Chapter 35: This is Serious, Pen

"And don't accept drinks from anyone you don't know."

"Yes, Ben. I promise no drinks. I won't smoke and I'll use protection."

Ben's terrified gasp surges through the phone. "Aspen! Don't tell me about those kind of plans with Finn. He came off as a nice upstanding young man. I would hate to have to kill him."

I laugh. He might be a mere five years older than me, but Ben definitely has the big brother and father protector part all rolled into one. "Yes, Ben."

"This is serious, Pen. There are a lot of dangerous people out there. I want to make sure you're safe. Do you and Finn need a ride?"

What a horrific thought — Finn and I arriving at a charity event in a San Francisco Police cruiser. The thought alone makes me shudder. "No. That's okay, I'm sure Jake is going to drive us." I tuck an errant piece of hair behind my ear not used to the smoothness of tonight's straightened style.

"Well make sure to wear a seatbelt." He must hear my overdramatic sigh-moan combo at his last co