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Colin was ready to see his family. He was.
He was.
Don't get him wrong, Colin loved his family more than anything. Even when they drove him mad and he was ready to murder them (well, alright, most of the time it was only Eloise that he was ready to kill) he would still do anything for them, and vice versa. His family and Penelope were really the only people in this world he could truly count on.
It's just, whenever he saw his family, there were always so many bloody questions. Mostly from his mum and Anthony.
“When are you going to come back to London permanently?”
“What do you want to do with your life?”
“When are you going to give up all of this travelling and do something serious with your life?”
“Are you dating anyone? Or thinking about marriage at all?”
“What about Penelo-”
No. He didn't want to think about that question.
(Thinking about that question also meant having to admit that the answer to that question had changed… a lot.)
“Hold the lift!” A voice called before he noticed a flash of red approaching. His heart jumped into his throat as he instinctively went to hold the door.
And then Penelope was there, looking completely out of breath, but somehow as beautiful as ever.
“Oh, Colin, hi!” She beamed, entering the lift and pulling him in for a hug. The butterflies in his stomach still caught him off guard.
Ugh, butterflies? Seriously, how old was he?
“Hey, Pen.” He smiled, he could feel her touch lingering on his skin. “How are you doing?”
“Can't complain.” She said with a small smile and a shrug. “What about you?” But before he could even answer her, she started giggling and spoke again. “Never mind. Don't answer that. I know exactly how you've been. Going from country to country, having the time of your life.”
He smiled to himself, thinking of all the messages they'd shared while he'd been abroad. Colin couldn't say when he and Penelope had began texting on a daily basis, all he could tell you was that a day without a text from her often left him feeling empty. Though that was a rare occurrence.
“It has been pretty exciting.” Colin admitted, feeling strangely bashful for some reason. He cleared his throat. “But, uh- that was actually my last trip. For a while, at least.”
“Oh, wow, really?” She asked, eyes wide. “How come?”
I hated being away from you so much, even though talking to you was always the highlight of my travels. I'd much rather talk to you in person and see your beautiful smile and-
God, his siblings would have a bloody field day with him if they could hear his internal monologue.
“Just uh- wanted to be closer to my family. You know, actually be around for the birth of one of my nieces and nephews for once.” He joked, holding up the gift bag he was holding for Daphne. He cleared his throat. “Actually, another reason was-”
Colin was cut off by an abrupt jolt of the lift. He and Penelope clashed rather ungracefully, his arms instantly going around her in a tight grip to protect her. She had a firm grip on his arms. It took him a few seconds to process as Penelope spoke, “what just happened?”
“I- I'm not sure.” He looked down at her, a voice in the back of his head told that he probably didn't need to be holding onto her waist anymore. And yet, he couldn't quite force himself to move away. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” She answered, a tad breathlessly. “You?”
“Y-yeah.” Eventually, the reality caught up with both of them, Penelope cleared her throat as Colin (admittedly with a touch of reluctance) let her go and looked around the tiny lift. “I think the lift broke down.”
“What?” Penelope questioned, the smallest note of panic in her voice. “We're stuck here.”
“Don't worry, Pen, I'm sure it'll be fine.” Colin reassured her, before using the help button to tell maintenance that they were stuck, though they ended up being very little help. Next, he pulled out his phone. “Okay, I still have signal. I'll give Daphne a ring and let her know what's going on.”
It barely took a few moments before his sister picked up. “Colin?”
“Hey Daph-”
“Colin, I swear if you're calling to tell me that you've decided to miss the shower to go on some impromptu holiday out of the country, I don't care how pregnant I am, I will find you and I'll-”
“No, no, nothing like that.”
God, you take three unprompted trips to other countries and you're branded for life. In his defence, he'd taken that last trip out of England after he'd began noticing his feelings for Penelope. At the time, he'd considered fleeing the country the totally emotionally healthy thing to do.
“Oh.” Her voice suddenly went back to being all sweet and graceful. How she switched up so quickly, he would never understand. “Okay then. So, what's up?”
Colin grinned. So pregnant Daphne was scary Daphne. Good. He was going to need that.
“Me and Pen- we're stuck in a stupid lift.” He explained. “I've already told maintenance, but they essentially said they'll get to it when they get the chance. I was wondering if you could maybe, I don't know, talk to someone and see if you could get them to speed up the process a little bit.”
