” 

“It’s just a silly movie, Amy.  I really don’t think it’s necessary for me to go.” 

“You’re going, Penelope Davidson, if it means I have to drag you there myself.”

“He’s going to be there, you know.” 

“Good, give him a taste of what he’s missing.” 

“I can’t, Amy.  I just can’t do it.”

She couldn’t risk the pain again.

Unfortunately for Penny, though, Amy had a way of making her do things she didn’t want to do.  She found herself on a flight to L.A. the night before the movie was set to premiere without even the slightest clue of what she was supposed to do. 

A taxi dropped her off at the hotel she had made reservations at.  After checking in and dropping her small bag off at her room, she decided to walk around a bit and take in some of the scenery without a train of photographers behind her.  As she passed a restaurant, she heard someone call her name—and she was surprised to find it was Graham. 

“Hey, what are you doing here?” 
he
asked her.  She noticed right away that he wasn’t wearing his usual attire, but instead a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt. 

“I’m here for the premiere,”
  she
told him, her guard rising.  “Tommy didn’t tell you because he doesn’t know I’m here.” 

“Tommy didn’t tell me because he fired me about a month ago.” 

“He did what?”  Penny questioned, surprised.  Tommy hadn’t mentioned anything about firing Graham when he’d visited her a week ago. 

“There were a number of things he and I didn’t see eye to eye
on,
as I’m sure you’re aware of.”  Penny only nodded.  “I was just making things worse for him.”

“He really fired you?”  Graham nodded. 

“We decided we shouldn’t mix business with friendship.” 

“I think that’s a good policy to live by.”  Penny agreed. 

“So you’re going to the premiere, then?”  Graham ran his eyes over her.  “Do you have anything to wear?”

“No, I was thinking about maybe doing a little bit of shopping…”  It was hopeless, of course.  She knew that. 

“You won’t have much luck—not tonight, anyway.”  Penny sighed.  “Why don’t I call for a car tomorrow morning?  It’ll be slim pickings, but maybe—”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I want to.  Despite what you may think, I actually do care about Tom, Penny.  And I think it would make him incredibly happy if you were there tomorrow night.” 

She sighed, contemplating her options for a moment. 

Finally, she nodded. 

She didn’t really have much choice otherwise.

The following morning, Penny woke to a very impatient sounding knock on her door. 

A knock she found oddly familiar. 

She pulled herself out of bed and opened the door.  “Good morning, sunshine!”  Diego cried excitedly and Penny squealed, throwing her arms around him.  “Graham told me to send his apologies.  He said to make sure you look absolutely ravishing, and make sure I put it all on his tab.” 

“He said that?” 

“Oh, he did.  So I hope you’re ready for another long day, sweetheart, because we have a
lot
of work to do.” 

And, while Penny was groaning, she couldn’t help getting just a little bit excited.

Graham had also arranged for a limo, Penny discovered later that evening.  She stood in front of a proud Diego, his eyes shining happily. 

“Beautiful, Penelope.
 
Absolutely beautiful.”
 

“All thanks to you,”
  she
told him, her cheeks burning. 

“No, dear—this one is all you.  You wrote the symphony.  I just played it.”  Penny smiled, ducking her head. 

She had chosen her gown—a deep red with a subtle v-neck that clung to her just right.  Diego hadn’t even argued. 

Her hair hung in loose curls, her makeup soft and subtle. 

“Well, you’d better run along, dear.  You’ve got a crowd of heads just waiting to be turned.”  Penny laughed, noticing the time.  He was right—she had to be going.  “Give Tommy my love.” 

“Oh, I doubt I’ll even see him—”

“Honey, he’s going to see
you
.”  He took her by the arm and led her from the room, all the way to the limo.  “Have a great night, dear.”

“Thank you!”  She told him.  After the door was closed, she rolled down the window.  “And tell Graham I said the same!” 

“Get your head back in that car before you mess up your hair!”  She laughed again, doing as she was told.  She couldn’t believe how nervous she felt, sitting in the back of the limo, staring anxiously at her hands. 

“Breathe,”
  she
whispered to herself as the limo pulled up to the theater.  The carpet was already lined with celebrities.  She saw Tommy several feet ahead, looking dashing as always in his simple black suit. 

The door opened and Penny hesitated a moment, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

And then she lowered her feet, taking the hand offered by the gentleman holding the door open for her.  She made sure to keep a smile on her face as the cameras flashed, stopping for a moment so that they could all get their shot. 

