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Disappointment flooded me. He had said he didn’t know if he would be able to make it to see me tonight, but deep down, I’d hoped he would find a way.
I pocketed my cell and made my way off the bus.
As The Oriental Garden came into view, my pocket vibrated again, and excitement bubbled inside me.
Maybe Blake had found a way to come, after all.
“Hello,” I said, not even checking the screen.
“What the hell is going on, Penny?”
“Marissa?” I asked, taken aback at her stern words.
“Yes, it’s me. Tell me it isn’t true?”
“True? What are you talking about?” I sighed, picking up the pace.
The snow had stopped, but temperatures were still well below freezing.
“You and Blake.”
Me and Blake?
My mind immediately went into overdrive, wondering how she could possibly know.
“Why am I getting cryptic messages from Blake asking me to watch over you over the next couple of weeks? Watch over you, Penny? Why the hell do I have to watch over you? What the fuck did he do?”
“Whoa, slow down, Marissa. It’s not what you think—”
“It’s not?” Her voice wasn’t calming down any. “So what is it then? Did that fucker hurt you again? Because I have no problem driving down there.”
“Marissa, calm down.” I let out a nervous chuckle. “Blake didn’t do anything to hurt me.”
The line went silent for a second, and then she said, “He didn’t? So why—”
“We slept together.”
“WHAT IN HOLY HELL’S NAME DO YOU MEAN YOU SLEPT WITH HIM?”
I held the phone away from my ear fearing it might do permanent damage. Even slipping the phone into my pocket did little to reduce the sound of Marissa’s shrills coming through the line.
“PENNY? PENNY WILSON, I SWEAR TO GOD ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW.”
“Hello.” I rounded the alleyway and dug into my purse to retrieve my keys.
“Did you hang up on me?”
“Maybe. You were really loud.” Treading carefully up the icy stairs, I balanced the phone between the crook of my neck and my ear. Quickly unlocking the door, I hurried inside to get out of the cold.
“You can’t just drop something like that on me and expect me not to lose my shit. Christ, Penny, what were you thinking? You do remember he’s engaged, right? Betrothed. Promised to another. Shit, babe.”
Guilt knocked at my conscience, but I refused to let her in.
I would not feel guilty about what happened between Blake and me.
It was real and pure, and even though Blake’s engagement overshadowed it, it was all I’d ever wanted.
I couldn’t regret that—I wouldn’t.
