CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE | Penn
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Penn
“Penn, I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you can, I need you to know that I love you.
I love you and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.
I want you to know that I’m still in Wren Cove.
That I didn’t go anywhere, and I’m not going to.
I’m yours if you still want me. I’ve never stopped being yours.
Time or distance will never change that.
A baby won’t change that. Nothing will ever change that.
If you don’t feel the same anymore, I understand.
But if you do, you know where to find me.
.. I love you.” London’s words play on repeat in my head.
I tried to respond, but by the time I had formulated what to say, she was gone. Imagine my disappointment when I said her name and it was Lou’s voice that answered back. I asked where she was, but he said she had already left.
That’s all it took for me to turn the boat around and head for shore. I hadn’t ventured too far—about a half a day’s ride—but it felt like it took me a million years to get here. It’s well into the night when I dock Northern Star and even later by the time I finally make it to my truck.
I consider driving straight to London’s house, but I don’t think Rand and Lori would appreciate that all that much, so I head toward my own home instead, figuring I’ll get a much-needed shower and a few hours of sleep.
It takes me less than fifteen minutes to reach my house and when I do, I mutter a curse under my breath when I see all the lights on. I completely forgot I had asked Walker to housesit.
Parking the truck, I try to mentally prepare myself for what I’m likely going to walk in on but find myself pleasantly surprised when I find Walker passed out cold on the couch. Sure, he left all the lights on and the television is blaring, but there isn’t a female or empty beer cans in sight.
Finding the remote on the end stand, I shut it off, not sure how anyone can sleep through such noise. I head toward the back of the house where the master bedroom sits.
I’m so exhausted that I barely notice the sleeping form in my bed, that is, until it moves.
“What the...” I flip on the light, hoping to find London.
Instead, I find Cat... And she’s naked...
Nudging her leg, her eyes dart open and immediately find mine.
“What are you doing here?” I don’t try to hide the anger that boils in my voice.
I am angry.
Angry that she lied.
Angry that she’s the reason London isn’t lying in that bed at this very moment.
Angry that she has the audacity to be in my house, and that my brother was dense enough to let her in.
“I’m sorry. I tried calling. Your brother... He said I could wait for you if I wanted.”
“What part of I never want to see you again did you have trouble with?” I remind her of what I said to her the day the paternity test results came in. The day I found out that she was pregnant with another man’s child and was trying to pin it on me. “And why the hell are you naked?”
“I thought—”
“You thought what? That I’d come home and find you naked and forget all about the shit you just tried to pull.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just... I needed to see you. I miss you.”
“Too bad. Get dressed and get the hell out of my house.”
“Can’t we just... Talk?” She scampers out of bed, tugging on her underwear.
“There’s nothing to be said. You lied to me. You lied to everyone.”
“Like you’ve never lied before.” She hisses, picking up her pants off the floor.
“White lies, sure. But what you did, Cat. That was no white lie. That was a life-destroying lie. And I think that was the whole point.”
“I thought you were the father.” She insists.
“No, you didn’t. You knew Jeffery Thomas was the father all along, but you also knew that he had no way to provide for you or the baby, so you set your sights on me.”
“I love you.”
“If you actually loved me, you wouldn’t have been screwing me and Thomas at the same time. I mean, there’s messed up and then there’s messed up.”
“Like the way you slept with me to get back at London? Is that the kind of messed up we’re talking about?”
“My motives are irrelevant. I never lied to you about my intentions. You knew this was only ever just casual for me.”
“If it was just casual, then why are you so upset that I slept with Thomas?”
“I’m upset that you lied!” I explode, my temper getting the better of me.
“I didn’t know who the father was. I wanted it to be you. I hoped it was you.”
“It doesn’t matter what you wanted. You should have been honest with me from the jump.
I knew something didn’t smell right when you told me.
What did you think? That I was just going to accept your word and not pursue it further?
Did you think I was going to give up London for you?
That I would ever love you the way I love her?
Because we both know the answer to that. ”
“London. London. London. It’s always about London. Even when she drops you like a piece of garbage, you still can’t get your head out of your ass long enough to see she doesn’t deserve you.”