“Yeah, of course, I'll see what I can do.” She said. “Sit tight, okay?”
“Don't really have much of a choice, Daph.” He chuckled.
“Oh hush, I'm literally helping you.”
“Fair enough.” He smiled. “Thanks Daphne, seriously. You're the best.”
“Obviously. Love you!”
“Love you too.” He said before the call ended. “Okay, so Daphe said she's going to… Pen?”
When he turned around, she was sitting, arms wrapped around her knees, leaning her head back against the wall and taking deep breaths. She looked a little pale.
“Pen,” he murmured, concern rising in his gut as he instantly went to sit beside her. “What's up? Are you okay?”
“Y-yeah. I'm fine, really.” She tried to reassure him. He didn't believe her for a second, and it must have shown on his face, because she sighed and continued, voice shaky. Her breath came out in short pants. “I… I used to be pretty claustrophobic when I was younger. And I thought I was over it, but being stuck in here- I guess it's just bringing it back a bit that's all.”
He noticed how her hands were shaking and knelt in front of her, taking them in his own . Colin ignored the warmth that spread through him when he did so. Being there for Pen was the priority. Colin made sure Penelope was looking at him before he spoke. “Penelope. Pen. Can you try breathing with me?”
“W-what?”
“In for four, hold for four, out for four.” He demonstrated. “Can you try do that with me?”
“I-I… I think so.”
“In for four.” She took a breath in, eyes locked on his. “Hold for four. Out for for four.” They both released a breath, but Penelope’s face was still ridden with anxiety. “Okay, good. That was good. Let's try it again, yeah?”
They ended up doing it a few more times before Penelope finally loosened, slumping against the wall, as if her bones had turned to water. “Okay, I feel a bit better.”
“Good.” He smiled. Colin released one of her hands, but continued to hold the other, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You're not here alone, Pen. I'm here. I'm with you.”
When she looked at him, there was still a touch of anxiety in her eyes, but not quite as strong as before. Progress, he supposed. She flashed him a small smile that made his insides flip.
“Thank you, Colin.”
“Of course.” He got comfortable against the wall next to her. “So- claustrophobia, huh? Was that a natural fear or…”
“Prudence and Phillipa- they locked me in a closet when I was a kid. It was really dark, it freaked me out.” Penelope confessed. “The claustrophobia followed pretty easily from there.”
He frowned. “Fuck, Pen, I'm sorry. How long did they leave you for?”
“I don't remember.” She admitted, eyes focused on her lap as she picked at a loose thread with a sort of restlessness. He gave her hand another gentle squeeze, a reminder that he was still there with her. “I think I passed out or something, one minute it was pitch black and I couldn't see anything, and the next I was in my room.”
“I'm assuming your sisters got in quite a bit of trouble?”
“No, actually, but I got scolded my mum for being so dramatic.” She said it so casually, as if there was nothing wrong with it, Colin couldn't stand it.
“No offence, Pen, but I kind of hate your family sometimes.”
“Colin!”
“Can you blame me?” He said instantly. “I mean, how is it that you're the one who gets locked in a closet but you're also the one who gets told off? That makes no sense.”
“My mum said something about how if I'd just sat tight they would've come and gotten me eventually, but instead ‘I had to go and be overdramatic’-”
Anger bubbled in Colin’s chest. He wasn't a man known for his temper, but whenever Penelope talked about her family, it always fought to come to the surface. Bless Pen for being so gracious towards her family. He wasn't sure how she did it. “That's bullshit.”
“I don't disagree.” Penelope replied with a light hum. “But they're my family, you know? I can't change them. And besides, it was supposed to be a harmless prank-”
“That doesn't make it okay.” Colin cut in.
“I know, I'm just saying, locking your sibling in a small space is a pretty standard childhood prank. Did you seriously never do that to any of your siblings?”
Colin frowned, as much as he wanted to keep protesting, he had to admit, “I did lock El in the loft once. But she found this old singing Christmas ornament and played it over and over again until we got so annoyed we had to let her out.”
“See? Getting locked in somewhere is basically a right of passage.”
“I guess, but I did that to El when she was sixteen, you said you were pretty young.”
“Uh- yeah.” She fiddled with the fabric of her dress nervously. “I was about five.”
Five? Wha-
What the fuck?
