Page 40 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11

Saturday

The leaves crunched under my feet. I took a deep breath. I used to get sad in the fall, remembering all the horrible stuff that happened my senior year of high school. I thought the fall would always feel suffocating.

But now?

I took another deep breath. Now the fall would always remind me of Penny. And new beginnings. I’d never been able to breathe easier.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Rob asked. “You look like a psychopath.”

I laughed. “I’m just happy.” We walked past the coffee shop where Penny and I first met. God I loved this fucking street. Even with all the shit that had gone down the last couple days, I loved this campus. I’d always love this place. Because it’s where I’d met her.

“I’m going to be a lot happier when I get laid. Speaking of which…why are you suddenly fine with going to a bar right on campus?”

“We’re not going to a bar,” I said.

“Um…yes we are.”

“Nope.”

“I was kind of promised a drink,” Brendan said.

Why is he even still here? This was strange to do with him. But I didn’t really care. It was also strange that there was jewelry store on Main Street, but now I knew why it was here. Because I needed it. I stopped right in front of it. “You guys can go to a bar if you want. I need to go in here.”

“Why do you need to go in there?” Rob asked.

“Because I need a ring.”

He just stared at me.

“I told you last night that I was planning on proposing to Penny.”

“Oh. Right. Honestly, I just assumed you were drunk. You were serious?”

“Of course I was serious. We had that whole conversation about proposals.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t like any of my ideas. So of course I couldn’t take you seriously.”

I shook my head. “I’m going to propose to her. Tomorrow.” I nodded. “Yeah, tomorrow. If I can get everything done tonight.”

“What else do you need to do?”

“Buy that coffee shop we just passed. It’s where Penny and I first met and I don’t want them to ever change anything inside. And that includes cutting any holes in the ceiling or floors.” I glared at him.

“So controlling,” Rob said and turned to Brendan. “This guy,” he said and pointed at me.

Brendan cleared his throat. “Um. Maybe I’ll just catch you guys later.”

“Nonsense,” Rob said. “We’ll need your opinion. James has terrible taste.”

“I do not have terrible taste.”

“You do. Come on. We’ll help.” Rob opened the door and walked in.

Brendan shrugged and followed him into the jewelry store.

Yeah, this was really weird. But as long as I picked a good ring, I didn’t care who was with me.

The guy working there was very nice, but I didn’t exactly know what to tell him that I wanted. I’d know it when I saw it though. “I’m going to need it tonight,” I said. “Is that possible? I’ll pay in all cash.”

“Oh. Um. Let me call my boss while the three of you look around.”

I nodded and we started scanning the display cases. There weren’t a ton of options, but they were all pretty.

“What about that one?” Brendan said and pointed to the one with the biggest diamond in it.

I smiled. He didn’t know Penny at all. She didn’t care about something huge and flashy. She’d want something elegant and sophisticated like her. “No,” I said.

“The most expensive is usually the best,” Rob said.

“It’s not really about the price.” Penny didn’t care about that either. “Although, I’m willing to spend whatever it takes to find the perfect ring. It just has to be…her.”

“What does that even mean? You want a ring that’s a petite redhead with a kinky streak?”

I shook my head and moved to another display case.

“Speaking of which,” Rob said. “Since Brendan kissed her, it’s only fair that I get to too. I should probably do it before you propose. So maybe tonight?”

I hit the back of his head.

“Ow.” He rubbed the spot. “So…is that a yes?”

Brendan laughed.

“The two of you aren’t being helpful.”

The man working there cleared his throat.

But I didn’t look up. Because I’d found the ring. “That one,” I said and pointed to the perfect one through the glass. It was simple and classy and elegant.

“That diamond is almost as big as the last one,” Brendan said.

I ignored him.

“Excellent choice.” The guy pulled it out of the display. “My boss is coming in. He’ll be able to size any ring and place any diamond into the setting that you want. But it won’t be ready until the morning.”

“What time?” I asked.

“Six at the latest.”

“That’ll work.” I had a few errands to run before I picked it up anyway. “Can I see the diamond options?” The one in the setting looked nice. But they usually kept the best cuts in the back.

“Of course.” He disappeared into the back and reappeared with a locked case of diamonds. We sat down so I could look at all of them. But there were only a few that were the size of the one on display. It didn’t take long to decide.

“And what size do you need it?” He was jotting down notes on the order form.

“Oh. Um….”

Rob laughed. “You don’t know Penny’s ring size?”

“Her hands are pretty small,” Brendan said. “She’s probably a size five or something.”

