Page 22 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 3

A Whirlwind of Color - Chapter 10

Friday

I half expected to wake up in the cocoon of warmth that only James’ arms seemed to provide. But I wasn’t tucked into his side when I opened my eyes. His smell was still all around me though. I sighed. So I was still stuck in this alternate reality. I took a deep breath. Why was I comforted by the smell of him?

“Morning, hot stuff,” said a deep, unfamiliar voice.

I screamed at the top of my lungs as I fell off the bed in a pathetic attempt to get away.

“Shit. You okay?”

I looked up at the face staring down at me. It was the man that looked similar to James. His brother. I couldn’t remember his name. “What are you doing in my bed?” Was this a brother thing? Them showing up in inappropriate places?

“I promised James I’d watch you. And when I got here last night you were already sleeping.” He climbed off the bed and stuck his hand out for me to help me to my feet.

I ignored his outstretched hand and scrambled to my feet by myself. “That doesn’t answer my question. Why were you sleeping next to me instead of James?”

“Because I was tired.” He pushed his hair away from his eyes. “Geez, lighten up, will you? It’s not like we banged. Even though I’m sure you wanted it.” He winked at me.

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Penny. You’re acting like we’ve never joked around like this before.”

“Because we haven’t joked around like this before. Wait, do we usually?”

“Always.”

“Oh my God, am I cheating on James with you?”

“What?” He laughed and stared at me like I was a lunatic. “Of course not. We’re both happily married. To other people. But don’t look so shocked. I would have thought we’d have ended up together too.” He winked again.

“Stop winking at me.”

He proceeded to wink a third time.

“You’re juvenile.”

“Me? I’m not the one strutting around here pretending to be 19 years old.”

“I haven’t been strutting. And Iam19 years old. Everyone around me has lost their freaking minds.”

“Cut it out.” He started walking away from me like he was frustrated.

It was my job to be frustrated, not his. “Cut what out?”

“This whole woe-is-me thing you’ve got going on. It’s like you’re not even trying to remember. And stop attempting to distract me from how annoyed I am by not putting pants on.”

I knew my cheeks were turning bright red. I tugged on the hem of James’ shirt. “I’m not even convinced that there is anything to remember. As far as I know this is all just a really awful dream.”

“Exactly. You’re not trying. Meanwhile, James needs you. You’re the only one that can fix this.”

“I don’t know how to fix anything. He’s an adult. I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Earth to Penny. You’re an adult too.”

I’m a teenager.My fingers abandoned the hem of the shirt. “Why are you so angry with me?” All of this was hard on me too. At least he had all his memories intact.

“I’m…” his voice trailed off. “I’m not mad at you.” He lowered both his eyebrows just like James frequently did. “You just freaked me out, Penny. I thought I lost you.” He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. “I thought I lost you,” he mumbled into my hair.