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Penelope Featherington, Pen as she is known by those closest to her, has lived in a flat in London with her boyfriend, Colin Bridgerton, for 3 years. Though the two have known each other for more than a decade, it's well known that one of them is a little slow on the uptake.
😏 Ahem ..Colin..
She's been best friends with one of his younger sisters, Eloise, since she was 5 years old, when the two girls met at the park near their homes. When their mothers realized that they lived across the square from each other, they set up the first of many playdates. And from then on, the two were attached at the hip.
Although their mothers were not close, in fact, Portia Featherington was not on anyone's close friends list, the two girls spent as many days as possible in each other's company. Penelope quickly became an honorary Bridgerton, since she would spend so much of her time at their lively home. There are eight siblings, you see, named in order from A-H. A close knit family with four boys and four girls, and they all treated Pen like one of the family.
Pen's home life was vastly different from theirs. She only had her two older sisters, Prudence and Phillipa, with whom she was not close at all, and later, a younger sister was born, Felicity.
Pen had a huge crush on Colin from the moment she met him, all those years ago, and it never wavered. As she grew older, the crush turned into more and she fell in love with his kindness, his humor and, well…obviously… his stunning eyes and why lie? His bubblicious derriere. But he became one of her closest friends and she never wanted to lose that.
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Pen spent six years of her life living with her father and younger sister, Felicity, in America. Lord Featherington is a world renowned doctor and was teaching at UPenn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Once Pen's grand dad passed away, the family had to move back to London, as Dr. Featherington became Baron Featherington in his father's stead.
The years spent in America were amazing for Pen. She never felt so free. Her mother and older sisters had refused to accompany her father, because they didn't want to give up their social standing in London. Yes, they came for holiday but never stayed for more than a weekend visit.
In Philly, Pen met one of her best friends, Jenn. They lived across the street from one another and became close friends almost immediately. They bonded over their love of books, and Eloise visited several times in the years Pen was living abroad and also became good friends with Jenn.
Jenn introduced Pen to the wondrous game of football. Now, you might be thinking that Pen would already know a bit about this game, growing up in London, but you'd be mistaken. We are talking about good old fashioned 'American 🏈 'football'.
Within a year, Pen was a die-hard Saints fan just like Jenn, and the two friends even went to a few games! So when it was announced this year that the Saints were playing in London, Penelope immediately called Jenn and made plans for her friend to visit. She was bubbling up with excitement to see her friend again after 3 years!!
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Colin loved seeing his Pen so happy! He wanted to make this visit as perfect as possible for her. Since he was a journalist and a Bridgerton, he used his connections to score tickets on the 50 yard line right behind the Saints! He also got passes for the girls to go on the field during warmups prior to the game. Even though this was 'American 🏈 'football', where the players wear pads, it's all just so boring. He couldn't understand why anyone, especially HIS Pen, would rather watch that rubbish than real ⚽ 'football.'
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As the day drew closer, Pen was making plans to give Jenn a decent British experience in the short time she was here! They would have a traditional afternoon tea at Bettys, have a full English breakfast and a Sunday roast, a good pub night or three. In fact, maybe Colin's friend, Fife, could join them. They had to drink a real scrumpy in Somerset, since cider is Jenn's drink of choice. 😏
Colin knew that Pen was anxious about making sure that her friend had a great time. He wasn't worried. Anyone who was friends with Penelope Featherington would have a great time. Pen made everybody feel like the best version of themselves, it was her gift.
"Pen, do not fret," Colin reassured her. "She's going to have a great trip, because she will be with you."
"Oooohhhh poppycock, Colin! You HAVE to say that. You're my boyfriend. It's been three years! So much has changed in that time!" Pen exclaimed.
Colin just rolled his eyes and smiled at her. He knew there would be no convincing her, not at this moment. He had learned the hard way, his back still remembered that night spent sleeping on the too small sofa.
*.*.*.*.*.*
Finally, the day came to pick up Jenn at Heathrow. Colin drove since Pen was too excited. It was so early, only 5:00am when they arrived, to find that Jenn's plane had landed early. She was already waiting in the pickup area with her luggage.
Pen literally jumped out of the car before it stopped moving and grabbed her in a bear hug. What a sight they were! Colin came around and grabbed Jenn's luggage and put it in the boot of the car, then stood awkwardly, waiting for the two girls to stop squealing and holding each other. He was loving every second of it!
After fifteen minutes of this, they pulled away, both teary eyed and Pen introduced Jenn to Colin. Jenn immediately pulled him into a hug, which surprised him but he returned it with vigor.
"You have to be Colin. Pen and Eloise have both told me so much about you, I feel like I already know you so well," Jenn told Colin and looked at Pen with a wink and a smirk.
"I totally feel the same, Pen has been talking about you non-stop for the past few weeks. But that look makes me wonder just what she's been saying," he replied.
"Sorry, but that's classified. I cannot release that information without proper clearance," Pen laughed.
"We'll see about that!" Colin said. "Okay, we should probably head back to our flat. There's a full English (breakfast) still to be made."
"You're always thinking with your stomach, Colin," Pen laughed.
