Chapter 27
Miles
Penny and I have been working nonstop since we got back from NYC.
The night crew has been incredible, seamlessly finishing whatever the day crew starts—wiring, drywall, painting, you name it.
At this point, all that’s left is landscaping once spring fully arrives.
The first azaleas are already starting to bloom, so we’re getting close.
And the closer we get to finishing this project, the more unsettled I feel.
The night in New York was fucking magical.
It gave me a taste of something I’ve spent years pretending I didn’t want. A woman to come home to every night. Someone to spoil rotten, laugh with, sleep beside. Someone I could treat like my queen before making her come apart underneath me.
Basically, I want Penny.
Bad.
“Hey, you ready?” Xander asks as he steps into the rink.
I nod and follow him toward the conference room. We’re still waiting for the actual furniture to arrive, but in the meantime, we’ve been making do with folding tables and chairs Mama had in the shed.
“Hello, everyone,” Penny says the moment Xander and I walk in.
I haven’t seen her all day. She's been driving back and forth to Charlotte all week instead of staying at my place like she has all winter.
I haven’t asked about it because I already know what it means.
It’s fine. Totally doesn't feel like someone’s peeling my skin off.
“Miles, do you agree?” Gio asks.
“What?” I scratch my neck. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
A grin spreads across Xander’s face. “You’re so pussy-whipped,” he mutters under his breath.
I try to elbow him, but the asshole dodges me easily.
“It’s okay,” Penny says smoothly, slipping into her polished boss voice.
“It’s been a long week, and we’re all tired and ready for the weekend.
” She glances around the room before continuing.
“I was just sharing with Gio and Xander that we’re pretty much done here.
This is the last week for the night crew, and since all we have left is cosmetic touch-ups and landscaping, I’m heading back to Charlotte and will come back for inauguration day. ”
I feel like I was thrown into Lake Lure with a bag of bricks tied to my ankles.
“Umm…” Brilliant response, Miles.
She’s right. The project’s almost done. We already have all the materials we need, and anything else can be easily bought.
There’s no reason for her to stay.
Still, every selfish part of me wants to tell her that she can’t leave me.
I’m used to her being in my house. In my bed. Seeing her every day at work while she bosses around construction workers twice her size is my kryptonite.
It became part of my life without me even realizing it.
But I can’t ask her to stay.
Because no matter how bad I want to change the rules, she hasn’t mentioned a single thing that makes me think she wants that too.
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, doing my best to play it cool. “She’s right. We’re basically done here.”
Gio beams at my confirmation. “You two are the dream team. Please forgive me if I don’t share your praises once we start the marketing phase. I don’t want anyone getting ideas about stealing you two away from here.”
“Oh yeah?” I lean back in my chair. “What are you thinking about building next? Between your mansion, the rehab center, and the ice rink, this town is at capacity.”
I joke, but inside I’m holding my breath, hoping like hell he says he has ten more projects lined up so Penny has a reason to stay.
Gio laughs. “I’m sure I’ll come up with something soon. But right now I’m completely devoted to my wife, the rink inauguration, and watching Merlin kick ass in the National Soccer League.”
“From one to ten, how painful was it to say soccer instead of fútbol,” Xander asks, a shit-eating grin spreading across his face.
Gio clutches his chest like he’s been wounded. “Infinity.”
The room erupts in laughter.
“I know he’s young, but I’m hoping he gets called up to the National Team,” Penny says excitedly, and my head snaps toward her.
“What?” She shrugs. “I like soccer. My mom’s Colombian. I grew up watching soccer.”
She and Gio exchange a ridiculous little fist bump, and I roll my eyes.
“And my brother’s a professional player,” I say smugly. “So technically, I’m cooler than all of you.”
“My country has won the World Cup three times, brother,” Gio points at himself proudly. “So unless Merlin brings the cup home to the US next year…”
“Alright, alright.” Penny laughs as she grabs her bag and heads toward the door. “Let’s stop the bragging please. I hate when I can’t compete.”
“Wait a minute.” Xander frowns. “Why can’t you compete?”
“Because, my dear Xander…” Penny sighs. “Colombia’s never winning that cup. At least not with the men's team.”
