Chapter 35
HAZEL
It takes everything in my power not to let the shock I feel show on my face as I hold Penn’s steady blue gaze.
I’d be lying if I said his statement didn’t hurt me, not because I think something from his past changes the man I know he is, but because there was something he obviously didn’t feel comfortable telling me.
Something big that altered him. I know the man Penn is today, and that’s all that matters to me.
I want him to trust me with everything he’s gone through and know that I won’t judge him for it.
It kills me that he didn’t feel he could do that.
Even right now, watching his handsome face morph into embarrassed shame, I’m not ashamed of him.
I’m ashamed of my family, and of Chadwick and his parents. I’m ashamed that they’re trying to humiliate Penn for his past, for simply being different from them…and I’m devastated Penn and his sister didn’t have the family life they deserved.
My mind is buzzing, I look at Penn, unable to think of what to say to him. I long to be alone with him right now. Instead, we have the worst possible audience for what is clearly a very painful, private memory for Penn.
He takes my silence the wrong way, and his shoulders slump as his eyes drop down to his lap in embarrassment.
I open my mouth to comfort him, to let him know I’m not judging him—and if anything, he should be the one judging my family for their horrendous behavior right now—but my mother opens her big mouth instead.
“Hazel, you cannot continue seeing this…” Mom gestures wildly toward Penn, a look of horror on her pretty face. “This…miscreant!”
“Mom!” I hiss as people around the restaurant begin turning their heads. “You’re making a scene. And Penn’s not a criminal.”
She lowers her voice, but only a little. “He’s been to prison, Hazel.”
Penn tenses beside me, and my blood heats with anger. She’s being so unfair to Penn right now. I want to defend him, but I have no idea what to say because I don’t know the story of what really happened.
“I know you’re passionate about helping people, and working for practically no pay, but it’s not your responsibility to save everyone.” Mom sighs in frustration. “Honestly, I’m so disappointed in you. We raised you better than this.
Right when I thought my opinion of my parents couldn’t possibly be any lower, my mother proves me wrong.
Her words are like scissors to the last fraying threads that tie us together, slicing through our bond, separating us indefinitely.
This woman has no idea who Penn truly is, and despite correcting her snap judgment of him, she’s clinging to one comment from Chadwick without even hearing Penn’s side of the story.
She won’t listen to me about Chadwick’s character flaws, or my defense of Penn…
she doesn’t trust my judgment. Clearly, she doesn’t know anything about who I really am…
and she probably will never take the time to find out.
She’d rather stay on her high horse, allowing her pride to carry her through life instead of seeing things from another perspective.
Penn stands abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor and drawing everyone’s attention. I look up at him, adrenaline racing through my veins as I wait for him to defend himself. To prove them all wrong and vindicate himself.
But once again, my boyfriend goes and shows me that his kindness and goodness know no bounds.
He stares directly at my mother as he says, “Respectfully, ma’am, you can insult me, and you can insult my family.
I don’t really care; I can take it. I might even deserve it.
” He shakes his head. “But I will not sit here another second while you attack your daughter. I’ve never had more respect for another person as I do for Hazel.
She’s incredible, and it’s devastating that you have no idea how amazing she is.
You should hang on her every word, you should be damn impressed with everything she does.
You should worship the ground this woman walks on, admire how she serves others.
Instead, you belittle her, making it sound like she’s wasting her life.
” He pauses as everyone around the table stares at him in silence.
“I hope someday you pull your heads out of your asses and discover how amazing your daughter is, but until that day comes, I’m out of here. ”
Penn turns and looks at me, cupping my face in one hand as he gently caresses my cheekbone with his thumb. Then he turns and leaves without another word.
I’m warm all over as I watch every step he takes, until he’s out of sight. Nobody has ever spoken so highly of me. Seeing myself through Penn’s perspective makes me feel special and treasured and enough in a way I’ve never felt before. Like I finally fit and belong.
Mom breathes an indignant huff, and my father throws his cloth napkin down on the table. “Well, I’ve never seen such a display,” Dad says.
“Yeah.” Cory sniffs. “Me either…from you two.”
“What?” my mother asks, aghast. “Did you not hear what Chadwick said about that boy?”
“I did. Frankly, I don’t care. Whatever Penn did or didn’t do in his past doesn’t change the fact that he’s right,” Cory tells her. “You both need to appreciate who Hazel is. Honestly, I agree with every word he said.”