*.*.*.*.*.*
They settled Jenn in the guest room and the day started out amazing. Pen and Jenn easily fell back into the rhythm of their friendship and Colin was happy for them. Although he enjoyed spending time with them, he decided that they needed time together so he spent most of his day with his brothers, and in the evening they went to their neighborhood pub with Eloise. His friend, Fife, did indeed come out with them, and hit it off with Jenn immediately. They became fast friends. And if the way they were such together on the dancefloor was any indication, they may possibly have found a bit more than friendship. Eloise was at the bar for most of the night, not so subtly flirting with the bartender.
The next day was the game, and the girls couldn't be more excited. The plan was for Colin to drop them off at the gate to meet Eloise, and pick them up at the same spot. Since they had early passes, they could go inside much earlier than most of the fans, so they were avoiding the larger crowd. As Colin pulled up to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he saw the most horrendous looking thing in his rear view mirror. Jenn has a giant foam finger on her hand and some sort of golden Fleur-de-lis hat on her head. And then as he slowly turned his head and looked at Penelope, his eyes were wide because she… His Pen… had the same horrendous looking thing on her head and a foam finger on her hand. What just happened? This is madness!
And just like that, Pen pecked him on the cheek and jumped out of the car with Jenn in tow. Eloise was waiting for them and looked as horrified as Colin.
Eyes wide, Eloise quickly shook her head and said, “You have got to be kidding me. There’s no way in hell I am wearing that!” as Pen tried to hand her a hat and foam finger. Eloise quickly threw the offending things into Colin’s backseat and slammed the door shut. And with a hysterical laugh, the girls were off. Colin just shook his head and put the car in gear.
*.*.*.*.*.*
While Colin was trying to figure out what on earth had gotten into his girlfriend, he decided that he had enough of this American 🏈 'football' madness. Jenn has been telling them about her adorable new nephew, who was also named Colin, and so he decided that he was going to buy this little baby Colin a gift. That's right, he'll show those girls what REAL ⚽ 'football' is. Off to the first Nike store he can find to grab some Brighton & Hove Albion gear for her nephew. Someone needs to teach the poor boy about REAL ⚽ 'football' and he'd get them started!
*.*.*.*.*.*
After the game, Colin was there to pick up the girls, as promised, and they were totally boozed up and so he took them back to the flat to force some water down them before heading out to the pub.
Another pub night, Fife was there again, and he stole Jenn away almost immediately. Last they saw of them, they were on the dancefloor dancing the night away. While Eloise was flirting with the bartender, as she had been for the past three nights, Colin, Pen and a couple of their friends were occupying a table in the middle of the pub, chatting about random stuff when one of the girls gasped and said "Oh my gosh, Pen!! Is this you??" She flipped her camera around and showed a picture that was indeed Penelope Featherington, at the NFL game, in the upper level for some reason, foam finger in hand and her golden Fleur-de-lis monstrosity on her head, drink in hand.
"Yes, that's me!!" Pen exclaimed excitedly.
"Why on Earth are you way up in the stands, Pen? You had the best seats in the stadium! I should know, I bought them!" Colin exclaimed.
"I just wanted a picture with the whole field. Don't I look goooood?" Pen slurred.
"Oh Lord, I think you are cut off," Colin amused. "We should really find Jenn and head out, she has a flight tomorrow."
"Fiiiine, you're no fun," Pen reluctantly agreed.
Just then, Jenn and Fife appeared out of nowhere at the table. "Well, that was amazing timing. We should probably head out, you have a flight tomorrow," Colin said to Jenn.
Jenn just nodded, obviously just as drunk as Pen. The girls latched onto one another, grabbed Eloise and stumbled out to the car.
*.*.*.*.*.*
The flat was only four blocks away, but it had been a long day, so Colin had driven them. Obviously a good call, he thought to himself as he tried to get all three drunk girls to the car. At one point, Pen started having a conversation with a statue and tried to get it to dance with her. As adorable as she was, having to harangue his girlfriend along with her friend and his sister was almost too much for him. Thankfully, Pen was distracted by something Jenn pointed out across the street and they made it to the car, with no further statue dancing incidents.
*.*.*.*.*.*
They all made it to bed, after Colin made sure they drank some water. He seemed to be playing the adult tonight. When he went to get them each a refill, he came back and found them all asleep in his and Pen's bed. Sighing, he made sure the three of them were all covered with blankets and grabbed himself a pillow and headed out to the dreaded sofa. He didn't want to invade Jenn's privacy by sleeping in the guest room.
The next day was filled with laughter, tears, and long goodbyes. Jenn's flight didn't leave until late in the evening, so they made the most of the day. Colin gave Jenn the gift he had bought for her nephew, baby Colin, and she was impressed that he picked the right sizes.
"Pen, it seems this one is a keeper, after all," Jenn admitted. "At first, when I found out he didn't like football, I wasn't too sure!"
"Hey, now! I love FOOTBALL, just you Americans have the wrong sport," Colin laughed.
The day passed quickly, and soon it was time to go back to Heathrow. Since Eloise was with them, she sat up front, so that Pen could sit in back with Jenn. They all talked non-stop until Colin was parking the car in the departure area. They all got out of the car to say goodbye. Eloise and Jenn shared a hug and promise to keep in touch, Colin gave Jenn a quick hug and then started pulling her luggage out of the boot. Pen and Jenn shared a long hug and were crying as they shared their mumbled words. Finally, they pulled away and they all said a final goodbye.
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