I’ve pissed her off. “Allie, I’m sorry—”
“I’m too busy to chat. Do you want a drink or not?”
“Two beers please.” Maybe it’s better this way. If she’s angry with me, any romantic feelings she may have toward me will die.
“I’ll bring them to your table.”
I return to the table and take a seat. “Did you make your calls? Have you spoken to Darren?” Is that why she’s looking so sullen?
The bastard doesn’t deserve her sadness. No one deserves to be cheated on. Two years ago, I learned my father was cheating on my mother for years. She loved him and treated him like a king. He said he loved her too, yet he couldn’t keep it in his pants. It was so fucked up.
Growing up, I was always told that I was just like him. Fun-loving, carefree, and easy to be around. Well, if I have his traits, what chances do I have of having a relationship? Will I screw around on the woman I say I love the way he did? That’s why I’m having fun with no commitments. That way I won’t risk hurting anyone.
She gives me a weak smile as she spins her phone on the table. “I haven’t plucked up the courage to call anyone yet. I’m afraid of what’s being said. It’s easier to stay in my clueless bubble and pretend all is right in my world. Darren has stopped calling. I guess he doesn’t care what he’s done anymore. He’s probably shacked up with Karen Featherstone.”
“You look pissed.” Or is it a ruse to hide her heartbreak?
Resting her elbow on the table, she drops her chin in her hand. “I am pissed. All those years together and this is what he does to me? I helped him build his brand. I got him exposure when people were looking at other athletes. And this is how he repays me?”
I sit back in my seat. “Stop me if I’m wrong, but you have said nothing about love and commitment and the life you had together. Your relationship sounds more like a business deal.”
Looking taken aback by my comment, she sits up straight. “Of course I loved him. It’s just…well, we had a more sophisticated kind of relationship that wasn’t all PDA.”
“Sounds cold and passionless.” Is that what she meant when she said Darren had never looked at her or touched her the way I did? How could he not? She is gorgeous. “Tell me something. Would he have fucked you up against a boulder in the middle of a forest?”
Her gaze flicks from left to right, like she’s checking to see if anyone can hear our conversation. “We didn’t do that.”
I roll my eyes. “Putting my cock in your pussy is the only thing we didn’t do. Shall I remind you where I did put it?”
A red stain creeps up Penelope’s neck and fans across her cheeks.
“Here are your beers.” Allie plonks our glasses on the table, interrupting our conversation. “Are you wanting anything to eat?” She pulls a notepad and pencil from her back pocket.
“I’ll have a cheeseburger with fries please,” Penelope orders.
“Same for me,” I say.
She scribbles our order down then taps the pencil on the notepad. “I know you,” she says to Penelope. “It was bugging me all night. Then this morning it hit me. You’re Penelope Aldin. That famous closet organizer or whatever you are.” The redness in Penelope’s face drains, leaving it white. “Never knew why people made such a fuss over you. You organize stuff. Big deal. A trained monkey could do that kind of shit.” She screws her nose up. “It’s not every day we have acelebrityin our little town.” She says ‘celebrity’ like it’s a dirty word.
“Allie, we’re hungry. We need to get back to the cabin soon,” I say to draw Allie’s attention and harsh words away from Penelope.
She pulls a face then spins on her heels and heads toward the kitchen.
“Sorry about Allie. She’s not usually so nasty.”
“That’s because she has a thing for you. She’s jealous you’re here with me.”
“She knows I couldn’t give her more than one night and she willingly agreed.”
“Just because she agreed verbally doesn’t mean her heart did.”
Why can’t things be simple?
“Will she tell anyone I’m here?” Penelope scans the bar like she feels people watching her.
“I doubt it. She’d probably hate you getting so much attention.” I stop myself from saying out loudbecause you already have mine.
Penelope drums her fingers on the table, looking uncertain. Then she picks up her phone and takes a deep breath. “I can’t put off my calls forever. If anyone knows if my location has been leaked, it will be Claudia.” She taps the screen and a few seconds later says, “Hi Claudia, it’s me.”
