8
Monday
The group gathered late the next morning for a brunch that Nora and Sheldon prepared. There was a little whispering which prompted Penny to speak up.
"Okay, what's up?"
"We're kind of wondering what you're going to do about Leonard."
"Okay, I'm not really sure I need to do anything. Leonard didn't have to accept that job. I don't know how he's going to survive without it but that's on him. I was nice enough to give him his damn hobbit house and I was only going to maintain it while he was gone. Since he isn't leaving I'm going to contact my lawyer and cancel those arrangements. I'm also going to make sure he signed our divorce papers. And I guess I'll let my publicist put out the story about me divorcing him. There's no sense letting him control the narrative. Beyond that I don't plan to have any dealings with him."
"Nor do I. Leonard Hofstadter is, quite simply, no longer a part of our lives, much like Amy Farrah Fowler. You all, however, are quite welcome to make your own choices and we will not judge you. However, the two of them are not welcome to visit our home and we would prefer to be apprised if they will be present at any social gatherings to which you invite us."
"Leonard is person non grata at CalTech since they fired him. Dealing with him at all could affect my academic and professional standing. Plus, he's kind of acted like a douche for a long time. And I hardly interacted with Amy at all except at Girl's Nights. Are we going to be able to do those again, Penny?"
"Sure, Raj, but no Amy and Nora and Alex are welcome if they like."
"Well, I for one am going to enjoy Girls' Night without Amy making creepy Lesbian remarks about Penny."
Nora's interest seemed piqued.
"Excuse me?"
"The way the Amy talked about me those nights it seemed like she was a lot more interested in me romantically than she was Sheldon. She was always looking for excuses to get us all naked and she even made out with me once."
"Penny, it's really not that hard to get you naked."
"Gee, thanks, Nora. Yeah, well, I didn't want to do it for her. That's for sure."
"Um, I want to hear more about getting Penny naked."
"Howie!"
"One need only come for Nora and Penny's afternoon swim."
"Sheldon!"
"Sheldon keeps mentioning that you and Nora constantly walk about au natural."
"Sheldon is exaggerating. Nora and I have gone swimming without suits and tanned topless a couple of times. That's it."
"Well, if every afternoon at three qualifies as a couple of times and if completely naked qualifies as topless than I stand corrected."
"Sheldon, Do we need to have a little discussion about what we discuss with our friends and what we don't discuss at all?"
"No."
"And if someone brings the subject up again he runs the risk of never seeing anyone naked again except possibly Amy Farrah Fowler."
"Penny, I'll behave."
"Good."
After the guests all filtered out and Sheldon repaired to his office, Penny cornered Nora.
"So, you and Alex?"
"What?"
"C'mon Nora, spill."
"I dunno, it just sort of happened."
"Exactly what sort of happened?"
"We were talking and getting to know each other and then we were kissing in the pool house. I'm not even sure who started it."
"But you liked it."
"What's not to like? She's really cute and she's a nice person and she's a really good kisser and, um, other stuff."
"And you know about other stuff?"
"Okay, we kinda never had this talk and I knew that we would eventually. When I'm attracted to someone I'm not exactly specific."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I don't check the plumbing. I like girls and I like guys and I like who I like."
"So you're bisexual."
"I'm not into labels. But if you have a problem…"
"I don't. Not at all. It's just that you and I been walking around naked."
"And you're wondering…"
"Just a little…"
"Am I just a little attracted to you? Yeah. But you're straight and I don't have an agenda. I like you a lot and I also like Sheldon a lot and I like working for you guys. I have no intention of screwing that up. And I used that word on purpose. To be honest, I'm a little bothered by this conversation."
"I really didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Really. And I'm not as straight as you think. Back when I was with this guy Kurt, before I even met Sheldon, he was kind of into the occasional threesome, always two girls and him. I was uncomfortable with it but I thought I was in love and I thought that would make him happy so I went along."
"Not exactly the same thing."
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm kind of sorry I brought it up at all."
"Listen. I really don't want this to get in the way. If you think it will…"
"I promise it won't. I'd really like us, all of us, to be able to speak freely about stuff and to keep acting exactly the same way we have been, with the two of us teasing each other and teasing Sheldon. Having you here is really helping things between him and me. I mean it."
"Well, you guys love each other. And you're in love with each other. And anything I can do to help out with that I'll do, up to and including dragging the two of you into bed with me."
"I knew it!" Penny shouted with a big smile on her face.
"For fun. And to help. I would never put myself between you two unless that's where you want me."
"Nora."
"You see, Penny, what you're really done is open yourself and Sheldon up to a whole new level of teasing. And I am just the girl to do it."
