Male Watcher's Day (January 8th)
A knock on the door drew Sheldon's eyes. Every time there was a knock on the door, he felt a small leap in his pulse. And when it wasn't her, he felt his stomach drop from disappointment. Of course, when it was her, that same stomach would twist and clench with elation. This was getting out of hand. He was in a relationship with a woman he could have but didn't desire. He desired a woman he couldn't have.
The door opened and Penny walked in with Mark. He started to stand but Bernadette hurried over. "Penny, I was thinking maybe we could invite Priya and Amy to come along. What do you think?"
Penny's smile took on a bit of strain and she reluctantly nodded. "Um, yeah, I already asked Priya. She's in."
Bernadette smiled. "Cool. Want me to ask Amy?"
Penny's eyes flickered over to Sheldon. "I'm not sure she would enjoy it, Bernadette."
Sheldon rose and walked over. "Enjoy what?"
Bernadette giggled. "Tomorrow is Male Watcher's Day according to this funky holiday calendar Penny got from her sister. It's full of these weird holidays. So we are going to pick one at random each month and celebrate it according to the info on the calendar. Male Watcher's Day is a day to watch men. We're going to a strip club."
Leonard and Howard walked over quickly. "Wha….wha…wait, you're going to what?" Leonard stammered.
Penny rolled her eyes. "Not a strip club. An all male revue. Kind of like Chippendales."
Sheldon felt the same emotions he saw in Howard and Leonard's eyes. Jealousy and dismay. He didn't want her going. At that moment the door opened and Priya, Raj and Amy walked in. Priya walked over to kiss Leonard and Amy moved in-between Penny and Sheldon.
Leonard cleared his throat nervously. "Penny says you guys are going to a revue. A male revue, I believe."
Priya smiled. "Leonard, are you jealous? Honey, it's just a show. None of the men there are a threat to you. It's just a silly holiday game." She slipped her arms around his neck. "If you want, you can come too. Keep an eye on me." Her grin was teasing.
Amy turned to Sheldon. "I am going as well. Are you worried, also?"
Sheldon looked at Penny over Amy's head. Penny was looking at Mark, but her shoulders were tense, her spine rigid. Mark was whispering to her. He hadn't told anyone Mark and Penny were not a couple. Amy's belief that he was Penny's boyfriend was the only reason she tolerated Penny's presence as much as she did.
Sheldon took the opportunity presented to him. "If Leonard, Mark and Howard are going, I suppose I should as well."
Everyone looked at him with surprise except Penny. She was staring at him with a different emotion in her eyes. He was getting better at reading Penny, but he was confused as to why she would be angry. After all, he was the one who would have to watch her watch men.