Chapter 34
Penny
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mutter as I pace the bathroom, pulling at my hair.
I try to remember the last time I took my birth control pill.
With everything going on with Easton, I completely stopped paying attention to it sometime after the holidays. I’d miss days. Forgot entirely and took it at random hours when I did remember.
Ever since Valentine’s, Miles and I have been sexing without condoms. And he’s the only man I’ve been with.
I don’t even need the test. I should have connected the dots earlier—the exhaustion, the nausea—it all adds up.
“Open the door,” Miles says after a while.
I unlock it slowly, keeping my eyes trained on the floor.
“Penélope.” His voice turns firmer. “Look at me.”
I inhale deeply before finally forcing myself to meet his eyes. And when I do, I know everything’s going to be okay.
He looks calm. Steady. Almost excited.
“Go pee,” he says as he hands me the bag. “Then we’ll wait together. I got you.”
His carefree nature is front and center while my world implodes.
I nod, grab the bag, and close the bathroom door.
As I set everything up, I whisper a silent prayer.
“If I’m pregnant… please give me the clarity to choose what’s best for everyone involved.”
A few minutes later, I wash my hands and walk back out.
Miles is exactly where I left him.
“How long?” he asks as we walk toward the couch together.
“Five to eight minutes,” I whisper.
He quickly sets a timer on his phone before sitting down and pulling me straight onto his lap.
“Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours, boss,” he says. “I need you to let it all out.”
I stare down at my hands. “Miles… this was never part of my plan. Neither was getting married.”
A couple of tears slide down my cheeks.
“Deep down, I think I accepted marrying Easton because I knew it wasn’t real. It wasn’t forever.” I shrug. “And then you came along and literally showed me what I was missing.”“I know.” He grins. “I’m irresistible.”
Despite everything, I laugh.
But the panic quickly settles back in.
“Miles, this is serious.” I look at him helplessly. “We just survived a major heartbreak and barely figured things out between us.” My voice cracks. “Bringing a kid into the mix isn’t the smartest idea right now.”
I see the exact moment his brain short-circuits.
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, frustration creeping into my voice. “I don’t know if I want to be a mom. I don’t know if I want to have a kid when we’re just starting our relationship. I don’t know.”
Miles stays quiet for a moment, like he’s gathering his thoughts.
Then he looks me straight in the eyes.
“I’m going to be completely honest with you, Penny, because I don’t know how to be anything else.” He presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “But this is your body and your decision.”
Emotion clogs my throat, so I nod for him to keep going.
“I’ve never really thought about having kids,” he admits. “For the longest time, I’ve been training to be the fun uncle.” A small laugh leaves him, but there’s no humor in it. “I’d be lying if part of that decision isn’t because I’m scared shitless I’d ruin someone’s life.”
My heart aches for the little boy he once was. The one who had to survive that kind of grief.
“Not because I can’t commit,” he continues. “Or because I don’t think I can make room for a wife and kids.” His jaw tightens slightly. “I just never wanted to experience the kind of pain losing my dad caused ever again.”
I cradle his cheek, and he leans into my touch.
“I love you,” I whisper.
His eyes soften in a way that completely melts me.
“But then you came into my life,” he adds softly. “And suddenly everything changed. You showed me what life could actually look like.”
Tears blur my vision as he keeps looking at me like I’m something precious.
“I can’t imagine my days without you anymore, Penny.” His voice gets rough. “Yeah, maybe one day death takes us away from each other too, but I’d still choose this. I’d still choose you. Every damn time.
“And if we add a kid into the mix…” His voice cracks this time. “Fuck, sugar. I can’t imagine anything better than raising a little human that’s part you and part me.
“But if you decide it’s just the two of us,” he says firmly as he pulls me against him, “I’ll take that too. That’s how much I love you.”
I completely fall apart, clinging to him as I cry into his chest while he holds me like he’s never letting go.
Our lips find each other, kissing through the fear and uncertainty and overwhelming love pouring between us.
Then his phone starts vibrating.
The alarm.
“Time’s up,” I say as I wipe my wet cheeks.
“Ready?”
“No,” I admit. But we have to know.”
Hand in hand, we slowly walk toward the bathroom while my heartbeat pounds so hard I swear I can feel it in my throat.
I squeeze my eyes shut, not ready to see the results just yet.
“Boss,” Miles says softly, excitement bleeding into his voice. “Open your eyes.”
I force myself to look.
Two bright pink lines stare back at me.
Too many emotions hit me at once—panic, elation, anxiety, anticipation.
A strangled gasp leaves my lips as my knees give out.
Miles catches me before I fully hit the floor, going down with me.
“I got you,” he murmurs over and over as he holds me tight against his chest. “I love you, no matter what. I love you.”
If only love were enough.
“Hi, Ma. Hey, Dad. Come in,” I say as I open the door to Miles's house.
“What a lovely place, Penny Bean,” Mami says as she steps inside and starts looking around.
Her face softens when she notices the bay window where I’ve basically made myself a nest with pillows, blankets, and a book resting on the cushion.
“So this is where you’ve been staying?”
“Yeah, this is Miles’s place.” I close the door behind them. “Would you like something to eat or drink?”
They both politely decline.
