Read 1. That's What Friends Are For for Free Online Page B

have that effect on her. Life never seemed to be as serious when he was around. And it was a lot more fun.
    They were quiet in the car going back. Penny tried to prepare herself for her coming meeting with Gregory. Surely he would understand. The time had seemed to slip away. Besides, she had needed that day. It was a day apart from her life, apart from time, separate and complete. She and Brad had returned to their childhood, the innocence of youth where time was meaningless because there was so much of it.
    Surely Gregory would understand. If only she could think of a more logical explanation.
    But she wasn't sorry for going to the park with Brad. At least she could be honest about that. She had enjoyed every minute, even the argument in the car with Brad earlier.
    There was no reason to expect Brad to approve of the man she married. She was certain that Brad would never find a woman that was good enough for him in her estimation. The thought gave her quite a pang in the region of her heart.
    Penny had been careful not to ask Brad about the women he had dated, many of whom he'd been photographed with. She hadn't wanted to know about them. She knew she was being silly, but she couldn't help it. Brad was very special to her and it was time she acknowledged that to herself.
    He always would be.
    ❧
    As soon as they pulled up in the driveway, Gregory stepped out on the front porch of the Blackwell home. Penny took a quick inventory of what she and Brad looked hke and almost groaned aloud. They both had grass stains on their clothes, and his shoe looked much the worse for a dip in the river. Her hair, from the glimpse she had gotten in the side mirror, looked as if she had styled it with an eggbeater.
    She felt as though they had been caught skipping school as they walked up the sidewalk toward the well-dressed man who waited for them.
    "I'm glad to see you two are all right. We'd begun to worry about you," he said calmly.
    Penny smiled in relief. He didn't seem at all angry but showed a perfectly natural concern. Before she could say anything. Brad said, "I really am sorry about today, Gregory. But you see, after all that physical exertion we fell asleep and weren't aware of the hours passing." His tone and smile were friendly and nonchalant.
    Penny saw Gregory's body stiffen and his expression freeze. Quickly reviewing what Brad had just said, her eyes widened with horror. Of course he'd told the truth, it was just that...
    "How interesting," Gregory said. "Perhaps you'd like to go into a little more detail. Helen said you'd gone for a drink. I never considered that to be physically taxing, myself.''
    "Oh, Gregory, he didn't mean that the way—" Penny began, only to have Brad interrupt her.
    "Why don't you run upstairs and get cleaned up, Runt? I'll be glad to make our explanations to your fiance. After all, he has every right to want to know how you spend your time with me."
    Penny glanced uncertainly at Brad, then at Gregory. Brad still sounded casually friendly, but there was a tautness in his stance as he stood facing Gregory that contradicted his tone.
    "Good idea. Penny," Gregory agreed quietly. "We're running quite late as it is."
    She glanced over her shoulder at the two men as she opened the screen door. Neither one of them had moved. They seemed to be waiting for her to leave before continuing the conversation.
    Penny could have cheerfully wrung Brad's neck. There was absolutely no reason for the innuendos. What was he trying to do, give Gregory the wrong idea about their relationship?
    The warm spray from the shower soothed her and Penny tried to relax. Brad had always had the ability to turn her world upside down. Why did she think anything had changed? However, she had complete faith in Gregory's ability to see through Brad's teasing and desire to cause mischief.
    It would do no good for her to ask Brad to lay off. He would see that only as a challenge. So the next best thing would be to make sure she kept the