Page 394 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 1

I looked down at the envelope in my hands.

"I guess I'll read about you calling off the wedding in the tabloids." I felt his hand slap my ass.

I shoved his chest hard, but he didn't even take a step back. Instead, he grabbed the back of my head hard and pressed his lips against mine.

I hit his chest with my fist, but his hand just gripped my hair tighter. His tongue slid against my closed lips. I hit his chest with my fist again and then shoved him as hard as I could. "Get the fuck off me!" I wiped my lips with the back of my hand. "What is wrong with you?"

He smiled. "Call me, Penny. I think your self confidence is just about where I need it to be to pick up right where we left off in college. You know, with you wishing I loved you, and me banging every girl I meet. It'll be like old times. Enjoy the pictures." He winked at me and walked away.

As soon as he disappeared, I let my tears start to fall. I ran to the bathroom and into a stall, locking the door behind me. My heart was beating fast as I opened up the envelope. I pulled out a small stack of photos. There was a post-it note covering the first photo:

A picture speaks a thousand words isn't exactly true for this. All of these pictures really only mean one thing.

I lifted off the note and stared down at an image of James kissing another woman. This time, it was one I didn't recognize. He was wearing a baseball cap and it looked like he hadn't shaved since he left New York, but it was definitely him. I felt even colder thanI had when I was talking to Austin.This isn't real. This can't be real.

In the next photo, her legs were wrapped around his waist and her back was pressed against a wall. My chest hurt as I stared at the image. There was no explanation for this. It wasn't Isabella attacking him, or him getting closure from his ex. This was passion. This was real. It wasn't photoshopped or fake. James was at his bachelor party hooking up with another woman. But that's what guys did during their bachelor parties. Wasn't it?

In the next photo, his hand was up her shirt. He was clearly grabbing her breasts.

My back slid down the bathroom stall door.

In the next photo, his hand had moved. It was lost under her skirt. Her face had tilted away from his. Pure bliss was written all over it. I knew that feeling. I knew exactly the way he could make me feel. How he could make anyone feel apparently.

I put my face on my knees and let myself cry even harder.

"Penny?"

I tried to stop crying when I heard Melissa's voice.

"Penny? I'm so sorry. I'm sorry about everything. I don't want you to not be friends with Tyler. And I definitely don't want you to not be friends with me over this whole stupid thing. I'll get over it. I will. I'm so sorry. I don't want to fight about this anymore."

Her words just made me cry even more.

"Penny?"

I sniffed from inside the stall.

"Are you okay?"

"No." I knew how my voice sounded. It was desperate. I felt so lost. "I'm sorry too. I'm so sorry." My voice cracked.

"Penny." Melissa knocked on the door. "Penny, let me in." Her voice was a little more demanding the second time.

I reached up and unlocked the stall door.

When she looked down at me, the only thing on her face was concern. She knelt down on the gross bathroom floor and threw her arms around me. "What's wrong?"

Instead of saying anything, I sobbed into her shoulder.

She rubbed my back and kept her arms around me. "It's okay," she said in a soothing voice. "Everything's going to be okay."

I had my best friend back. But I had lost the love of my life. Nothing was ever going to be okay again.

Eruption - Chapter 23

Sunday

"God I miss you," James said and then there was long sigh. "I'm calling you from the hotel lobby because Rob won't let me have my phone. We're staying at some place called the Blue Parrot Resort. You can call me back at this number, but I'll be back tonight. I can't wait to see you. Oh, and you'll need the pa...hey, Rob! No, I wasn't calling Penny. Fuck, get off of me!" The recording beeped, signaling the end of the message.