I thanked everyon
e and kissed my mother goodbye. My eyes met with Penny’s before I headed to my car and started the journey back to my condo.
I threw my keys on the table by the front entrance and grabbed a beer from the fridge. Twisting the cap off, I took a long pull and threw the top against the fridge and listened as it clanked to the floor. I hated this. Was this my future to come? Sneaking away for one solid moment with Penny just to send her home to Dex?
I had to do something.
Xavier would be called tomorrow. I moved through the hallway and into the bathroom, turning the shower on.
Once I got out of the shower, I heard a knock at my front door. Grabbing my phone, I checked the caller ID to see if people still called before they just showed up on your front porch steps. Apparently, they didn’t.
I peered through the peephole and saw her.
Swinging the door open, I had her in my arms in record time. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
She smelled so good, and my cock jutted forward. Her skin felt so soft under my fingertips. I wanted to touch every part of her.
My body was on fire as I held her tight against me. Would this feeling of urgency when she was near ever go away?
“It was Dex,” she started. I ran my hands along her back, trying my hardest not to get turned on during this serious moment with her, but, come on, I’m a guy. It’s in our DNA to take the opportunity to feel up the woman we love whenever we can.
My grip hardened, and before I knew it all of my senses honed in on the one spot I needed to sink my face into.
Wait. What? I leaned back, gazing into her worried eyes. “Did he hurt you?” Heat made my skin burn more, but in a different way. Like I was the sun or a volcano ready to erupt if he laid one finger on her.
“No, he’s becoming so possessive.”
Moving her to the couch, I sat her down and kneeled before her with my hands on each thigh. “Tell me, what did he do?”
She ran her hand over my beard. The tears in her eyes made the anger intensify by a million. I fucking hated him.
He almost touched her. That was enough evidence in my book to bring down the wrath of God on his ass. And I would too. I would make sure he never had fingers to touch anyone ever again.
“He noticed the way I looked at you tonight. He said I have feelings for you, and he said no bride of his will disrespect him in public like that.”
“Penny, did he hurt you? Did he touch you?” I was dying to know. I needed to like my last meal before execution. Because I promise you, if he did, I’d be on death row in a heartbeat for her.
“No,” she shook her head, “but, Theo, I know it’s coming. The rage in his eyes. The way he speaks to me. I know it’s coming. He’s so different from when we first met. He’s changed, transformed into a monster.”
“Well, he’s always been a selfish little shit. And he’s never grown out of it.” I told Penny the story of how Dex had slept with Blair while she was pregnant with Lucy. Penny was shocked to say the least, but the more I told her stories of Dex, the more repulsed she became.
“I can’t believe your mother still puts up with him,” she whispered after I finished.
“She doesn’t know any of it. It would break her heart. So, I just pretend.”
“I’m sorry, Theo. I just feel like your brother is getting out of control. Like one day it won’t be him just getting mad and yelling. I’m afraid one day he’ll act on his anger.”
Not if I had anything to do about it. What a fucked up situation, and I couldn’t believe this was real life. Some people luck out, and some of us have to work so damn hard for what we want. I didn’t mind the work. I had put in the extra hours and was ready to reap the rewards if ever we could get past this shit with her father.
“Penny? Have you talked to your father?” I’d have told the douchebag exactly where he could shove the Lopa. Right. Up. Dex’s. Ass.
She hesitated. My baby was nervous, and I knew there was something more at play. But, what? I lifted her chin, to stare directly into those gorgeous eyes and try to seek the answer. “Penny?”
Her eyes darted, not wanting to meet mine. What the actual fuck?
“Theo.” She rose from the couch. I stood, slowly, and watched her pace the tile floors. Confusion settled, ok maybe it rose, either way I was confused as hell.
“Penny, what is going on?” Didn’t I deserve this much? Didn’t she confess her love to me? Love means no secrets. Or, at least in my book it does, and I had none from Penny. I didn’t feel the same from her, though. Every time she passed by me on her trek through my living room, every time she let out a small breath of air, I felt the sting of something not quite right.