CHAPTER TWENTY | London
CHAPTER TWENTY
London
“And then he said, and I quote... We should go on a date or something.” Josie smacks the table, barking out a laugh as she retells how Alec asked her on a date for about the tenth time since I sat down at this table nearly two hours ago.
Needless to say, she’s had a few more than the two drinks she started with and it’s starting to show.
Not that I’m exactly sober. I had no intention of drinking, but Jos had one waiting for me when I arrived and it went down so smoothly I opted for another, and then another, and now, well, I think I’m on my fourth, but it could very well be my fifth.
For someone who rarely ever drinks, tonight I’ve truly thrown caution to the wind. I’ve decided I’m either celebrating or drowning my fears and doubts; one of the two. Maybe a combination of both.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still floating on cloud nine over the last twenty-four hours but not long after leaving Penn, that little voice of doubt began to creep in.
Is this a good idea?
Can we really go back after everything that’s happened?
Will he ever truly trust me?
Does he actually still love me, or does he simply love the idea of who I used to be?
Is this really what I want? To commit to staying in Wren Cove? And where else would I go if I didn’t?
I’ve done my best to silence said thoughts, but even with the buzz of alcohol flowing through my veins, they still have managed to squeak in here and there.
“Can you believe that man? First, he sleeps with me and another woman in less than twenty-four hours. Then he does almost the exact same thing last weekend.”
“I thought you said he didn’t sleep with Sarah?” I remind her.
“That I know of.” She corrects, followed by a hiccup. “But have you ever known Alec to be seen out with a woman and not immediately stick his penis in her?”
I opt to keep my mouth shut because I don’t actually know what Alec is like first-hand, given that I’ve only been back in town for a few short weeks. I mean, sure, I’ve heard rumors, but I know better than to believe everything I hear.
“He absolutely slept with her.”
“Maybe you should ask him outright.” I suggest.
“Why? So he can lie?”
“Have you considered that maybe he asked you on a date because he likes you?”
She lets out another high-pitched laugh, smacking the table a second time.
“Alec doesn’t like anyone but himself.”
Again, I keep my mouth shut because I don’t feel like I have a right to weigh in on what Alec does and does not like.
“Why did you sleep with him a second time if you dislike him so much?” I ask instead.
“Because apparently, I like punishing myself... And because no one makes me come harder than that man.”
“Okay, I did not need to know that.” I cover my ears.
“You asked.” She snorts.
“Alec is like a little brother to me.” I grimace.
“Do not put Alec and little brother in the same sentence. That man’s penis has been inside me.”
“Josie.” I hiss, the statement being far louder than I think she probably intended.
“What? It’s true!”
“True or not, just no.”
“You have no room to judge me, Miss Spent all day in Penn Kade’s bed.”
“Shhh.” I hush her, looking around to make sure no one overheard. It’s not that I’m embarrassed or anything. I’m definitely not. I just don’t want the whole town knowing my business before I’ve even had a chance to figure out how I truly feel about it.
“What?”
“You’re yelling,” I tell her, stifling a laugh.
“I am not.”
“You are not, what?” I startle at the sound of an all too familiar voice, goose bumps instantly breaking out across my skin when I look up to see Penn approach our table, Alec following closely behind him.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to hide how insanely happy I am to see him. Even though we’ve only been apart for a couple of hours, it feels more like days.
“Thought the least I could do is treat my brother to a burger for covering for me today.” He shifts from one foot to the other. “Mind if we join you?”
“Not at all.” I scoot toward the inside of the booth, giving Penn room to squeeze in next to me, all the while ignoring the death glare Josie is currently giving me as she does the same, scooting as close to the wall as she can in order to let Alec sit next to her without having to be too close to him.
“What are you drinking?” Penn asks, taking a drink from my glass without waiting for me to answer. “I thought you didn’t do tequila?” He gives me a questioning look.
“This has tequila in it?” I point an accusatory finger at Josie.
“Shoot. I forgot you and tequila do not get along. It’s fine, though. You’ve only had like two.”
“Jos, I’ve had four.” I groan.
“Shouldn’t you ask what you’re drinking before you actually start drinking it?” Alec chimes in, sticking up for Josie, not that he needs to. I know better than to indulge in any kind of alcohol and yet, here I am, sipping away like I won’t be hugging the toilet at 3 a.m.
“Shouldn’t you mind your own business?” Josie fires back, though it lacks any real grit.
“So what you’re telling me is, you’re drunk.” Penn ignores the other two people at our table.
