“She has all the grace and charisma you lack. She might even make you seem less of an ornery bastard.” Greg chuckles.
Shifting my gaze out the window, I nod.
“What Greg istryingto say is that Pen Meadows may soften your image. Make you seem more likeable. If she’s open to it, we can issue a statement. Something like this is a new relationship and you’d like the privacy and time to find your way as a couple and…” Sasha’s words fumble to a stop.
I shift in my seat but turn my eyes to her assessing gaze.
She points a red-tipped fingernail at me. “What didyoudo?”
“How…” I close my mouth and shake my head.
Of course, Sasha knows. Besides her ability to smooth the edges on the roughest of individuals, she can, with one assessing glance, ferret out your hidden truths. Even if she doesn’t know what they are, she always seems to know they exist.
“I left her,” I murmur, my stare cast down.
“What?” she almost shrills.
Raising my head, I meet Sasha’s glare. “I left her.”
“Fucking idiot,” Greg mutters, slapping his hand on his forehead.
“Language,” Sasha tuts, wagging her finger at her husband before she turns back to me. Lines mar her brow and storm clouds form in her eyes. “You are ambushed by reporters at the airport and proceed to leave Pen, a woman that has – by all my research on her in the last twenty-four hours – never dealt with the press, you left heralone?” She draws out the word as if it’s a weapon.
Perhaps it is a weapon. The word slices into my gut with the piercing impact of a sharp blade.
“I thought if I left the reporters would follow me and leave her alone.” What once seemed like a stellar idea is now acrid in my throat as I say it out loud. My knees bounce furiously, and I grip the chair’s armrest. “I need to –” I stand up, but don’t move.
What am I going to do? Go back to LAX and look for Pen? No doubt her West Coast bestie JoJo got her out of thereimmediately. Something I should have done. Instead, I left her to the vultures.
“Call her and explain,” Sasha offers. “Although, I’d recommend lots of begging.”
“And, perhaps, some jewelry,” Greg adds.
“Very expensive jewelry.”
“I—”
Her eyes narrow. “You didn’t get her number?” She throws her hands in the air. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Greg snorts.
“I thought we had more time.” I pace the room.
The entire day I’d lost myself in just being with Pen, so much that I’d not done all the things I should have. Get her number. Tell her who I am.
Who are you?Pen’s words echo in my heart.
Just your Rowan, whispers back. Am I, though? Rather… Do I deserve to be? Mere hours after telling her that, I don’t think I could walk away now that I knew what it felt like to hold her, but I did just that.
“DM her. Explain that you walked away to protect her. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Sasha smirks at her husband. “Since when are you the nice one?”
“Balance, my love. If you’re going to go Sasha fierce on him, I’ll assume your Pollyanna default mode.” He smirks back.
I shake my head. “No.”
“No?” they say in unison.