People called her name from every direction as she strolled down the walkway, stopping every once and awhile to talk to a reporter.  “Don’t you look lovely, Mrs. Davidson,”
  Ryan
Wilson spoke, sidling up alongside her. 

“Why thank you, Mr. Wilson.”  She smiled happily at him.  “It’s nice to see you here.” 

“It’s nice to see
you
here.  I didn’t expect you to come.”

“
I
didn’t expect me to,”
  she
shrugged her shoulders. 

“From the looks of it, Tommy didn’t either.” 

She glanced over her shoulder to find him staring at her, the look in his eyes different from any she had seen before.  “I didn’t tell him.” 

“Why not?”
  Penny shrugged her shoulders again. 

“It wasn’t about him.”  She answered finally.  She hadn’t come to make him happy—she’d done it for herself.  She was done feeling as if she owed him, or that he owed her—after everything they had been through, she figured they were finally even.   “What would you say to
escorting
me inside?”

“I’d say I’d be honored.”  Penny smiled warmly, slipping her arm through Ryan’s and walking the rest of the way to the theater. 

“Could I have a minute?”  Tommy’s voice surprised her as he approached from behind.  She and Ryan were standing just inside the entrance, standing among a loose line of people waiting to enter the screening

“Sure,”
  Ryan
smiled at his friend, then at Penny, before slipping into the crowd. 

“You came,”
  Tommy
found her eyes immediately, and Penny nodded her head, unsure of what she should say.  “You look amazing.” 

“I ran into Graham last night.  He sent Diego over for me this morning.” 

“Graham did that?”  Penny nodded again, tearing her eyes from his. 

“I was pretty surprised myself.”  People glanced at them curiously as they walked by.  “I didn’t know you fired him.”

“Sometimes, people are just better off as friends.  Besides, he got a little too carried away with the tabloid business.”  Penny looked up as he sighed, looking away.  “I know I have no right to ask—but, would you like to come to my place after this thing is over?  I just—I wanted to talk to you,
that’s
all.” 

“I don’t know, Tommy—”

“Please, Pen.”  She hated that she couldn’t deny him, even though she knew she should.  The walls around her heart crumbled just a bit as he offered his hopeful little smile to her. 

“Okay, Tommy.  I’ll give you an hour.”

The film was, at least in Penny’s opinion, one of the best she’d ever seen.  She couldn’t deny her tears, even though she knew what was coming. 

And Tommy…

Tommy had executed the performance of his career.

She sat, watching the credits roll—another wave of tears overwhelming her as she saw the dedication to his father. 

Everybody in the room clapped, including Penny, until Tommy rose for just a moment to receive his applause. 

She remained in her seat toward the front as everyone milled out.  He approached her after the credits had finished rolling and muted light filled the room.  “What’d you think?”  He asked as he ran his hand nervously through his hair.

“I thought it was incredible.”  She told him, being completely honest as she found his eyes, needing him to see her sincerity.  “Everything was perfect—just as I imagined it.” 

“I feel exactly the same.”  He sat down beside her.  “I showed it to my dad, before he died.  He thought it was my best work yet.”

“He was right.”  Penny’s eyes
teared
up as she thought about Tommy showing his film to his father, a man who had so clearly influenced the story.

“Isn’t there some sort of after party thing you should be going to?”  She asked after a few moments, dabbing at her eyes and plastering a smile on her face.

“The only place I want to be is with you.”  Penny felt an ache within her chest, wishing he wouldn’t say things like that. 

“Go on, Tommy.
  They’re going to be disappointed—”

“I don’t care.  I have other plans.”  He stood up, holding his hand out to her.  “You ready?”

“Are you sure?  I can wait—”

“No, you can’t.”  Growing impatient with waiting himself, he reached out and took her hand into his, pulling her to her feet.  “I’ve kept you waiting for long enough.” 

They slipped through the back door, Tommy leading the way.  As they passed by what was apparently his limo, he knocked on the driver’s window, pointing to the back.  Without waiting for the driver, he opened the door and allowed Penny to climb inside.  “Mr. Davis?” 

“There’s been a change of plans, Raul.  Can you take us back to my house?”

“Certainly, Mr. Davis.”
 

“What is going on?” 
she
asked him a few moments later. 

“There’s something I want to show you.”