Chapter 16
The next day, Penny went to a nearby mall to buy a few business-style outfits for her new job as a sales representative. She looked for a store where the prices are not too steep so that her money wouldn't run out fast. She thought she didn't want to keep asking Leonard for money, not until she receives her first paycheck. She was done shopping and took a quick lunch before going back home. While eating, she pulled out her phone and dialed her parent's number to tell them about the good news.
Penny: "Hi daddy! It's Penny!"
Wyatt: "Hi slugger! How's everything back there in California? How's Leonard?"
P: "Everything is great daddy. Leonard is so great. Is mom there with you?"
W: "Your mother went out for a while."
P: "Oh ok. Listen dad, I have some exciting news."
W: "Did Leonard propose to you?"
P: "What!? No! We're not there yet! I just want to tell you that I already have a job and I'm starting next week."
W: "That's great news Penny. What's the job anyway?"
P: "Well, my friend Bernadette set me up for an interview as a pharmaceutical sales rep in their company and I got in!"
W: "Wow! Pharmaceutical sales rep huh? That is amazing. Congratulations slugger!"
P: "Thank you daddy. I'm just so happy that things are beginning to look up."
W: "Well you deserve it slugger. So I guess Leonard is quite happy about the news huh?"
P: "He's very excited dad. He says he's proud of me."
W: "That's good to know Penny. We're really happy for you. Don't worry I'll tell your mother the good news."
P: "Thank you daddy! I miss you both."
W: "We miss you too."
P: "Well I gotta go now."
W: "Alright. Say hello to Leonard from us."
P: "I will daddy."
W: "Okay. You take good care of yourself you hear?"
P: "I will dad. Bye!"
W: "Bye slugger!"
Penny hung up the phone and stood up to go back home. She reached home and decided to call Leonard. After a few rings, Leonard answered.
L: "Hi honey! Are you still at the mall?"
P: "I'm home now. I called my dad and told them the good news. My dad's pretty excited about my new job."
L: "That's great Penny. Are we still up for dinner tonight?"
P: "Yeah sure. Where are you planning to take me?"
L: "It's a surprise. Have you eaten lunch yet?"
P: "Yeah. I had lunch at the mall before I went home. How about you?"
L: "It's the usual lunch with the guys at the cafeteria. Anyway, I'll see you tonight alright?"
P: "Bye honey! I love you!"
L: "Love you too!"
Penny hung up the phone and decided to take a nap as it was around one-thirty in the afternoon, still plenty of time to prepare she thought. She hung her new clothes in the closet and changed into her nightshirt before lying on the bed.
Penny woke up around four-thirty feeling refreshed from her nap. She went straight to the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for her dinner with Leonard. She had to make herself perfect for him, she thought. After showering and wrapping a towel around her hair, she went to the dresser to put on a light makeup and fix her beautiful, blonde hair. After fixing herself up, she went to the closet to pick out the dress she would wear for her night out with Leonard. She took out the dress and hung it beside the mirror and would put it on when Leonard arrives later. She went to the living room to watch TV while waiting for Leonard to arrive.
It was almost five-thirty when Leonard arrived home. Penny ran to him and gave him a kiss, taking his bag and putting it on the desk.
"Hi honey. How's work?" she asked.
"It's great. We published the results of our experiment today and response was amazing." said Leonard.
"That's great. I'm so happy for you!" she said hugging her boyfriend.
Leonard kissed her cheek. "Hmmm, you smell so nice. I really like this perfume of yours." he smiled at her.
"Awww, thank you honey. I know it's your favorite." she said. "Are you sure you want to go out tonight?" she teased him.
"What do you mean?" he asked looking at her.
"Well, you know? We could just jump into bed and celebrate there." she said smiling.
"No. Let's go out, we need to celebrate. We have plenty of time for that." said Leonard.
Penny released him. "Okay. Why don't you take a shower and get dressed." she said. Leonard went straight to the bathroom to take a quick shower. He got dressed and saw Penny putting on her shoes in the living room.
"Wow, you look amazing Penny!" he said.
