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It was another uneventful, rainy day when Colin Bridgerton pushed through the doors of Central Perk, a small coffee shop at the corner of his apartment in New York, walking dispiritedly to his - or rather, their - usual spot.
“Hi”, the man mumbled when he was noticed by the group of people already seated, heading to the empty space his older brother Anthony and his sister Eloise left for him on the couch in between them.
Predictably, everyone was enjoying a cup of coffee or a muffin after another long day of work. The entire place was packed with tables, but they often occupied a big couch right in its center, with a single lounge chair on one side and a table with two chairs on the other, which could easily accommodate all five of them. It was the best spot of Central Perk, and whoever arrived first would always try to snatch it before a stranger did.
“You just walked in and already I feel the need to remind myself there’s joy in the world”, Benedict, the second Bridgerton brother, quipped, earning disapproving looks from both Anthony and Kate Sharma, their friend, while Eloise fought to hide the amusement in her face.
“How are you feeling, Col?” Kate questioned, forever the mom of the group.
“I feel like someone took my stomach and lungs, ran them over with a car a couple of times and then put them back in my body”, the man answered, slipping even further down the sofa.
“Pie?” Benedict offered from the lounge chair on his left, and Colin recoiled, too upset to eat anything.
“I’ll pass”, he said, watching as the entire table exchanged surprised looks at his refusal. Well, all except Kate.
“Marina moved her stuff out this morning”, she explained, taking a sip of her coffee from the table right in front of all of them. After the bride-to-be called the wedding off, Kate was the only friend with whom Colin felt truly comfortable to vent about, which meant she was also privy to the details of the breakup.
“We’re so sorry, Colin”, comforted Eloise, although they all knew she wasn’t really fond of his ex.
“It’s alright, guys, I’ll be fine. Really. I wish her and this new boyfriend the best”, Colin managed to say, feigning an indifference which wasn’t really there.
“No, you don’t”, Anthony replied.
“No, I don’t. Not yet anyways. She left me!”, he yelled, outraged.
“And you’ve never suspected that she liked this other guy?”, Eloise, subtle as an elephant, asked.
“Why do people keep asking me that? According to her, neither did she”, the man retorted, pouting slightly.
“Come on, Col, it’s not the end of the world. You know what being single means?”, Benedict intervened, waiting until all eyes were on him to go on. “The greatest duo of all time is finally back!” he finished, dodging as a pillow was thrown his way.
“You’re ridiculous”, scoffed Eloise.
“And I thought he was gonna say something worth listening to”, Kate murmured, to which Anthony agreed.
“I should feel hurt not to be included, but… relief is so much better”, the oldest Bridgerton sibling stated, adorning the usual “big brother” banter they’ve all grown to love (and mock him for, of course).
“The problem is, I don’t want to be single”, Colin’s voice broke through all the chaos, and they all turned to him once again. “I just wanted to get married”, he added, just as a loud noise made someone’s entrance in the coffee shop known.
Seeing who had just barged into the place, the five friends were left speechless, which, in their case, was a really hard feat to accomplish. And that’s because right in front of them was a tiny woman in a big wedding dress, bumping into several people in her attempt to get to the counter. The hem of her dress was all dirty and her veil was crooked, but what really caught Eloise's attention was the woman's hair, a very specific shade of red, which instantly reminded of…
“Penelope?” she called, barely registering Benedict’s “And I just want to win the lottery!” remark, so eager she was to see if her theory was correct.
“Eloise? Oh, I’m so glad you’re really here! I went to your apartment, and you weren’t there, and then I remembered your mother telling mine you liked to hang out at a place right down your block and I just…”, the woman started to blab, eventually stopping for air. Eloise took that opportunity to drag her to the group, avoiding curious glances.
“Penelope, this is Kathani Sharma, one of my friends from New York. Kate, this is Penelope Featherington, we studied together pretty much up until high school”, she introduced the women, and they exchanged handshakes. “And, well, I suppose you remember my brothers”, she continued, pointing at each of them. “Anthony, Benedict and Colin”.
“Yeah, I remember”, Penelope replied anxiously, waving at them before falling right into Eloise’s vacant space between Anthony and Colin on the couch, engulfing part of their legs in white fabric. She stayed still for a while, eyes closed, just breathing in and out, until the feeling of being observed became too much.
“I was waiting in the car for the remaining guests to arrive at the church, alone, casually scrolling through posts on social media, when one in particular got my attention”, the redhead paused, as though remembering the moment, before continuing. “Your mother’s, actually. Celebrating with your father their 30th wedding anniversary, including a picture from then and one from now. And yes, I’ve heard their love story countless times when we were children, but seeing it with my eyes, the way they looked so happy and so in love in both pictures, since the beginning, made me realize I’ve never felt like that towards anyone. Certainly not Alfie”, she stated, teary eyed, being promptly interrupted by Anthony.
“Wait, Debling? Alfred Debling? Isn’t he going on a three-year excursion to Antarctica like, next month?”
“Hence the hurry to tie the knot”, Penelope confirmed, defeated, turning to Eloise. “Mom has been bragging about this match for months on end. I didn’t know where to go. And I know, I know we’ve not been close since graduation, but you’re the only friend I knew who actually lived in New York…”.
“Who wasn’t even invited as a bridesmaid”, the brunette pointed with fake indignation.
“You didn’t even show up!” the ex-bride exclaimed, complementing shortly after. “And before you even say it, I know for a fact your invitation was delivered. That’s how I knew where to find you”, she finished, so full of adrenaline that she didn't even notice the rise of her voice or the fact that several people were staring at her again.
For a few seconds, they all remained silent, waiting for a smart reply that never came. Instead, Eloise opened and closed her mouth several times, fighting the urge to retort, until she finally gave up.
“Fair enough”, she conceded, to which all of her friends and siblings snorted in surprise. “I'll fetch you a cup of coffee", Eloise added, rolling her eyes as his siblings started teasing her mercilessly for the next couple of minutes.
…
Later that evening, once they finally left Central Perk, Colin turned to Penelope, staring directly at her.
“Oh, Penelope. I’m already so happy to have you back in our lives”, Colin laughed wholeheartedly, for the first time in a couple of days, he noticed, and offered her his arm, leading the girl to their building down the street.
🎵 alexa, play “I'll be there for you” 🎵