Page 54 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 3

I smiled as I lifted up the phone. It finally felt like I had someone in my life I could trust. Someone I felt like myself around. I bit the inside of my lip. That wasn’t true. Rob had been so nice. I had truly felt comfortable around him. And James. I was starting to get used to him. As a friend. Not whatever we were supposed to be. And as a friend, he deserved to know that I wasn’t dead in a ditch. I punched in the number Brendan had written on the napkin and put the cell phone to my ear.

“Hello?” James answered after one ring. He sounded out of breath, like he was running.

What was he doing? “I’m safe. I just wanted you to know that.”

“Penny?”

“Yeah…”

“Where are you?” There was a dinging sound on his end, like he had just walked into a convenience store. The same noise sounded just a few seconds after the first one.

“I was just calling to let you know that I’m okay and you don’t have to worry.” But I wasn’t okay. Even with alcohol coursing through my bloodstream, I still felt empty. I had felt that way ever since I left the doctor’s office. Or maybe I had felt that way ever since I left New York. Which made zero sense.

“Penny, I’ve spent almost 24 hours thinking you were dead. So don’t fucking tell me not to worry.”

I winced at his words. “I left you a note to explain…”

“You didn’t explain anything.” He exhaled loudly. “You promised you’d hear me out. I was going to tell you everything last night. Just…tell me where you are so I can bring you home.”

I shook my head, but then realized he couldn’t see me. “I’m not coming back with you.”

“Penny, where are you?”

“My favorite restaurant.” I had a feeling he had no idea what that was. So I was safe.

“You’re in Philly? Fuck,” he mumbled. “I thought that La Patisserie closed at like 3 or something?” There was a muffled noise and his voice sounded far away. “Ian, get the car.”

I guess he knew me better than I thought.Better than I knew myself.La Patisserie was my favorite restaurant. “No, I meant my other favorite restaurant.”

“In Wilmington or Newark?”

My heart started racing. There were Grottos in Wilmington and Newark. But there were also some in Rehoboth. Maybe he didn’t know I was referring to Grottos. “James, it doesn’t matter. Brendan made me call you to let you know I’m safe. Now I have. Please just move on with your life.”

“You’re with Brendan?”

Shit!Was he psychic? “How did you know who I was with?”

“You just told me. Penny, are you drunk?”

Oh God.I ended the call and threw the phone at Brendan. “He somehow knew I was with you. It’s like he can read my freaking mind.”

“I heard you tell him you were with me.” Brendan’s phone started ringing. “He’s going to kill me for not calling him sooner.” He went to answer it but I slapped it out of his hand.

“Penny, I’m not going to avoid his calls.” His phone started ringing again.

“Don’t you dare answer it.”

“I have to. I can’t just ignore him.”

“Fine, answer it, traitor. But we need to get out of here, I’m pretty sure he knows where we are.” I tried to gracefully slide out of the booth, but I ended up toppling out of it. The floor looked like it was moving. Maybe Brendan was right about me drinking too much.

“Whoa, are you okay?” Brendan put his hands on my waist to steady me. “Take it easy.”

I placed my hand down on the table so I could support myself. I hoped I wasn’t about to be sick. My stomach felt like it was spinning as much as the floor.

“Are you alright?” Brendan asked.

I shook my head.