My heart stops for a beat, waiting for him to say forever is what he wants with me. I wish he didn’t believe he was like his father. Maybe things could have been different.
“Penny, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. I’m not kicking you out if that’s what you’re worried about.”
No, I’m worried that I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you and you’ll never reciprocate my feelings.
“Thank you, but it’s time,” I say.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he blurts out, “I don’t want you to leave.”
“You don’t?” I hold my breath, waiting for him to say more.
“No, not when things are still bad. I can’t let you face it on your own. I’m involved too. Moving out is not the way to fix things.”
I exhale a shuddery, disappointed breath. That wasn’t the declaration of love I was hoping for. “Staying here won’t fix things either.”
Shoulders drooping, he gazes at me with something I can’t decipher. Is it longing? Conflict? Whatever it is, he appears to be struggling with his thoughts. Then he says, “Where will you go?”
“I’ll find a hotel secure enough to keep the paparazzi away.”
“What about your apartment?”
“I’m selling it. I can’t stand the thought of living in it after Darren has tainted it.”
“That’s if Darren leaves.”
I rub my forehead with my fingertips. A headache is brewing. Darren turned my life upside down. The least he can do is give me back what’s mine. “He will.”
Lucas raises a dubious eyebrow. “What makes you so sure?”
“If he refuses, I’ll offer him money. With the loss of sponsorships, he’ll need it.”
Lucas tosses his arms up. “Are you fucking kidding me? Hasn’t he taken enough? He doesn’t deserve a dime from you.”
Feeling depleted, I drop onto the couch. “I don’t know what else to do.”
With a heavy sigh, Lucas sits next to me. Putting his arm over my shoulders, he pulls me to his side. Tears sting the backs of my eyes at his comforting gesture. My heart shudders. How am I supposed to walk away from this?
“I’ll get him out of your apartment,” Lucas says.
Tilting my face up to him, I see he’s wearing a hard expression. I cup his cheek. At my touch, his face softens. “You need to keep away from him. Look what happened at lunch. He’ll try to provoke you into doing something you’ll regret.”
“I’ll neverregretbeating the shit out of him if I get the chance.” His jaw tightens.
“This is why you can’t be near him.”
“I won’t touch him.”
I find that hard to believe. “Really?”
“Not much.” He smirks.
I can’t help laughing. I playfully poke my finger into his ribs, causing him to squirm. “You’ll get yourself into trouble. Darren is my problem. Let me deal with him.”
“But I’d actually enjoy paying him a visit,” he says with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.
I poke harder and he bucks. “Not funny. Stay away from him. Darren is mine.”
Lucas grips my wrist, knocks me onto my back, and pins my hand above my head. His face is like iron. “Never say he’s yours again.”
