20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
LUCAS
A rriving at the award show, we wait in the limo for our turn to reach the red carpet. Penny’s leg is bouncing and she’s twisting the chain of her purse in her hands. Taking her hand, I bring it to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “Everything will be okay,” I assure her.
“You know what they’re going to ask.”
“There are too many celebrities here tonight for them to worry about us. Maybe they won’t even care that we’re here.”
She gives me a dubious look.
“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I’ll have the limo take us home.”
She shakes her head and pulls her shoulders back. “No. They’re not making me hide.”
“That’s my girl. Good for you.” There are those words again. My girl . That’s exactly what she is to me; my girl.
When it’s our turn, the limo pulls up to the carpet. I get out of the car, move around to Penny’s side, and help her out. As soon as our feet hit the red carpet, cameras are pointing our way.
I lean my head to her ear and whisper, “We’ll pause for a couple of photos and then take off inside, okay?”
She nods. Her hand trembles in mine, and I give it a gentle squeeze to let her know I’m in this with her all the way. I’ll never let her go.
After the photos are taken and we’re about to step off the carpet, a journalist calls out, “Lucas, why are you here with Penelope Aldin if your relationship is fake? Why the act?”
My body stiffens. Even though I was prepared for these questions, I still want to punch the guy in the face for asking. I turn toward Penny; her face is stricken with embarrassment. Who the hell do these people think they are causing someone so much pain?
“Penelope, why would you lie to your fans?” another man calls out.
Sliding my arm around her lower back, I pull her close. Like somehow I can use my body to shield her from their fucked-up words. Normally I’d ignore the assholes, but I need to say something for Penny. “Whatever bullshit that’s going around now is just that…bullshit. Nothing about our relationship is fake. Penny is the smartest, funniest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.” Turning toward her, I smile down at her. “I love Penny. She is who I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Giving a surprised gasp, she searches my face, and I see a questioning look in her eyes, like she’s wondering if there is any truth in my words.
Holy hell. The declaration just flew out of my mouth, and yet, I meant every word. And it doesn’t scare the crap out of me. Giving her a soft kiss, I turn to the journalists and say, “Now move on to something more interesting. There’s no story here.”
Taking Penny’s hand, I guide her inside and away from the press to a quiet corner of the room.
“Lucas, you shouldn’t have done that. That is way more than we agreed to. Be seen together, share a kiss or two in public—that’s all. I’m sorry you felt you had to tell them you love me. Now it will only be harder to end this when it comes time to.”
Taking her hands, I rest them over my heart. It’s beating hard against my chest. “I told them I love you because it’s the truth. I only wish I told you first and hadn’t done it so publicly.”
Her eyes widen. “Wh-what are you saying?”
“Every time I look at you I can’t imagine you walking out of my life. I want to wake up with you every morning. Kiss you at the end of a long day. Spend every moment loving you. For the first time ever, I know what it’s like to love someone so much it feels like my heart is going to explode. Penny, you’re the love of my life.”
She covers her mouth with her hand. Tears slide down her face. Praying they are good ones, I brush them away with my thumbs and cup her face.
“What about your beliefs? You think you’re like your father.”
“There is no way my dad loved my mom like he said he did. Because if he felt half as much about her as I do you, he could never have cheated. Could never have even looked at another woman. My love for you wipes away any beliefs I had. You are it for me. Always will be, whether or not you want me.”
Penny’s bottom lip trembles, and her eyes well with tears. Instead of responding, she drops her face in her hands and sobs. My heart sinks to my stomach. Oh fuck. Does she not feel the same way? The next few seconds that pass are the longest of my life.
Then she lifts her face and gives me a watery smile. “I love you, Lucas. I love you so much.”
My heartrate kicks up. “You do?”
She nods. “I wanted to tell you after the award ceremony. Gosh, I was so scared you didn’t feel the same way. The thought of having to walk away from you was heartbreaking. I couldn’t breathe just thinking about it.”
Cupping her face with both hands, I plant a firm kiss on her lips. I rest my forehead on hers and say, “Pixie, I’ve loved you since the moment you sat next to me in math class. When you came back into my life, I was too screwed up to recognize it. I’m sorry it took so long to tell you.”
“All that matters is that we are here now, loving each other. Everything else doesn’t matter.”
I hook my arm around her waist and pull her close. “I want to take you home so we can love each other more.” I wiggle my eyebrows so she understands my meaning.
She looks over her shoulder. “But we just got here? The press are still out there. If we leave now, what will they think? I can’t deal with any more questions. This night is magical. I don’t want them ruining it.”
Taking a moment to ponder the situation, I come up with a plan. I pull my phone from the inside pocket of my suit jacket and send a text to the limo driver. Then I reach my hand out and say, “Follow me. I’ll get us out of here.”
Without hesitation, she takes my hand. I guide her through the guests gathered around waiting to be seated, not stopping for anyone who tries to grab our attention for a chat. We zigzag through tables decorated with flowers and candles to a side door that the staff are using. Slipping inside, we run hand in hand, laughing, through the corridor. I’ve never had as much fun as I do when I’m with Penny.
We make it to the kitchen, and I snatch two bread rolls out of a basket and toss one to Penny.
“Hey, the kitchen isn’t for guests!” a man standing at the stove, who I’m assuming is the chef, yells at us.
“Sorry, it’s an emergency,” I call back. “Thanks for the bread.”
Finding another door, I crack it open and peek out. Thankfully, it leads outside into an alley with no one in sight. Running to the road, I look up and down the street and see the limo parked a few yards away. Through the cooling night air, we make our way to the car. Out of breath, we fall inside in a fit of giggles.
“I think we gave the poor chef a heart attack.” She lifts her hand holding the bread roll. “Thanks for the snack.” She laughs before taking a bite.
“I thought you might need some sustenance for the night I have planned for you,” I say in a warning tone, giving her no doubt as to what’s on my mind.
She swallows hard. “Oh, what do you have planned?”
The limo pulls out onto the street, and I press a button on the control panel. A dark block-out partition screen separates us from the driver. “Let me show you.”