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“Good because you were announced as a special guest earlier today.”
Of-fucking-course I was.
“Are we done now?”
Mom waves me off. I don’t need to be told twice. My hand slides to the small of Penelope’s back. “Let’s get out of here,” I whisper to her.
Penelope gives Henry the command, and together we leave the restaurant. The bellboy spots us immediately and dashes to bring my car up front. But I don’t mind the wait, not now that the paparazzi have vanished, looking for their next big story, and it’s just the two of us.
“Sebastian, I’m so sorry if I over—"
Stopping on the sidewalk, I turn around and cup Penelope’s cheeks, tilting her head back so I can see her face. “Thank you,” I whisper, stopping her from finishing that sentence. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. Thank you for standing up for me like you did. Nobody has ever done something like that for me.”
She gives her head a shake. “You don’t have to thank me for that.”
“I do. My mother is a hard person to deal with.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I like her very much.”
I let out a surprised chuckle. “Some days, I don’t like her very much either, but she’s the only family I have left.”
Penelope’s lips press in a tight line. “Don’t ever let people blame you for putting yourself first. You did nothing wrong.”
“I know that.” Leaning in, I press my mouth against the top of her head, letting Penelope’s rose scent calm me in a way nothing else can. “I don’t want to talk about my mother any longer. I can’t wait to get you home and—”
My words are cut off by the roar of an engine.
My heart kicks up a notch as I look over Penelope’s shoulder, only to be blinded by the set of oncoming headlights.
I’m not sure if it’s the light or the absurdity of it all, but it takes me a moment to process the whole situation.
The fact the car isn’t just driving on the road but is coming straight at us.
“Fuck!”
I grab Penelope, jerking her to me and tugging us back simultaneously. My heart is beating wildly as all the moments that I’ve missed, all the things I won’t get to experience, flash in my head in snapshots.
And Penelope.
Fuck, Penelope.
The tires screech loudly as we fall to the ground. I close my eyes, my arms tightening around Penelope as I try to hold onto her, waiting for the crash.
And waiting…
But there is nothing.
Henry’s loud barking is echoing in the night. The car door closes, but I can barely hear it over the pounding of blood in my ears.
“Mr. Black?” the voice is a buzz in the distance, and it takes me a moment to realize they’re referring to me.
I blink open my eyes and find the tall, lanky guy that went to get my car standing above us, his face completely devoid of color, making the freckles on his cheeks stand out.
“Are you okay? Did they hit you? I was just coming around the corner when I saw a black car do a quick turn and speed away. Do you need me to call for an ambulance?”
My hands grip around Penelope, and I look down to find her clinging to me.
But alive.
