“It’s why I hate Danford,” Luka offers with a shrug. “Because I hate his wife.”
They know. I don’t know how, but they know what just happened in that lobby.
Penny wipes at her eyes, turning in Declan’s arms. “Those articles everytime you guys break up…Everytimesomething happens between you.”
“Yeah,” Emma says, smiling tightly. Her pain is obvious. “We’ve just put that together.”
“You didn’t know?” I ask.
Her eyes are welling with tears. Interesting.
“No, and I’m sorry. I know she’s horrible, but I always just felt like she needed someone,” she says, and then clears her throat, waving us off. “Anyway. I just wanted to give that back to you and let you know that I would never do that to any of you. I wasn’t a part of it.”
Luka takes her hand and they turn to leave.
“Emma,” Penny calls after her. Emma glances back. “You’re still welcome wherever we are.”
Emma smiles tightly, genuine emotion washing over her. “Thank you.”
They close the door behind them.
“We need a fucking reality show,” Forker grumbles, reaching up to drag a palm over his face.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
ariana
I have been waitinghours for them to get home. I had one glass of wine, which turned to two, which eventually turned to four. I tried watching a movie, but ended up doom scrolling instead, waiting with bated breath for my brother and Arden to walk through those doors and give me the play by play of the events that went down tonight.
Unfortunately, Carter and Arden hate me because they went to Declan’s after they left the gala, so it took them three hours longer than intended to get back with all the dirty details. But eventually, nearing midnight, they stroll through the door and I shoot up from the couch.
Arden looks exhausted, trudging through the condo like her feet are connected to cement blocks. She smiles wearily.
Carter goes right to the fridge for a beer.
They tell me what happened, from the moment Penny grabbed Morgan by the hair, to the moment that Emma and Luka said their piece. I fall deeply in love with Penelope Sweeten Lowes with each word, grateful that she’s my brother’s friend. She threwdown.I am devastated that I wasn’t there to see it in person.
I hang on to every word, asking questions until the pair of them beg me to let them go to bed. I do, begrudgingly, but I pull out my phone the second their door closes. If they won’t stay up to talk to me, I know somebody who might.
Me
I heard Penny got some hits in.
It takes him nearly half an hour to answer, and I hate the way that makes me feel. What is he doing? Who is he with? Was he at Declan’s? Is he still there? Is he out?
Boston
Understatement. She wiped the floor with her.
Me
Everyone okay?
Boston
Apart from Morgan? Everyone’s okay.
Me
