Thank you for the lovely reviews. Some chapters, like the one today, will mainly be a memory they both share during their loveless marriage.
✦XO✦
Luke sat back down with his back against the headboard placing his laptop back on his lap when Penelope walked back in towards the bathroom with purpose. He smiled as she disappeared into the bathroom before grabbing his phone. He opened up his chat thread with Matt.
Luke: Busy reviewing the file for London tomorrow but I had to stop and tell you YOU'RE AN IDIOT!
Penelope grabbed the bottle of micellar water and a couple of cotton balls. She was about to leave when she caught herself in the mirror. So many images flooded her mind. The image of a women walking into a hotel room. The image of Luke hugging this women. The image of Luke kissing this women. The image of Luke being in bed with her. The image of her leaving her mark on him. She looked down into the sink shaking her head. She looked back up again at her reflection as she spoke to herself in her mind, 'It was bounded to happen. How could you except him to be faithful to you after he told you he couldn't love you. When the guys who claimed to love you were never faithful.' She took a deep breath and headed out the door. She stopped for a second to see Luke smiling towards his phone. She rushed out of their room as if she never glanced at him.
Luke smiled as he looked at the the message Matt just sent
Matt: Oh God what did I do now? It can't be anything work related because I triple checked my work. Can't let that incident from 4 years ago dictate my life anymore.
Matt: and… hey asshole, GET A LIFE! Always freakin' working.
Luke: We will talk tomorrow. Now go and make sure you are prepared for London's meeting.
Luke placed his phone on charge and went back to work.
Penelope finished putting all the whites into the washer except for the lipstick stained shirt. She laid it flat, running her finger over the stain one more time making her heart squeeze. She turned to poured some micellar water on a cotton ball and patted it on the shirt before rubbing it a bit. It cleaned up a lot of it but she wanted it completely gone. She sprinkled a bit of baking soda on the stain and went to work scrubbing the strain with a brush. She started off slow but then kept scrubbing faster and faster. Taking all her anger out of the stain until her arm got tired. She rolled up the shirt and threw it into the washer while slamming the washer door behind it. She looked over the washer buttons trying to figure out what options to press. This new one had to many options. She was still getting use to this washer. She missed her old one, it was so simple. She selected her usual setting for whites before sitting down on the stool they kept in the laundry room to mentally relive an old memory. It was only one day but she missed the laundromat.
When their old washer had broken down, Luke and Penelope went together to buy another. One of the sale associate helped them pick out this one. Due to stock shortage for that washer, the delivery was delayed by a week. She decided to go to the nearest laundromat. She sat down on one of the chairs after putting the last load into the wash. Lucky for her it wasn't busy. One mother with her daughter who looked to be around 3years old. Another mother with her son who looked to be the same age as the girl. She knew both of them were stranger since the one with the daughter came in with her. Due to the child running and playing together, they spoke like they were old friends. An elder couple in their last 50s. The old man was telling his wife something in their native tongue which made her laugh. Penelope eyes then landed on a couple to be around her age. She envied them. The way they worked together while they both smiled and laughed probably at an inside joke. How he helped her fold the clothes after pulling their last load from the dryer. They both looked so happy and in love. This wasn't a romantic place like a restaurant but their smile was equivalent to the smile you have during a romantic date with the person you love. Afraid she would jinx the couple she looked away and turned her head to look at the figure who had just came and sat besides her.
"Oh it's you." She said as she looked back forward to the ground. It took her a second but she quickly turned her whole body to face the person next to her. "Luke what are you doing here?" She was surprised to see him there.
Luke continued to scroll on his phone "I was done with all my work and I was getting bored at home." Liar.
He was working from home today since the building was closed due for some maintenance and repair work with the air duct. He was working on his laptop when he called out for Penelope. When she didn't answer, he went out to search for her. He found a note on the island in the kitchen.
Luke,
I have gone to the laundromat. I did tell you but you were so lost in your work you didn't reply. I didn't want to bug you by repeating myself. I have a lot of laundry to do. I took down all the old curtains and getting them washed. So I won't be home before lunch. There is a container with leftover from last night you just need to warm it up in the microwave. I also sliced up a tomato and lettuce in case you wanted a sandwich. Deli slices and the cheese are next to it. Also there is a thermos with coffee on the counter in case you needed more. Be home soon.