"Thank you honey. I'm glad you liked it." she said.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yeah." Penny said as she fixed Leonard's shirt. Leonard held her hand as they went out of the apartment, walking down the stairs. They exited the building when Leonard spoke.
"Penny, I'm a little tired, do you mind if you drive us to the restaurant?" he asked her.
Penny looked at him. "Uh, okay honey. No problem." she said.
Leonard smiled as they stopped walking. "Good. Here." he said giving her the keys.
Penny looked at it and saw it was different. "Uh, these are not your car keys." she said examining it.
"Yeah. Those are your car keys." he said as he pointed to a car parked on the curb. Penny turned and looked at the car.
"Uh, whose car is that?" asked Penny trying not to panic.
"That is your car." he said smiling at her.
"You...bought me a car?" said Penny.
"Yeah. I mean, what kind of a sales rep would you be if you don't have a car?" Leonard said.
Penny gasped and put her hands on her cheeks. "Oh my god Leonard! I….I don't know what to say!" she said trying hard to hold back her tears.
"Hey, it's not much but at least it can get you around." Leonard said.
Penny hugged him and buried her face on his neck, crying. "Thank you honey! I love you so much!" she said kissing him on the lips.
"You're welcome. Now what do you say we take this baby up for a spin huh?" he smiled at her.
Penny jumped with excitement. "Let's go!" she said as she opened the car door and got into the driver's seat while Leonard took the passenger side. "How much did you pay for this car anyway?"she asked as they start to drive away.
"Not that much really. Don't worry about it. What's important is that you have something to help you with your job." said Leonard.
"Thank you honey. I promise I'll pay you back when I earn enough." Penny said.
"Penny you don't have to do that." said Leonard.
"No Leonard. Let me do this. We're partners and it wouldn't be fair to you if you spend all your money on me. Besides, I'll feel much better when I start contributing around the apartment." said Penny.
Leonard nodded. "Alright. If that's what you want. Just don't worry about it too much okay?" he said.
"Okay." she smiled at him as she parked the car on a vacant slot.
They went inside the restaurant and was shown to their table that Leonard reserved earlier. He bought Penny a stem of rose as they sat down while a waiter served them some red wine, taking their orders as they were making small talk.
"This is so nice Leonard. I can't remember the last time we did this." Penny said.
"I know right? We've haven't seen each other for two years, before that we were broken up for more than a year so yeah, it's been a long time huh?" said Leonard.
"Well I'm glad were back together." she said as they toast their wine glasses. Their food arrived and they started eating while talking about work. "I'm glad we did this Leonard." she smiled at him. Leonard leaned over and kissed her on the lips.
"I'm glad you liked it." he said. "So you'll start next week which means you're gonna be busy studying your product lines huh?" he said.
"Uh huh. But I'm gonna go there tomorrow to sign my contract and get the schedule for my training and orientation." she said as she drank wine from her glass.
"I know you'll do great there Penny." said Leonard squeezing her hand.
"Thank you honey. I promise I won't let you down." said Penny.
They continued eating and drinking wine until they decided to go home. They stood up after paying for their food, leaving some tip for the waiter. They went out of the restaurant and drove back to the apartment with Penny driving her 'new' car. They entered the apartment as Penny grabbed his hand and hurriedly dragged him into the bedroom. They started to undress while kissing each other, jumping on the bed and hurriedly slipping under the covers, laughing and giggling while feeling each other's warmth.
"Honey." Penny said as she rested on Leonard's shoulder.
"Hmmm." he uttered.
"You better slow down in spoiling me." said Penny while moving her fingers on his chest.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, you've done nothing but be supportive of me, always encouraging me, and now you bought me a car. I mean what if I get used to this?" she said looking at him.
"So you don't want to be spoiled?" asked Leonard.
"I do, but I don't want you to overdo it. I mean it could be bad for you." Penny teased him.
"I don't understand." he said.
Penny sighed and looked at him. "Leonard, if you keep spoiling me, then I'll be expecting more of it." she said smiling at him.
Leonard laughed a little. "Hey, you're my girl. I won't get tired of spoiling you." he said kissing her.
Penny smiled. "Then come here and spoil me more." she said moving on top of him, pushing her face against his neck, feeling his warmth once more.