I glared at him. I did not want his advice on this. But I did know who I could ask. “Give me one second,” I said. I stood up, pulled out my phone, and called Melissa.

She answered after a few rings. “I heard you were kidnapping my best friend and taking her to New York."

Okay, this wasn’t a great start. Why was she always so hostile with me? “Is that how Penny worded it?” I asked.

"No, that's not how she worded it."

“Well that’s good to hear. Just so you know, I really didn’t want to pull her away from school. I know how much you mean to her. And I know how well you know her. Speaking of which, are you with her right now?”

"Yeah, she's right next to me."

“Could you maybe step out of the room? I need to ask you something privately. It’s important.”

"Yeah, I guess. Hold on one sec." There were some mumbled voices and I assumed she had her hand over the speaker. A few seconds later she said, “Okay I’m alone.”

“I need your help with something.”

“Alright.” She sounded very apprehensive. “But before you say anything, I don’t know if moving really is the best option here. If one of Penny’s professors is harassing her, can’t you and Penny just go talk to the dean…”

“That won’t be necessary. Her professor won’t be doing that again.”

There was a long pause.

“And why is that? Did you already talk to the dean?”

“No. But I took care of it.”

“As in…”

“I punched him in the face. Several times.”

Rob laughed beside me. Because we both knew it was a lot more than that. And we hadn’t heard a peep from McCarty since. The combination of my threat to come back and Rob’s threat to bang his daughter had seemed to work.

I was surprised when Melissa laughed too. “Good,” she said. “That asshole deserved it.”

He really did.

“So the move isn’t really about that?” she asked.

“Partially about that. But more so that Penny and I need a fresh start. Where no one is judging us for being a professor and his student.”

“That’s exactly what she said.”

I smiled. “I know it’s all fast. But our whole relationship has been because I’m head over heels for her. Which is why I’m calling. I’m going to propose to her tomorrow. And I don’t know her ring size.”

“I’m sorry…did you just say you were going to propose to her?”

“She’s the love of my life, Melissa. And I know I’ve fucked up. Several times. But I promise I will always have Penny’s back. I will always put her first. And I…”

“I believe you,” she said. “I do. I’m really bummed that you’re stealing her away from me. But I want what’s best for her. And that’s you.”

“Thanks, Melissa.”

“She wears a five.”

“Are you sure?” I was annoyed that Brendan was right about Penny’s ring size.

“Positive,” Melissa said.

“I picked out something pretty simple. But it’s really beautiful. Can I send you a picture to see if you think she’ll like it?”

Melissa laughed. “Yes, but there’s really no need. From the sound of it, you nailed it.”

I shot her a picture anyway.

“Oh my God. She’s going to love it.”

I couldn’t stop smiling.

“But what should I tell her when I go back into our dorm? She’s going to wonder why you called.”

“Just say I butt dialed you.”

“Seriously? That is definitely not going to work.”

“Well, if she gets suspicious, tell her that I seemed wasted.” I didn’t think Penny had told Melissa about my addiction issues.

But hearing that news would worry Penny.

She was concerned about me this morning.

I could just lean into that. She’d be so worried about me that she’d never see the proposal coming.

Melissa laughed. “Classic. I can do that.”

“Thanks, Melissa.” I hung up the phone and turned back to the guy working there. “She’s a size five.”

“I knew it,” Brendan said.

I just shook my head.

“So who’s Melissa?” Rob asked. “And is she hot?”

“It’s Penny’s best friend. But don’t get any ideas. She has a boyfriend. And she’s…a lot.”

Rob laughed. “Exactly my type. Speaking of girls with boyfriends…I can’t wait to kiss Penny tonight.”

I was going to kill him. Luckily for him, I still had paperwork to fill out. I finished ordering the ring and we all headed outside. “I have another errand to run,” I said. “Well, two. And we’re going to need Ian’s help.” I shot Ian a text to come pick us up. We had a long night ahead of us.

Rob groaned. “But Ian didn’t let us have any fun last night.”

I laughed. “He didn’t let us set McCarty’s house on fire, but he did let us set McCarty on fire.”

“I’m sorry, what the hell did the two of you do last night?” Brendan asked. “I overheard you punched some guy on the phone. But you set him on fire? And who’s Ian?”

“Ian is James’ bodyguard.”

“That only answers a fraction of my questions…” Brendan’s voice trailed off as my phone started to ring.

“Fuck,” I said.

“Who is it?” Brendan peered over my shoulder.

“It’s Penny. I can’t talk to her. I’ll give it all away.”

“I’ll gladly talk to her…”

“No,” I said. Brendan seemed like a fun guy, but I didn’t want him to be fun with Penny.