“Bloody hell,” he murmured. As much Colin wanted to keep trying to get Penelope to see how messed up that was, he'd had that conversation with her before, or more accurately, he'd tried to. It always ended with her excusing them, and getting frustrated with him. He figured, since they were stuck here for the foreseeable future, it was better to keep the peace. “I can't believe I've known you for so long and had no idea you were claustrophobic.”
“There are probably lots of things you don't know about me, Colin.” She said it lightly, but it made his heart sink.
“I'm sorry?” Colin said, downright offended. “Are you saying I don't know you?”
“No, I-”
“You're my best friend , Pen.” He stressed, putting his free hand on her shoulder briefly, he made sure she was looking at him. “Of course I know you.”
“I know that- well, actually, I didn't know that I was your best friend but I- I know that you know me, Colin. Besides Eloise, you might know me better than anyone else.” Penelope told him. “But the small stuff, like childhood fears or- I don't know- favourite colour- the trivial stuff. I don't expect you to know any of that. It's not like it matters.”
It truly broke his heart that Penelope didn't realise she deserved the world. The fact that she thought he didn’t know the bare minimum about her- that she was so okay with it- that simply wouldn't do.
“Green.” Colin said.
“What?”
“Your favourite colour.” He explained. “I know that it's green. And you say that the trivial stuff doesn't matter, but I know you know mine too.”
Penelope stared at him for a few seconds before admitting softly, “yellow.”
“Yup.” He smirked.
“I'll never get why you like yellow so much. I detest the colour.”
“I don't know.” Colin shrugged. “I guess it's just a colour I associate with you. It makes me happy.”
Penelope smiled, an adorable blush spreading across her cheeks. She was about to respond when Colin's phone buzzed.
Daph
Spoke to maintenance.
Threatened them, if we're being accurate.
They said they'll do their best but it might be a while.
Sorry, Col :((
“Well, apparently we're stuck here.” Colin announced as Pen looked at him with wide eyes. Hoping to alleviate her fears, he immediately continued, “how about we play a little game?”
She looked at him skeptically. “What game?”
“I still I have Internet, I'll find one of those ‘how well do you know your best friend’ quizzes, and prove I know everything about you, even the trivial stuff.”
“Oh, Colin, you don't have to-”
“No, no. You said there are lots of things I don't know about you. As your best friend, it's now my mission to prove to you that, barring one case of childhood claustrophobia, I'm an amazing best friend who knows everything about you.”
Penelope smiled at him. “You're not going to let this go, are you?”
“Obviously not.”
She shook her head, grinning fondly. “Alright, let's do it.”
“Yes!” He cheered. It didn't take him long for him to find a good quiz. “Okay, well, first question is ‘what's your best friend’s favourite colour. We've established we already know that. Next question… Oh, okay, ‘what's your best friend’’s middle name?’”
“Christopher.”
“Correct. And yours is Anne.
“Yup.” She smiled. “What's the next question?”
Colin smiled as he looked at his phone. This was going to be a piece of cake.
It was pretty easy to know everything about the person you're in love with.
♡♡♡
Question 5
“If your best friend has siblings, who's their favourite?” Colin paused. “That's easy for you. Felicity.”
“Always.” Penelope replied. “And yours- are we talking favourite brother or sister?”
“Let's go with both.”
“Well, your favourite brother is Benedict, obviously.” Penelope said, pausing so that she could get a nod of confirmation from him, which he did pretty quickly. “Now, you're favourite sister- that's a little trickier.”
His brows crinkled with amusement. “Why is that?”
“Because I know it was Daphne when you were growing up. But you've been a lot closer with Fran recently- and Daphne's baby shower is kind of the reason you're stuck here with me- so I'd say… Fran is your favourite sister. Right now, at least.”
“Fran is my favourite sister.” Colin admitted before a small frown graced his lips. “But Pen, I'm not… I'm not stuck here with you.”
She simply raised her eyebrow and gestured around them. “Colin-”
“Okay, okay, I suppose I am in the literal sense.” He conceded. “But that's- that's not a bad thing.”
Her eyes softened. “It's not?”
“Of course not. I'd much rather hang out with you over my family.” He brightened when he heard her giggle lightly. She really did have the most beautiful laugh. “Truthfully, if I have to be stuck here… I'm glad it's with you. There's no one else I'd rather be here with than you.”