I look at my brother with tears in my eyes. I never realized how much I needed someone on my side, someone to stick up for me. Today, I have two people in my corner. Sure, I can defend myself, but it’s nice to have people who will stick up for me.
Standing from the table, I ignore the Weatherbys—who have been watching this whole showdown in stony silence—and offer Cory a grateful smile. “It was nice to see you Cory, but I’ve got to go.”
He grins at me. “Go get him, Hazel.”
My parents stand, too. “Sweetheart, you can’t be serious," my father says.
Mom frowns. “You’re leaving us, for him?”
I breathe a humorless laugh. “Yeah, I am.”
Spinning on my heel, I stride out of the restaurant, leaving my parents gaping behind me.
I hear Chadwick mutter a snide comment, but I pay no attention. I know exactly what I want…who I want.
Because just like I belong with Penn, he belongs with me, too. No matter what, and I need him to know that.
Rushing out of the restaurant, I look left and right along the busy downtown sidewalk. I don’t immediately spot Penn, and my heart races, unsure what direction he might have gone in.
But then I see him, towering over everyone else. He’s waiting at a crosswalk a block away, his hands in his jean pockets. I take off in a sprint, hoping to catch him before he gets further away from me.
My lungs burn as I run down the sidewalk, zigzagging through the pedestrians in my way. I keep my eyes trained on Penn’s head so I don’t lose track of him. The light for the crosswalk switches to walk, and I groan as he strides across the street.
I really need to do more cardio, my legs are screaming at me.
As I reach the crosswalk, I try to yell over the crowd. “Penn!”
He doesn’t slow, clearly not hearing me.
“Penn! Wait up!” I try again.
He keeps walking.
My pace slows as I grow tired. Why are his legs so long? Even walking, his stride is faster than my sprint.
“Playboy!”
He stops finally, turning slowly to look over his shoulder. When he sees me running, his face lights up.
I reach him and bend at the waist to catch my breath, resting my elbows on my knees. “Why…are you…so fast?” I huff and puff between each word.
“Sorry, being fast is kind of my job.”
Standing back up, still breathing heavily, I meet his gaze. His blue eyes are soft and warm as he patiently waits for me to regulate my breathing.
“I’m so sorry about everything my family said. I don’t know what happened in your past, but I’ll listen whenever you’re ready to share it with me, and I won’t judge you.”
Penn hangs his head. “You should judge me for it. It didn’t go down quite like Chadwick said, but he wasn’t lying. I royally screwed up and I let everyone down. My team, my coaches, Cassie…myself.”
“Did you kill someone?”
“What? No.”
“Horribly maim or assault them?”
“No, but—”
“Then I don’t care.” I take a step closer to him.
“I need you to know, there’s not one thing you could tell me that would make me doubt you.
You’re kind, caring, and thoughtful.” Reaching out, I slide my hands into his.
“I don’t care what you’ve done in the past, I love the man that you are now.
I love that you always put me first. I love the way I feel when I’m with you. I love you, Penn.”
His eyes widen in surprise, and I wonder briefly if I said too much, too soon. But then his face breaks into a slow, delighted smile. “I love you too, Hazel.”
Penn’s hands release mine, then one rough palm is sliding against my cheek as he leans in and kisses me.
Penn’s other hand wraps around my waist, landing on my lower back then pulling my body against his.
His kiss starts soft and sweet, but then I reach both arms around his neck and he slides his tongue against mine.
We stand there on the sidewalk, lost in each other and not caring about the hustle and bustle around us.
Nothing has ever been so perfectly imperfect as the two of us here in this moment, together.
Penn finally leans back, gazing down at me like I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. “I’m sorry I stormed out back there.”
“Don’t be,” I tell him.
“Good. Because I’m sorry I left, but I’m not sorry for anything I said in your defense.” Penn’s mouth slides into a smirk. “I figured I wasn’t getting into your mom’s good graces anytime soon, so I might as well give her a piece of my mind.”
I swallow, the way he defended me is still running through my head. In fact, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the words he said. “It was the best speech I’ve ever heard.”
He smiles softly, then presses his lips to my forehead. “Do you want to go back to the restaurant? I know I’m not exactly welcome, but I’ll go back if you want me to—for you, not for them.”
I shake my head, laughing. “Not even a little. Wanna ditch?”
He breathes a sigh of relief. “Hell, yes.”
“Let’s go home, Playboy.”
He takes my hand. “Sure thing, Bubbles.”