His Leading Lady by Jean Joachim

put Penny at ease
immediately. They had hit it off, just like she had with Mark. After all, they’re twins.
    The phone was insistent, and she couldn’t
ignore it, though she’d have to grope for what to say when she
spoke to Megan. She had answered.
    With as few words as possible, Penny
indicated she and Mark were no longer together. When quizzed by her
new friend, she refused to explain. If Mark wants to tell her,
let him, if he hasn’t already. I can’t. Finally unable to hold
back tears, she hung up quickly, drying her eyes and turning off
her cell. But not for long. Mark can’t reach me if the phone is
off.
    Finding the concentration to memorize her
lines was almost impossible. She kept reciting them aloud, hoping
her brain was on automatic pilot and would remember. In the middle,
the familiar ring sounded. She dove for it. Megan again.
    “I spoke to Mark. I know everything from his
side. But I don’t know yours. Please, tell me what happened, Penny?
What drove you to have those pictures taken?”
    Dying to explain to Mark, she broke down with
Megan. Words rushed out of her in an avalanche, hurtling through
her mouth before Megan could take it all in.
    “Slow down, slow down! I won’t hang up, I
promise.”
    Penny took a deep breath. “Okay.”
    “All right. Start from the time you got the
verdict.”
     
    ****
     
    Mark was drinking a lager while watching
re-runs of Las Vegas Beat when Meg called back.
    “Hey, Squirt. What’s up?”
    “I spoke to Penny.”
    Mark put the TV on pause. “And?”
    “And you need to talk to her. She told me why
she posed for those pictures. I think it would change your mind,
Lug. Call her.”
    “Wait! Don’t hang up. What did she say?”
    “Uh uh. I’m not going to be any more of a
middleman than I am already. Call her. You need to talk to each
other.”
    “A quick phone conversation ought to do
it.”
    “Nope. In person. Call her to arrange a time
and place. She won’t tell you over the phone. She’s already decided
that.”
    “Damn stubborn woman!” He sucked down a
mouthful of beer.
    Meg laughed. “Yeah, paired up with a damn
stubborn man. Call her!” The phone went dead. The heaviness in him
lifted a little. If Meg thinks it’s okay, then it probably
is. He was excited and apprehensive at the thought of talking
to Penny, but he opened his cell.
    “Penny?”
    Silence greeted him.
    “Meg suggested I call you. She said we should
get together. That you have something to say that I need to
hear.”
    “That’s what I tried to tell you.” The edge
in her voice rankled him.
    “Look, if this is going to be your chance to
bash me, forget it.”
    “Don’t hang up! Wait! No. It’s to share the
truth with you.”
    He couldn’t resist. “The truth?”
    “The reason I posed for those pictures.”
    “Okay. I’ll listen. Can you be here tomorrow
after practice? I’ll pick up some burgers.”
    “Are you sure? You don’t have to. I can feed
myself,” she said.
    “It’s okay. I want to.”
    She seemed surprised by his offer. There was
no heat of anger inside him now, only a hollowness he desperately
needed to fill. “All right. See you around six.” She ended the
call.
    The next day, Mark approached the locker room
with new hope. He ignored comments from Darvin because he couldn’t
afford another huge fine, but it didn’t stop his wanting to smash
the quarterback’s smug face. His other teammates tiptoed around the
issue, not anxious to rile the second-stringer. Mark explained to
Harley about his planned meeting with Penny.
    “I always liked her, Mark. Glad you’re not
going to continue being a jerk.”
    “A jerk?”
    “You heard me. Let’s go.” Harley and Mark
trotted out onto the field and began their warm-up exercises. His
keen ability to concentrate had returned. He had the best practice
he’d had in days. Coach nodded at him and almost smiled.
    Energy once again surged through his veins.
He didn’t know what Penny was going to say, but