She looked down, but he still caught her blush, “I feel the same way, Colin.”
And now his cheeks were red. He'd heard Penelope say that exact sentence in many a dream, it was just in a very different context.
He cleared his throat. “For the record, I would have accepted anyone except Hyacinth.”
“Colin!”
“What? She's stealing stuff from my room, Pen. I know it.”
♡♡♡
Question 11
“What was your best friend’s first dream job?” He had to think it over for a second. “Ballerina, right?”
“Yes.” She replied, obviously surprised. “I can't believe you remember that.”
“I told you Pen, I know you.” Colin smirked. “Whatever happened to that dream, anyways? I haven't seen you dance in years.”
“Oh, I gave it up when I was ten. My mum had to pull me from the class, and before you get annoyed,” Penelope said hastily, “I was okay with it. My dad lost some stupid bet, and Felicity was on the way, we needed to save the money. Honestly, by the time it happened I was kind of falling out of love with ballet anyways, and I started writing not long after that, so it ended up being for the best.”
He couldn't help but grimace. “While I don't love that you paid the price for your dad's actions, I'm glad everything worked out in the end.”
“These things happen.” Penelope shrugged. Not for the first time, Colin found himself in awe of her forgiving nature. “Now, onto your first dream job. Astronaut.”
“What can I say?” Colin threw a grin in her direction. “I have always liked the idea of travel.”
“Whatever happened to that dream?”
“The realization that you have to be crazy smart to be an astronaut, earth is more than good enough for me. Besides, have you seen the food astronauts have to eat?”
♡♡♡
Question 15
“Does your best friend prefer winter or summer?”
“Oh, you prefer Summer, hands down.” Penelope said instantly. “The sun, the beaches, and an excuse to eat ice cream whenever you want, all your favourite things.”
“You really know me, Pen.” He smiled, hoping his nerves weren't as obvious as they felt. Memories of seeing Penelope in a bright yellow bikini for the first time flashed through his head.
(In his defence, Summer was his favourite season before that happened… but he'd be lying if he said that event didn't give Summer a huge advantage over the other seasons.)
“Well, go on.” Penelope looked at him expectantly. “Am I a Summer or a Winter person?”
“See, that's not entirely fair because your favourite season is Spring.” Colin answered, noting how Penelope’s eyes widened. He couldn't help but wonder if Penelope thought he knew anything about her before this. “But if Summer and Winter are the only options, then it's Winter. Which I'll admit, I don't get. Isn't Spring closer to Summer?”
“Yeah, but what I can say? I love an oversized jumper. Plus, writing while snuggled up under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate can make for some of the best nights.”
“That does sound nice, very cozy, maybe I should join you sometime.” He mused.
Penelope smiled softly at him, his heart raced at the sight. “I'd really like that.”
♡♡♡
Question 17
“What's your best friend's favourite film.” Colin looked at her and grinned. “Little Women.”
“Not so fast,” Penelope smirked, smug looked rather good on her. “Which adaptation?”
“Greta Gerwig, 2019. Obviously.” He scoffed. “Come on, Pen, as I keep telling you, I know you.”
“Yeah, I'm beginning to realise that.” Penelope admitted gently, a surge of pride burst through Colin. “And I know your favourite film too, Casablanca.”
“That's right.”
Penelope seemed to pause. “You know, in all the years I've known you, I don't think I've ever asked… Why is Casablanca your favourite film?”
Colin smiled, a little bittersweet. “It was my dad's favourite film.”
“Oh.” She hesitated. “Colin, if you don't want to talk about it-”
“No, no. It's okay.” He reassured her. “Anthony didn't like romance films, Benedict was too busy painting, even back then, Daphne didn't like that it had a sad ending and everyone else was too young. I was the only one who actually liked the film. I used to watch it with my dad all the time. Sick days. Rainy days. Normal days, even.”
“I'm surprised you didn't get sick of it.” Penelope said amusedly.
“I probably should have.” Colin chuckled. “But- I don't know- my favourite memories with him were when he watched Casablanca together. And you should have seen him, Pen, he loved that film so much. It was hard not to fall in love with it too.”
“What did you like about it?” Her voice was soft but curious. He vaguely registered how her thumb stroked his knuckle, and it warmed his heart. He'd completely forgotten they were still holding hands.