Xander looks genuinely offended on behalf of an entire country.
“Our team plays like gods when they want to, but when it’s time to go up against the best and actually win something…” Penny clicks her tongue. “They get in their heads every single time.”
She says it like she’s lived through the heartbreak one too many times.
“Maybe they need mental coaching,” Xander offers easily.
“Maybe.” Penny waves her hand dismissively. “But I’m just a sports fan.”
She holds the door, glances back at us, then gives a little wave before disappearing down the hallway.
When she’s gone, Xander turns toward me. “Did Valentine’s flop or something?”
“What? No.” I give him the stink eye. “It was the best fucking day of my life.”
“So? Why is she leaving then?” He wonders.
“Because we never said we were together.” I force out a shrug. “We were just having a good time while she was here.”
Even I can hear how full of shit I sound.
Gio studies me for a bit, then pushes away from the table.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to get involved,” he says as he walks over to stand beside me, “but you don’t look like a man who’s okay with keeping things casual with that woman.”
I let out a dry laugh.
“I’ll be fine. I’m always fine.”
I clap him on the back and make my escape before either of my brothers-in-law convinces me to chase Penny and beg her to stay.
It’s been three weeks since Penny left Azalea Creek.
Three weeks since I’ve been trying to get back to normal.
You know… BP. Before Penny.
Before her, I used to think people were stupid as hell when they talked about not knowing how to move on after a breakup. I figured you just went back to the way things were before that person showed up.
Now?
I get it.
Once someone changes your life for the better, there’s no going back to who you used to be.
No more having someone who makes you want to cook real meals instead of surviving on frozen crap.
Someone who makes every room feel warmer just by walking into it.
Someone who makes you laugh, pushes you to try new things, and makes you fall so hard you’re too scared to admit it while they're still standing in front of you.
“Fucking hell,” I mutter as I stand under the spray of the shower. “This is exactly why I avoided relationships.”
I close my eyes and let the hot water run down my back.
Hell, this might be the first shower I’ve taken all week.
At this point, the days all blur together. Wake up. Make coffee I never actually drink because I don’t even like the stuff. Eat whatever in the fridge hasn’t gone bad. Go to bed. Do it all again the next day.
“Miles.”
My eyes snap open.
Someone’s yelling my name downstairs.
My heart kicks hard against my ribs.
“Could it be her?”
I jump out of the shower and wrap a towel around my waist before taking the stairs two at a time.
Then I stop dead on the last step.
“Whoa.”
Two pregnant redheads stare back at me in horror.
“Miles, go put some damn clothes on. For fuck’s sake,” Rain snaps, stomping her foot on the floor.
“I’m sorry to break it to you, but you’re the ones who came into my house unannounced.”
“Don’t be a smartass,” Ruin says in her terrifying therapist-mom voice. “Go put some clothes on.”
I do as I’m told, not wanting to start a fight I know I can’t win.
One twin by herself? Maybe manageable.
But together? It’s a lost battle.
When I come back downstairs dressed like a civilized human being, I find my sisters have laid out a spread of fruit and pastries, along with a tall glass of iced tea, across my dining table.
“Thanks,” I mutter as I sit down.
The twins exchange a look that puts me on edge.
“We don’t have much time, so we’re going to get straight to the point,” Rain announces as she rearranges her braid over her shoulder. “And before you deny it, yes, we know this is going to hurt like a motherfucker.”
I lift the iced tea toward my mouth, ready to chug the whole thing.
Then Rain looks at me, her gray eyes suddenly glossy.
“Ugh. Fucking hormones.” She groans before pointing at her twin. “You tell him, Ruru.”
Ruin straightens in her chair, calm in a way that’s almost eerie.
She folds her hands neatly on the table.
Then, in the gentlest voice, she says, “Penny is getting married today.”
I’m not sure how the glass lands on the table with a thud without breaking.
My ears ring, the whole room suddenly muffled around me.
All I can do is stare at Ruin, whose face has gone completely unreadable. Clearly, her therapist instincts have kicked in.
“Miles?” she asks gently.
“What the fuck did you just say?” I ask through my teeth.
“Penny is getting married today.” Ruin confirms I didn’t mishear.
