Page 25 of Penn

A ghost of a smile graces her lips before disappearing. “You’re late. I thought you’d be back hours ago. I tried to stay awake.”

“You failed,” I joke.

“I failed.”

“Still a much better view than being around a bunch of smelly dudes for days.”

Stirring, she shifts onto her side and opens her eyes. “I can’t believe how tired I am.”

“It’s to be expected, especially at this point in your pregnancy.”

“How do you know that?”

I shrug. “I read about it.”

“You read about it?” She’s awake now, which means I can expect sarcasm to come sooner than later.

“Yeah, I bought a pregnancy book. The best offense is a good defense, so understanding what you’re going through helps me try to avoid the punches.”

“Wait, you can read?”

Yep, she’s awake now. “I can. And write. I know, I’m a unicorn.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“You’d be surprised at the secrets I have,” I joke.

“Are you going to tell me these secrets?”

Running a hand over my face, I choose my words carefully. “I don’t share my secrets easily, Dixie.”

“Why not?”

“Because once they’re out there, they can’t be taken back. I only share the big secrets with certain people.”

Dixie sits up and turns on the bedside lamp. It’s different talking to her in the direct light. “And who are those certain people? You don’t think I’m special?”

“You know I think you are.”

“Then why can’t you share with me? I shared with you.”

I lick my lips and avoid her eyes. “My biggest fears are betrayal and abandonment. And I can only share the reason for that with someone I know isn’t leaving.”

“I’m right here.”

“For now.”

“You think I’m planning to leave?”

God, I hope not. But I learned a long time ago that hope and reality are nowhere near the same thing. “You don’t know where you are yet. Your life literally went up in flames, and you’re still putting everything back together.”

“Penn—”

“You could wake up in a couple of weeks and decide your life isn’t here. In this house. With me. You could be gone tomorrow, and I’m not sure I can risk my deepest secrets.”

“Lainey says you’ve been hurt.”

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. “Lainey talks too much.”