“It's a tragic love story, you've got these two people who simply aren't meant to be together, but that doesn't make their love any less real. No matter what’s happened between them, what can't happen between them, they would still do anything for each other. I think there's something quite beautiful about that.”
“And scary.” Penelope mused.
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “What do you mean?”
“Just…” she hesitated for a moment. “Loving someone like that- knowing that no matter what they do to you- you'd still sacrifice your own happiness in a heartbeat to make them smile. It's… it's scary to let someone have that much power over you.”
There was something in Penelope’s tone. It was… wistful, almost. As if she was speaking from experience. Colin tried to ignore the jealousy prickling his insides.
“I suppose when you say it like that, it is pretty scary.” He admitted. “But then again, at least you're not alone in it. If the person feels the same way, then you have the exact same power over them, it's definitely intimidating for sure, but I would also call it- well, nice. The idea that someone could care about you that deeply, and to know that you feel exactly the same way about them.”
Penelope gulped, eyes never leaving his. Her voice was merely a whisper. “And what if they don't feel the same way? What if you really are alone in your feelings?”
So she was talking from experience. Colin felt a pang in his chest. He supposed he understood her fear. When he realised how he felt about Penelope, how deep his feelings ran and how long he'd been suppressing them, he was scared too. Penelope was- she was- she was absolutely everything to him. His best friend, the person who knew him better than anyone else in the world and vice versa (though Eloise would wrongly dispute that.) Penelope was someone who had always been in his life, someone he couldn't imagine his life without. Being in love with her- something that could easily freak her out and make her pull away from him- it was bloody terrifying.
And yet, once the terror had subsided, he couldn't help but notice how right it all felt. As if his brain had finally caught up with his heart. It was like he'd come to final chapter of a book that he'd been reading for twelve years. Because it was the final chapter. There was nobody else, no other book or story, the only story that existed- that had ever existed- was his love story with Penelope.
Except, he had no idea how Penelope felt.
And the fact that she'd essentially confirmed that she had felt that sort of love before- it didn't fill him with hope.
“You'll love again.” Colin said quietly. “Loving someone like that- it doesn't make you incapable of loving anyone else. And when you do find the person that loves you too- it'll be amazing.” He paused before adding. “And for the record- whoever it is that doesn't feel the same way, they're an idiot.”
She smiled softly, sadly, he'd do anything to replace it with one of her cheerful smiles. One of the ones that had warmed his heart on many a occasion. “He's not an idiot, Col. He's allowed to not feel the same way.”
Colin pretended that those words weren't a a dagger to his heart. For the first time since, he wanted the lift to start working. “Well, he's missing out. You're amazing, Pen.”
“You're amazing too, Colin.” Penelope said. Their eyes locked, and the atmosphere of the lift filled with something. Something he was a little too afraid to name. His gaze flickered to her lips and, even though it probably wasn't the right time at all, all he wanted to do was lean in-
She cleared her throat. The moment was over.
“We're nearly done with this list, right?” Pen smiled, but he could hear the slight shake in her voice. “We should try finish it before this lift starts working again.”
“Uh, yeah.” He said, mind racing with possibilities of what ifs. “We should.”
♡♡♡
Question 19 + 20
“Oh.”
“What is it?”
“Uh…” Colin frowned, looking at his phone. “Do you know who your best friend is currently crushing on?”
Penelope's eyes widened, the smallest frown tugging at her lips. “Like celebrity crush or…?.”
“Or, I think.” Colin frowned. “Well, I guess I know that for you, you're uh- you're in love with that mystery guy.”
She nodded, not meeting his eye. Colin swore he felt his heart crack. “Yup.
He couldn't help but note the growing discomfort on his best friend's face. “Honestly, Pen, we can skip that one if-”
“No, no, it's okay.” But it certainly didn't sound okay, not judging by her voice. Penelope sounded oddly resigned, and Colin couldn't figure out why. “I- I already know the answer for you, anyways.”
His heart leapt to his throat. “Y-you do?”
“Yeah.”
Had he been that obvious? Colin thought he'd been rather subtle with his feelings, though his siblings would disagree, he assumed it was standard sibling teasing. But apparently Penelope knew? Had he said something that gave him away? Had he hugged her a second too long? Let a look linger a second later than he should have?
Colin guessed it didn't matter, because no matter what had given him away, the point was that Penelope knew.
And she didn't sound particularly happy about it.