So many questions pop into my head, I don’t know where to start. Thankfully, my sister’s clearly slipping into therapist mode because she keeps talking before I completely lose my shit.
“She’s marrying her childhood friend.”
I close my eyes as an image of the prick who came to see her flashes through my head.
Is that why the cocky asshole showed up? Did he know we were fucking around when he came?
And if she was engaged the whole time… why the hell wasn’t she wearing a ring?
“Miles.” Rain snaps her fingers in front of me, getting me out of my doom spinning.
“I don’t know much,” Ruin continues. “The wedding announcement came out of nowhere. They both run in the same circles in Charlotte, and from what I found on social media, not only are the families thrilled about the union, but high society is already calling it the wedding of the year.”
“That may be, but I don’t think someone excited to get married would look like this in the pictures,” Rain says as she shoves her phone in my face.
The second I see Penny, tears sting my eyes.
She’s wearing a flowy, flowery dress at what looks like some kind of garden party. Her makeup is flawless, the dress is obviously expensive, but it isn’t her style. Long sleeves. High neck. Safe.
Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
And the asshole next to her isn’t me.
“Fuck.”
Both of my sisters grab my hands, trying to comfort me.
“When did you know about it?”
Silence.
“Ruin?” I press.
“Gio received an invitation before we left for Vegas,” she admits quietly.
She knew. Penny fucking knew she was getting married and still went with me.
“She fucking used me as her last hurrah before getting married?” My voice cracks. “What the fuck was I? Her hall pass?”
Pain I didn’t even know a person could survive rips straight through my chest.
“I know how this looks, but Miles—” Rain starts, but one look from me cuts her off cold.
“Miles, listen.”
“No, you fucking knew she was getting married and you didn’t tell me,” I shout at Ruin.
“I didn’t know,” she fires back. “The invitation arrived while we were gone. I didn’t pay much attention to it because it came from his family, and I didn’t recognize the sender.”
I don’t want to listen to whatever else my sisters have to say. I want to fucking demolish this house with my own hands. I don’t want to live in a place full of her memories.
“And that’s what’s weird, Miles. It’s usually the bride’s family, the one in charge of the wedding,” Rain continues before I can stop her.
“And? I don’t know jack shit about wedding protocols.”
“If Penny was the one planning the wedding and actually excited about getting married, she or her family would have sent the invitations.” Rain adds.
“And after watching more Charlotte gossip reels than I care to admit, I learned that Easton is about to inherit a second trust fund after he gets married,” Ruin offers.
That catches my attention. “So they’re marrying for the money?”
I’d laugh if I wasn’t so far gone, but both my sisters lift the same eyebrow at the same time. Crazy twin shit.
“But why would Penny marry for money? She’s already a millionaire. And I’m sure that asshole is too.”
Rain rolls her eyes at me. “Don’t be dense, brother. Rich people are rich because they’re always making—or inheriting—even more money.”
“I’d ask Penny directly if I were you,” Ruin says, shocking the hell out of me.
“Why are you telling me this now? Why didn’t you tell me the moment you found out?” I ask, suddenly feeling betrayed by them.
“Because we were waiting to see if you’d get your head out of your ass and tell Penny you’re in love with her. But since that clearly wasn’t happening, here we are,” Rain says with the brutal honesty only she can get away with.
“You’re the worst, Rain Melody MacAllister González,” I mutter, a small smile tugging at my mouth.
“Not worse than you.” She grins. “And it’s Rain González now, by the way.”
“Stop being an idiot and go get your girl,” Ruin says as she stands and hauls me up from the couch.
“Fuck. Okay.” I roll my shoulders, trying to shake myself out of the daze I’m in. “Where’s the wedding?”
“At the country club,” they answer in unison.
I glance down at my white T-shirt and gray sweatpants. “Well, if she’s about to dump that asshole for me, I should probably show up looking like shit.”
Both my sisters laugh as they shove me toward the door, telling me there’s no time to waste.
I barely have enough time to grab my wallet, my phone, and shove my feet into my shoes.
Come hell or high water, I’m putting everything on the line. And if it still isn’t enough, at least I’ll know I tried.
I pull up directions to the country club on my navigation system.
Penélope Marie Levine, here I come.