Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Yes,” she said.
I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I may be a fake boyfriend with a fake watch, but I’m very real in the ways that matter.” My hand slid down and I lightly cupped her ass. She tensed for half a second before relaxing again. That seemed like a good sign.
“I know you’re real,” she said quietly.
“And you know something else?”
“What?”
“I’m glad I’m here with you tonight.”
“Me too.”
Penny was quiet at the bar, and I wondered if she was in a daze because of the massage. It was either that or lost in thought. A bit belatedly, I asked how her day went after she left the house but before I joined her here. She said everything was fine, but I got the sense that maybe it wasn’t.
Then her phone rang. “It’s Lila,” she said, looking at the screen. “Mind if I take this?”
“Of course not.”
She accepted the call and swiveled the bar stool away from me. I wasn’t actively trying to listen while I sipped my Scotch, but it was hard not to hear.
“We’re at the bar, and we’re heading to the restaurant soon,” she said, and then there was a pause. “No, but it’s not a big deal, honestly.”
Uh-oh. What wasn’t a big deal?”
“No,” she continued on. “But I get it. This week is all about the wedding.” She listened again and then spoke quite loudly. “Don’t you dare.” Realizing she’d raised her voice, she quickly lowered it again. “It’s okay. I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for remembering.”
Penny kept her face neutral as she twisted back around and slid her phone into her purse.
“What was that about?” I slid her drink toward her.
“Nothing.”
“We both know that’s not true.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I don’t think that’s true, either.” I replayed her side of the conversation in my head. Then an explanation sprang to mind. “Is today your birthday?”
For a moment, I thought she wasn’t going to answer, but then she gave a small nod.
“Shit, I wish I’d known.”
“It’s okay. This week isn’t about me.”
“Maybe it should be.”
She shook her head.
I didn’t mean to poke at a sore spot, but I had to know. “And your family? They didn’t say anything?”
She looked away. “It’s a big family. Pretty much every day is someone’s birthday or anniversary.”
“But what about your parents? You could’ve gone out to lunch with them today. Or we could ask them to join us here now and toast your big day.”
“They’re not checking in until after the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night. Their place is much closer to my mom’s work.”
I put my hand over hers and gently squeezed. I didn’t say anything until she finally looked up at me. “Let’s skip tonight. You don’t want to spend the rest of the evening in a crowded, noisy restaurant, do you?” Unless I’d completely misjudged her, that didn’t seem like something she’d want.
“This week isn’t about what I want,” she said. “It’s about making it through until the end. And your renovations. It’s about reaching the finish line for that, too.”
“I’ll drink to that.” I clinked my glass against hers. “Ready to go?”
“I guess.”
“I’ll get the SUV and pull it around front.”
“Okay,” she said.
I had my phone to my ear before I even made it as far as the parking lot.
18
PENNY
“Are you sure you know where the restaurant is?” I asked again.
“I’m sure.”
“Let me just pull it up on my phone…”
Jackson reached over and stilled my hand. “Relax, Penny. I know where I’m going.”
I nodded, looking out the window as the dark buildings passed by.
“Are you really in that much of a hurry to get there? Won’t your cousin and your ex be there?”
“Yeah.” I stared at the streetlights that lined the road and then for some reason, I volunteered the information I’d been holding back for hours. “I, uh, had a little run-in with them today.”
“What?” The car swerved lightly as Jackson looked at me sharply. “What happened?”
I gave him a brief summary.
“God, your ex sounds like a prick. I wish you’d let me beat him in that basketball game the other night. I was planning on bouncing all of the balls off his thick head.”
I gave a faint smile. “I’ve been trying to avoid drama where I can. Even so, every time I set foot in that hotel, people give me that “Poor Penny” look. I swear, even some of the hotel staff are doing that.”
“In my opinion, it’s less “Poor Penny” and more why the hell did a woman like you stay with a man like that for so long?”
That wasn’t something I wanted to get into tonight. “Just stupidity.”
“I don’t believe that.”
I sighed and looked out the window again. But then I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. “He wasn’t like that in the beginning.”
Half of me expected Jackson to argue. For him to say that leopards don’t change their spots or whatever the saying was. But instead, he just nodded.