Chapter 11
Misinterpreting the Signals
Penny’s overthinking kicks into high gear as she misreads a casual comment or action from Leo, convinced it's a sign of impending doom.
Penny’s brain, a notoriously overzealous detective agency, had been working overtime since the vintage game night. Leo, bless his immaculately coiffed head, had been perfect. He’d navigated her slightly-too-enthusiastic explanation of Settlers of Catan with the grace of a seasoned diplomat, hadn't flinched when she’d accidentally elbowed him in the ribs during a particularly tense dice roll, and even managed to find her misplaced dice bag with a patience usually reserved for bomb disposal experts. Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence pointing towards ‘potential soulmate,’ Penny’s internal jury remained in deliberation, her overthinking gears grinding louder than a rusty Ferris wheel.
It all started with a seemingly innocuous comment at the end of the evening. As they stood by her door, the lingering scent of burnt sugar from her ill-fated attempt at crème brûlée (a testament to her anxiety, she’d later realize) hung in the air. Leo had smiled, a genuine, crinkle-eyed smile that made her stomach do a little flutter-kick.
“That was… an experience,” he’d said, his voice warm. Penny’s mind immediately translated this into: ‘An experience I’d rather not repeat, thank you very much.’
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