Chapter 16
Penelope
The next morning, I head over to Sugar & Spice for good coffee and a chat with Summer. I printed her family pictures and can’t wait to show her how beautiful they are.
As I park my car in front of the shop, a shiver crawls over my skin.
The air feels… wrong. Heavy. Like someone’s eyes are glued to me.
I glance around the street, empty sidewalks, parked cars, the faint hum of morning traffic.
No one moves. No one breathes. Still, the feeling lingers, twisting my stomach into knots.
Another thing Mark stole from me. My peace.
I force a laugh under my breath. No one’s there, Penny. Get a grip. Still, my fingers fumble as I lock the car. My palms feel clammy, and I can’t stop glancing over my shoulder as if the street might suddenly bloom with danger.
The little brass bell above the door jingles when I step inside, and the warm scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh espresso wraps around me like a blanket. It should be comforting, but the unease clings to me like a second skin, crawling along my spine and settling in my chest.
“Hey, girl!” Summer’s voice cuts through the haze. She’s behind the counter, sleek black hair framing her face, striking blue eyes lighting up the room. “What’s up? You look spooked!”
I jump, hand flying to my chest. “Oh, hi. No, it’s nothing.” My voice sounds unconvincing, even to me. I slide onto a barstool and shrug off my coat, trying to push down the panic curling in my stomach.
“Uh-huh.” Summer narrows her eyes at me, leaning a little closer. “Penny, you look scared. Everything okay?”
I stare at my hands, twisting them together. My voice drops to a whisper. “I just… had this feeling someone was watching me out there.”
Her cheerful expression softens. She reaches across the counter, laying her hand gently on my shoulder. “Honey, I don’t want to spook you more, but I’ve learned one thing, never ignore your gut.”
I glance toward the windows again, squinting at the morning sun spilling across the street. For a long beat, nothing. Then, a flicker of movement.
A man in a gray hoodie lingers on the far side of the road. His head jerks up as if sensing our eyes on him, and then, just like that, he pivots sharply and walks away, long strides swallowing the distance.
A cold shiver slices down my spine, settling somewhere between my stomach and throat. “Who’s that?” My voice barely escapes my lips.
“I don’t know,” Summer murmurs, her brows knitting together. “But I don’t like people who hide behind a hood like that.” She shrugs, though her eyes stay sharp. “Want me to call Cas for you?”
I shake my head too quickly. “No, no. I’m sure I’m exaggerating. Just my paranoia acting up.” My pulse hammers in my ears, my stomach twisting.
Summer doesn’t look convinced, but she lets it go. “Here,” I say quickly, pushing the wrapped prints toward her.
“They’re ready?” She unwraps them, eyes widening. “Penny, they’re gorgeous!”
“My two gorgeous models made it easy,” I say with a smile.
“Thank you!” She grins and carefully tucks the prints into a drawer. “Mia’s going to love them!”
Steam hisses as she turns to the espresso machine, and the smell of pumpkin spice fills the air, warm and grounding, a small anchor in the swirl of my thoughts.
She brings me my usual: a cinnamon roll still warm from the oven and a pumpkin spice latte crowned with whipped cream.
My stomach growls, betraying my nerves. I take a sip, letting the sweetness melt across my tongue and calm the shaking inside me.
“Alright, change of subject,” Summer chirps, leaning on the counter, that mischievous glint back in her eyes. “How was the second date?”
Heat rushes to my cheeks. I stall with another sip, the foam clinging to my lips. “Well… he took me out on the lake. Rowboat, picnic basket, the works.”
“Oooh, romantic.” She wiggles her brows. “But get to the good stuff. Did he kiss you again?”
I nod, eyes dropping to my cinnamon roll, trying to hide the blush creeping up my neck.
Her jaw drops. “Oh my God, Penny. He did more than kiss, didn’t he?”
I bite my lip, heart hammering. “Let’s just say… he knows how to make a girl forget the rest of the world.”
Summer lets out a squeal so loud a couple of customers glance over. “Hot, a total gentleman and he knows how to kiss? Honey, that’s marriage material right there.” She winks, clearly living vicariously.
“It was just our second date,” I protest, laughing, though the warmth in my chest betrays me.
“Uh-huh. Imagine the third one.” She arches a brow, and we both burst into giggles. For a moment, the unease fades, replaced by the easy comfort of friendship.
Then my phone buzzes sharply on the counter. My heart leaps, Cas. My hand trembles as I reach for it. When I check the screen, the number is unknown.
I hesitate, thumb hovering. “Hello?”
At first, nothing. Just breathing. Slow. Heavy. My pulse spikes.
Then a voice I know far too well, low and venomous, cuts through me. Mark
“Nice dress you wore on that boat yesterday. Always knew you were a whore. And you’ll pay the price for that.”
The line goes dead.
The phone slips from my hand, clattering against the counter. My chest seizes, my lungs aching for air that won’t come.
“Penny?” Summer’s voice is suddenly right in front of me, gripping my shoulders. Her tone distant, muffled, like I’m underwater.
I can’t answer. My breaths come short, shallow. Too fast. Too slow. Not enough. My vision narrows, black dots swirling at the edges.
“Penny! Who was that?” Summer shouts, panic flaring in her eyes.
“I…Mark,” I manage, voice trembling, barely audible.
“I’m calling Cas!” she shouts, fumbling for her phone, fingers shaking.
The barstool scrapes against the floor as I stumble, clutching at nothing. My legs give out beneath me, and I hit the ground, the world narrowing into a dark tunnel.
The last thing I see is Summer’s terrified face hovering above me before everything goes black.