I lead them into the living room, and we settle in—Mami and Dad on the big couch while I take the recliner across from them.
“Thank you both for coming and bringing my things. I know I need to catch up with real life eventually, but I really needed a reset.”
Mami smiles with knowing eyes while Dad stays unusually quiet.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, Dad. I just… wanted to do right by you.”
My voice breaks as I remember how helpless I felt counting down the minutes to a wedding that would’ve ruined my life.
Dad drags a hand over his face before looking at me.
“I’m the one who’s sorry for putting you in that position, sweetie.” His expression tightens with regret. “If there’s one thing I hope you learned from this mess, it’s to never try to fix my mistakes.”
Fresh tears sting my eyes.
“I’m an old man who stupidly used his life’s work as collateral in a poker game,” he says heavily. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if you had married that snake because of me.”
He gets up from the couch and pulls me into a hug.
And just like when I was little, I melt into Dad’s arms.
“Wait, I’m so confused. He said you were sick,” I whisper against Dad’s chest.
Dad pulls back, frowning.
“What? No sweetheart, I’m not sick. I’ve been under a lot of stress, but that’s about it. Why?”
“Easton told me your heart condition was getting worse.” Anger surges through me. “He said the stress could kill you.”
Dad’s expression darkens.
“I’ll make sure he pays for everything he’s done,” Dad says, finality in his voice.
After a long moment, he kisses the top of my head and sits back down next to Mami. The smile they share puts me at ease.
“So what happens to Easton now?” I ask. “You did sign those documents, right?”
Dad nods once.
“I signed documents stating Levine Construction was collateral until I either paid the 850 million dollars or won it back.” His jaw hardens. “What I never signed was any agreement saying my daughter had to marry a Ryan.”
I frown. That’s not what Easton showed me.
“Right after you left the club, I called my lawyer and went to the police station.” Dad leans back against the couch. “I gave my statement and handed over every document we had.”
Relief and rage crash through me at the same time.
“Is he going to jail?” I ask through clenched teeth.
“God, I hope so,” Ma mutters.
Dad nods grimly. “That’s what I want, hija. He needs to pay for putting you through this.”
“Good,” I whisper. “I hope the whole family pays for everything they’ve done.”
Mami’s eyebrows shoot up.“Family?”
“Oh yeah.” I let out a humorless laugh. “Helen told me she helped Easton come up with the whole plan.”
Mami’s eyes widen so much it’s almost scary.
“I’ll take care of that bitch.” She clenches her fists. “No one messes with my baby.”
Dad and I laugh at her outburst.
And watching them together—watching how fiercely they love me—I know Miles and I will love our baby the same way.
Guilt grips my heart like a vise. I wish I knew the right thing to do.
Right now, I’m not even sure I’m keeping the baby growing inside me.
But there’s no way I can tell them that today. Not on top of everything else.
Once we’re settled back in our seats, Mami leans forward eagerly.
“Now,” she says with a sparkle in her eyes, “tell us more about Miles.”
She even cranes her neck, like he might suddenly appear down the hallway.
“He’s not home, Ma. He had just started a new project when his sisters found out I was getting married.”
My smile transforms into a bright one as I remember Miles fighting security guards to get to me.
“A hardworking man,” Dad says with a nod. “I like him already.”
“He’s amazing,” I say. “I’ll invite you both over again soon so you can meet him.”
I conveniently skip over the part where he’s younger than me and I might be pregnant with his baby.
“I can’t wait,” Mami says warmly. “Or you can come visit us too. You know you never need an invitation.”
“Well,” Dad says as he pushes to his feet. “Glad we were able to come by, see you doing well, and ease your mind about the Ryans.”
He puffs his chest out proudly.
“Take all the time you need to get back on your feet. I can’t wait to see what you do next.”
“Thank you, Dad. Ma.” My throat tightens. “I love you so much.”
We stand at the same time, and like they’ve done my entire life, they pull me into a giant double hug with me trapped right in the middle.
“Don’t be a stranger just because you’ve moved to this peaceful little town,” Mami says as I walk them to the door. “I’m always one phone call away.”
After waving goodbye, I close the door and grab my phone off the charger.
I need to chat with the girls ASAP.
The second my phone powers on, a huge number of notifications explode across the screen.
There are messages from people at the club, but I ignore them. I have zero interest in hearing what Charlotte society has to say about my runaway bride moment.
A few of them are Miles, sent before he made it to the wedding.
Miles: Boss, I don’t know what the fuck is going on but don’t marry him without speaking with me first. Please.
Aww, this man.
Then I notice over a hundred unread messages from the girls. Mostly in the group chat.
I type quickly.
Penny: Hey, I’m back.
Carly: Penny! Thank fuck. Where are you? I’m taking the day off.
Ruin: I just dropped the kids off at Mama’s. I was going to take the helicopter to Raleigh for the day, but I can meet wherever you are right now.
Rain: She’s at Miles’s. I’ll be there in ten.
Penny: How do you know I’m here?
Daisy: Small town, remember? I’m closing the yoga studio. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
I cackle at their complete lack of chill.
Penny: I’ll be here waiting.
I love this life.
Now I just have to figure out if I’m ready to bring a baby into it.