“And you do? The woman who tried to rope me into raising another man’s child?” I step into her personal space, getting right in her face, completely ignoring the fact that she’s still 90 percent naked. “Get the hell out of my house.”
“Penn. I—”
“No. No more talking. No more excuses. Hear me when I say this. We are done. We are not together. We are not even friends. This is over. If I had it my way, I would never have to see your face again.”
“You don’t mean that.” Her eyes fill with tears as she hastily throws her shirt over her head.
“Oh, trust me, I do.”
“You’re going to regret this one day,” she warns.
“I seriously doubt that. Now leave.” I point toward the door.
She hesitates for a brief moment before she makes a beeline for the living room, having yet to put her pants on. I follow her through the house, tear open the front door when I reach it, and freeze when a pair of brilliant blue eyes find mine.
“London.”
She takes one look at me and then at Cat—half naked, hair wild—and forms an immediate conclusion. I see the moment it locks in on her face.
“It’s not what it—”
“Do not say it’s not what it looks like.” Her gaze narrows. “Do not disrespect me more than you already have. You two deserve each other. I hope you’ll be very happy.” She spins on her heel and is halfway to her car before my feet can even think to move.
“London, wait!” I chase after her, desperate to explain.
“Leave me alone, Penn.” She tears open the car door, quickly climbing inside just as I reach her.
“She was here when I got home. Nothing happened. I swear it.”
“Seven years ago, I would have believed you. But I realized something tonight that I should have realized sooner. I don’t know you anymore. I don’t have a clue who the hell you are.”
With that, she pops the car into reverse and squeals out of the driveway like a bat out of hell.
Spinning on my heel, I damn near run right into Cat, who thankfully had enough sense to put her pants on.
“Get off my property and if you ever come back, I’ll call the police and have you arrested for trespassing.” I shove past her.
Jogging back up to the house, I run inside to grab my keys. When I turn back toward the door, Walker is staring up at me, still half asleep and clearly confused.
“Next time a woman, who isn’t London, shows up looking for me, don’t let her wait in my bedroom,” I snap, not waiting for a reply before I storm past him, slamming the front door shut behind me.
“Why are you still here?” I ask Cat, who’s lingering next to my truck. I briefly wonder where her car is or how the hell she even knew I’d be coming home- but have much bigger problems at the moment to really think on it for too long.
“Penn. Can we please talk?”
“I’ve already told you, there’s nothing left to say.
I don’t love you. I never loved you. And I’m relieved to not be the father of your child because it means I can be rid of you once and for all.
” Harsh, I’ll admit, but I’m done with pleasantries at this point.
“I think you made enough of a mess of my life already, don’t you? ”
Without waiting for an answer, I jump in my truck and leave her standing in the middle of my driveway as I quickly back out onto the street.
My first stop was London’s parents’ house.
I knew right away that she wasn’t there because her mom’s car wasn’t in the driveway.
I tried the docks next, not sure why, but I thought it was worth a shot.
Of course she wasn’t there either. I tried to call Josie in hopes she could help me out, but she didn’t answer.
I drove all around town, looking for her mom’s little white Kia, to no avail.
I’m just about to give up when I have a thought. It’s a long shot, but it’s worth a try. Doing a U-turn in the middle of the street, I head for the cove.
It used to be our spot... Once upon a time.
A secluded little rocky beach a few minutes from town.
London and I spent nearly every day of every summer here during high school.
It’s the perfect swimming spot, especially since the only people who know about it are locals and even then, not many take advantage of its calm waters and protection from the elements.
I blow out a sigh of relief when I pull into the small gravel lot and see London’s car parked there. As I climb from the truck, I notice a dim glow starting to break the horizon, streaking the sky with a soft orange.
I hadn’t realized how late it was, or how early.
I make my way down the dirt path that leads to the small rocky beach below. It’s still too dark to really see anything, so I use the flashlight on my cell phone to light the way. Tall grass surrounds me on either side, the narrow path giving way to a rocky shoreline.
I scour the area for London but don’t see her anywhere.
“LV,” I call out, hoping she’s not too angry with me to remain silent.
Nothing...