Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Guilt stabs me in the chest. Every time I think of the way she broke down crying when I ended things with us, it guts me. It took everything in me not to pull her to my chest and soothe her. Some nights, I replay that day in my head, hating how I made her cry.
But I was upset.
Furious even.
She lied and could have ended up right where Lacey did.
Still, I miss her.
“We tried to invite her over tonight, but she said no.”
I lift a brow at him. “Because I was coming over?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he says with a smirk. “No, it’s her birthday.”
“She had better plans?”
“No.” He sighs. “She has no plans.”
My stomach twists painfully. “Why not?”
“She doesn’t want to celebrate. I mean, she was forced to over the weekend. Kelsey got her favorite cupcakes and cooked dinner. We gave her gifts and sang ‘Happy Birthday,’ but that was the extent of it. Today’s her actual birthday, but she won’t even let Tierra take her out.”
“Why not?”
“She said birthdays are for losers. I don’t know. More Penny avoidance tactics. Garrett’s worried about her. He and Charlotte tried to convince her to see a therapist after what happened with Jack, but she refuses.”
Hope starts to cry, so I pass her off to her daddy. Zella and Sebban run over to us, babbling about how they saw a frog.
“Can we catch frogs on my birthday?” Zella asks, peering at me with her wide brown eyes.
“Frogs!” Sebban yells like the rowdy little shit he is.
Hope flinches at his outburst, but Roan soothes her with a pat to her bottom.
“If that’s what you want to do,” I say, “but it doesn’t sound like much fun.”
“Penny likes frogs,” Zella tells me, not noticing my flinch at her name. “Can she come to my frog party?”
She’s asked multiple times to see Penny, but I always change the subject. It hurts denying us both. Some days, I barely feel like I have the strength to deny us any longer.
“I guess,” I mutter. “She might be busy, though.”
Zella jumps up and down. “Can we call her, Daddy? I want her to come.”
Hollis and Roan exchange an amused look. I roll my eyes at them. They know how it is. It’s hard to deny your kid something when they want it.
“Yeah, Mello Zello. We can call her.”
“Right now?” Her grin undoes me.
“Sure.” I sigh, flashing Hollis a “help me” stare.
“Why don’t you two go inside where it’s quiet?” Hollis offers, only encouraging this phone call I’m dreading.
“You’re a real dick, rat,” I mumble.
“Dick rat!” Sebban agrees, making Zella giggle.
“On that note, we’re going inside,” I say, quickly ushering Zella inside before Hollis bitches at me for my language. Not my fault his kid is a parrot.
Once inside, I sit in the recliner and pull Zella into my lap. I fire off a warning text so Penny won’t be caught off guard.
Me: Warning…Zella and I are about to FaceTime you per her royal highness’s request.
Penny: Can’t ignore the request of a princess. I’ll be awaiting the call.
Her response warms me. I dial her number on FaceTime and turn the screen so Zella and I are both in it. Penny answers on the first ring.
As soon as her face fills the screen, my heart squeezes. Fuck. I miss her. Each time at practice or at games, I try my hardest not to pine over her. Because people are watching and we’re in basketball mode, I can usually manage.
Not today.
Today it’s just us and Penny.
Penny’s blond hair is in a high ponytail and her pretty features seem sadder than usual. Blue eyes that once seemed hard are soft, maybe even a little teary. Goddamn. I want to pull her through the phone right into my lap.
“Hi, Penny.” Zella waves at her. “Will you come to my birthday?”
Penny grins. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“We’re going to catch frogs,” Zella tells her, giggling.
“Looks like you already caught one,” Penny teases, pointing at me. “Or is that roadkill?”
A chuckle rumbles past my lips. “Funny, mean-ass. Real funny.”
“I missed giving you crap, Smash.” Her smile falls in an instant, taking my heart with it.
Tierra, the little traitor, appears in the screen beside Penny. “Do you want to come to Penny’s birthday, lil’ Z?”
Penny shoots Tierra a pained look, but my meddling cousin ignores her.
“Yes!” Zella shrieks. “Can I, Penny?”
“She’s not doing anything but sitting here feeling sorry for herself,” Tierra tattles, pinning her pissy stare on me. “I bet she would have way more fun with a couple of visitors.”
“You don’t have to,” Penny mumbles, darting her eyes my way.
“I don’t know, Mello Zello. You’re already having a playdate with Sebban. Maybe we’ll see her another day or at your party.”
Zella deflates and Tierra gives me the stink eye. Penny forces a brave smile on her face and nods.