“Not drunk.” I shake my head. “Buzzed, definitely.”
“Buzzed enough that I can convince you to come back home with me tonight?” His hand settles on my thigh, giving it a firm squeeze.
It takes everything I have to sit still and not react.
“Maybe,” I say low enough for only him to hear, or at least, that was the intention.
“Please. Had you not shown up here, she would have been knocking on your door a couple of hours from now.” Josie snorts, ignoring the glare I shoot her way. “Y’all have been what, screwing for less than twenty-four hours and already you make me want to gag.”
“Just wait. I give it a week, and you won’t be able to stand to be in the same room with them.” Alec chuckles.
“You talk as if I wasn’t around the first time these two were an item.” She takes a long pull from her drink. “I remember how they were.”
“Not sure which is worse—lovesick Penn or heartbroken Penn. Both versions are rather pathetic.” Alec and Josie continue to talk about us like we’re not sitting right here.
“You guys realize we’re sitting right here, right?” Penn voices what I’m thinking.
“I need a drink,” Alec announces like his brother didn’t even speak. “Anyone else?”
“I’ll take another,” I say, shrugging when Penn arches a brow at me. “I’ve already gotten on the roller coaster. Might as well enjoy the ride.”
“That’s my girl!” Josie exclaims. “I think I need another as well.”
“Penn?” Alec asks.
“I’m good. Something tells me you three are going to need a DD tonight.”
“Damn straight, brother.” Alec stands.
“Hang on, I’m coming with.” Josie quickly climbs from the booth after him.
“You know, for someone who claims she can’t stand the floor that man walks on...” I say as they walk away.
“Doesn’t seem that way to me,” Penn agrees.
“So, you wanted a burger...” I smile.
“I did. I happen to be famished.”
“Carvers is far from the best burger place in town.”
“True, but Carvers has one thing those other restaurants don’t.”
“And what’s that?”
“You.”
You might as well nail my coffin shut and etch my headstone because that’s it. I am dead. D.E.A.D. Dead.
“TOO EARLY.” I TRY TO swat away whatever is currently shaking me but only find air. Seconds later, rich laughter fills the air.
“You’re right, it’s entirely too early.”
My eyes shoot open at the sound of Penn’s voice, a deep ache in my forehead making it impossible to keep them open for long.
I audibly groan.
“That bad, huh?”
“Never drinking again.” I bury my face into the pillow.
“Go back to sleep. I’m going to head into the office for a bit.”
“Wait, I need to come too,” I say, making no attempt to move.
“No, you don’t. Take today off.”
“But you gave me yesterday off.” I half-heartedly object. Truth be told, the last thing I want to do is get out of this bed right now.
“I’m the boss. I can give you every day off if I want.”
“Penn.”
“Seriously. Stay in bed. Get some sleep. If you wake up and feel like eating something, there’s plenty of food in the fridge.”
“Do not talk about food right now,” I say, stomach twisting violently.
“Okay.” Laughter shakes the word seconds before his lips touch the side of my head. “Sleep. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I nod, tugging the blanket up over my head.
Pretty sure I fall back to sleep before he’s even made it out of the room.
When I wake a second time, it’s light outside. Rolling to the side, I peek over at the clock to see it’s nearly two in the afternoon. Shooting upright, the room tilts slightly as I try to gather my bearings.
Reaching for my cell, which Penn left charging on the nightstand, I see that I have four missed calls from my mother, two of which were late last night.
Crap.
Clicking on her number, I call her back, knowing if I don’t, she’ll keep calling.
She answers on the first ring.
“Finally. I was starting to get worried.”
“Sorry. I didn’t realize you had called.” Not a complete lie.
“You didn’t come home last night.”
“I know. I crashed at Josie’s again. She’s going through a bit of... well, man trouble.” I feel guilty for lying to my mom, of all people, but I don’t feel like answering the questions I know will follow if I tell her where I really am.
“Is that so?” Her voice rings with distrust. She doesn’t believe me. I know my mom well enough to know that much.
“Yes, it is.” I dig my heels in.
“A text message was too much to ask?” Irritation coats her voice.
“I understand that you’re a grown woman, but you are living with us right now and if you’re not going to be coming home for the night, letting us know that would be appreciated.
I tossed and turned all night thinking you had been abducted and were lying in a ditch somewhere. ”
“That’s a little dramatic.”
“You say that. Wait until you have children of your own someday; then you’ll understand.”