Penelope
Luke places the note down and looked towards the window. She really did take all the curtains because there were new curtains he never seen before in place of the old ones. He walked over to the fridge, picked up the leftovers and placed it in the microwave to heat. After he was done eating, he place the container in the sink and was about to walk away when he stopped. 'Penelope is going to be tired when she comes back from doing all that laundry' he said to himself. He turned around and washed all the dishes he found in the sink. Once he was done he grabbed his cup of coffee and went back into his room. His eyes fell onto the curtains in his room, they were new as well. When did she change them? Was he really lost so much in his work? He walked to the other two rooms and found all of them changed. He shook him head before heading to his room to continue working. A few minutes later, his eyes fell back on the curtains again. He took a deep breath before closing his laptop and changed into something casual. He knew the only laundromat near by was up two blocks away so he decided to walk. Once he got there, he smiled looking at Penelope sitting on one of the chairs. She was wearing black leggings and a shirt that read 'It's laundry day! What did you except, Queen Elizabeth?' She was looking towards a couple lost in her thoughts when he walked over and sat next to her.
"That was quick but then again I am not surprise. You were so engrossed in your work. I took down all the curtains in the room and placed up new ones. You didn't even look up." she said straightening herself back up to look forward. The couple were now neatly placing the folded clothes into they laundry bag.
Luke and Penelope silently sat in the laundromat waiting for the washer to stop. She looked at new customers come in as the old ones left. He just sat there working off his phone. Once the washing machines had stopped they both got up to put the clothes in the dryer. They both loaded the dryers along side each other quietly. Only speaking when necessary. It was oddly comforting.
"Are you hungry?" Luke asked quietly not looking away from his phone. She was sitting right next to him looking around the laundromat.
"Yes. I didn't eat before coming. I just wanted to get this laundry over and done with. I'll eat when I get hom…" she stopped talking when Luke hung a brown paper bag in front of her. She turned to look at Luke surprised, he brought her lunch. He was busy scrolling his phone, reading something but she couldn't take her eyes off him. He brought her lunch. Mr. Luke 'I only have time for work' Alvez made and brought her lunch. After a moment, realizing she hadn't grabbed the bag, he looked over at Penelope who was staring at him. He widen his eyes before pointing to the bag with his eyes and a little head tilt. Penelope broke out of the trance she was in and grabbed the bag, 'Thank you.' His famous 'hmmmm' only leaving his lips while returning back to his phone.
She opened the bag and took out the wrapped sandwich. She looked to him to say something but he beat her to it. "I had the leftover" he said still not diverting his eyes from his phone. She looked back and began unwrapping the sandwich. As she took her first bite, she let out a moan. How could a simple sandwich taste so good. Luke quickly looked over to her with one of his eyebrow raised. She was sitting there with her eyes closed as she continued to chew. He smiled as he shook his head looking back onto his phone. As she took a second bite she moaned again. "Don't do that" Luke said a bit frustrated looking at her. Her moans were building inappropriate thoughts in his mind.
Penelope wiped her lips with a napkin she found in the bag, "Sorry, its just really that good." She slightly groaned taking another bit of her sandwich.
"Thank you." he said as she wiped her lips again after taking a bite. He really wanted to kiss those lips so carelessly right now. Not caring who was watching. If that was how she sounded over a sandwiche. He wonder how she would sound when he was inside her. The image of her bent over the chair while he took her from behind flooded his head. 'Shit, I need a cold shower' he thought before he went back to typing out the email he started before she moaned.
Penelope finished her sandwich and the chips, which Luke had also packed in the bag. She looked in her purse for the water bottle she thought she packed. When a bottle of juice appeared in front of her face. She grabbed the bottle as she looked over to Luke who sat with his eyebrows furrowed reading something on his phone. He really surprised her today. He came to help her even when he had work to get done. She caught him on the lie the moment it came out of him mouth. But she didn't say anything because even if he didn't talk much his presence was comforting. And then to top it all of he made her lunch. He didn't leave anything out, the sandwich, chips, napkins and juice. A complete meal. She would never forget this day.
She smiled at the memory but then frowned as she remembered where she was and why. She was waiting for the washer to get rid of any mark that lipstick stain might have left behind. She shed a tear but quickly wiped it away. She wasn't going to cry for anyone anymore.
✦XO✦