Oh god.
“It's Marina, isn't it?”
… What the fu-
“Who?”
Penelope raised an eyebrow at him. “My cousin, remember? I-I saw the way you looked at her when I brought her to drinks last week. You… you couldn't stop staring at her.”
Colin realised this was the perfect out, the universe had practically dropped the excuse into his hands. And yet, he didn't want to take it. Because Colin was tired. He was tired of being in love with Penelope and not being able to say it. He was tired of holding this feeling in when all he wanted to do was shout it out so everyone could know. Yes, the universe had given him an out, it had given him an opportunity too. And he'd be damned if he wasn't going to take it.
Penelope was in love with someone else, he knew that, but he needed to tell her. She deserved to know. She needed to know that there was someone on this earth who would love her too, someone would love her with his whole heart.
“I wasn't staring at Marina, Pen.”
“You weren't?” Her face scrunched up in the most adorable way. “But you kept looking in our direction, was there someone behind us that you were looking at?”
“No.”
“Well, I hardly doubt you were staring at Eloise so who were you…” Penelope trailed off as her eyes reluctantly met his. He hoped he was able to convey all of his emotions through his gaze, and given how her face shadowed over with shock before softening. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
Penelope hesitated. “Why?”
‘Here goes nothing, Colin.’
“Because I'm in love with you, Penelope.” Colin confessed, hoping this surge or confidence would carry on for just a few more minutes. “I love you, Pen. I really do. And I have for a while now.”
Her eyes practically doubled in size. “Did you- did you just… you… with me… What?”
Colin chuckled, his free hand moved to cradle her jaw. “I don't know when it happened. I can't give you an exact moment where it all clicked. One day I just looked at you and the feeling- it was already there. And I knew I was in love with you, it's been twelve years in the making. You're kind and beautiful and loyal, you always have been. I honestly can't believe it took me so long to realise, but I'm I love with you, Penelope Anne Featherington. And I always will be.”
Tears sprung to her eyes, though whether they were good or bad he couldn't tell. “Colin I…”
“I know you don't feel the same way.” He said, hoping he didn't sound too defeated by the fact. The last thing Colin wanted was for Penelope to feel guilty. He wasn't telling her he loved so he could hear her say it back, he simply wanted to tell her. And the idea of Penelope saying it back because she felt like she had to- it was more painful than her not saying it back at all. “I-I know you're still trying to get over that other guy and I totally respect that, but-”
“Colin, that other guy is you.” Penelope cut him off, a little breathlessly.
… Did he hear that right?
“I- I'm sorry?”
“The guy, the one I was talking about earlier, that was you, Col.” She explained with a small smile. “I just- we've known for so long I- I assumed you would never feel the same way. But I love you too, Colin. So much.”
It felt like all the air had been stolen from his lungs in the best way possible. His chest filled with warmth as he felt a happiness he'd never known until now. “R-really?”
She nodded. “I've loved you for years.”
Colin began to lean in, unable to help himself. “Pen?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I go off script for the last question?”
Penelope nodded eagerly. “Please.”
“How would you feel if your best friend kissed you?”
She leaned in, nose brushing against his, and whispered, “I would like that a lot.”
“Me too.” Colin replied at the same volume.
And with that, he went to close the gap between and them and finally- finally - kiss her-
The lift began moving.
They jolted apart, staring at each other in shock. Once Colin had processed everything that just happened, including the fact that he hadn't kissed his best friend who actually loved him too, he frowned.
And then he stopped the lift.
“Colin!”
But he didn't let her say another word. He kissed her.
And it was everything he dreamed it would be and more.
Her lips were soft and sweet, moving so perfectly against his. His hands cupped her face whilst hers went to run through his hair. Colin had never understood why people used sparks to describe kisses, he'd never felt them himself, but he got it now. He was feeling all the fireworks, and he never wanted it to end.
Eventually, he pulled away to breathe, but his hands remained holding her face, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. “I love you, Pen.”
“I love you too, Colin.”
He kissed her again briefly, pulling away with a grin. “So, now do you believe that I'm an amazing best friend who knows everything about you?”
“Shut up and kiss me, Colin.”
When the lift eventually started working again, and the doors opened with them holding hands, Colin and Penelope were met with a round of knowing smirks and congratulations. It was only then that they learned about the bet going on about when they'd get together.
(Daphne won.)