Page 291 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5

I knew he was trying to get our group to drop the subject and move along, but no one moved. I really wished Tanner had stuck around. He’d be able to ease the tension in some way.

“That’s awful,” Penny said. “What made you guys make up?”

Brooklyn’s death.

Rob finally closed his big mouth. He wasn’t going to say it. No one was going to say it.

But my fiancée had died. And they’d felt bad for making my life any shittier than it already was. They felt sorry for me. Not because they believed me. Not because they cared.

The cafeteria was filled with complete and utter silence. I looked over at the tables. They were still organized the same way they were back then. The Untouchables’ table. And then the one that Brooklyn always sat at. Before we were an us. Before I stopped sitting at the stupid Untouchables’ table for good and joined her where I should have always been.

“Because we’re family,” James said. “You don’t turn your back on family.”

I looked over at him.You just stab your family in the back?I should have been over it. And maybe I would have been if things had gone down differently. If I had Brooklyn wrapped in my arms like they all had their wives in theirs? Yeah, maybe I would have been more forgiving then.

“Well, I’m glad you all made up,” Penny said. She looked over at the window that James had punched like she was lost in thought.

There wasn’t much to think about. She was married to an asshole.

“I actually need to go check on something,” I said. “I’ll be back.” I walked away before I had to add something to my lie. I didn’t need to look at anything. And I wouldn’t be back. I needed to get the fuck out of this school. But before I could reach the front doors, my feet seemed to guide me to the auditorium.

I looked over my shoulder, like I was scared someone was going to catch me going in. But no one was following me. I pushed the door in and let it close behind me with a thud, bathing me in darkness.

Brooklyn and I had kissed for the first time right here. She said I’d stolen the kiss. So I promised her I’d steal all her firsts.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember what it felt like to have her beside me. But all I felt was…cold.

First kiss. First time. First love. She’d died before I could make good on my promise of all her firsts. I was supposed to marry that girl. She was supposed to have my children. She was supposed to be my family. My whole world.

I put my hand down on one of the chairs. Why had I come in here? Just to torture myself? I closed my eyes even tighter.No.I wanted to remember. I wanted to remember what it was like to be happy. I needed to remember what it was like to be okay. Because I wasn’t fucking okay.

And if I closed my eyes tight enough, I could almost hear Brooklyn’s laughter. Almost feel her breath whispering in my ear.

I opened my eyes and saw the darkness all around me. All alone. Yeah, I really wasn’t fucking okay.

I heard the auditorium doors open. I turned to see Penny standing there. Her hip kept the door ajar and let the light stream in. “Did you find that thing you needed to check on?”

I nodded. I was surprised she’d come after me. We hadn’t spoken since Sunday. I figured I’d done something to upset her. And it was better if I just apologized so we could move on. “I’m sorry about Sunday,” I said.

“Why are you sorry? I’m the one that practically ran out of your house.” She laughed. “I should be the one apologizing to you.”

We were both silent for a few moments. I wanted to ask her why she’d run. But I didn’t want to push her.

She looked down at her shoes. “I know James wasn’t in the best headspace in high school.”

That was an understatement. Half the time he had been drunk or high off his mind.

“But…” her voice trailed off. “I also know he meant what he said about not turning your back on family. I can’t believe he kissed one of your old girlfriends.” She shook her head. “But he’s sorry. I can tell. You can’t tell me you’re still mad at him about that after all these years?” She cracked a smile.

She’d never understand. Because I’d never tell her. “I’m not still mad at him.” I didn’t even really know if it was a lie. No matter what, I was most mad at myself. I was the one that had let Brooklyn down. Not him.

Penny stared at me like she was waiting for me to add something. But I didn’t have anything to add.

“Don’t tell me you broke up with that girl because of what James did.”

“No.” I never broke up with Brooklyn. And she still owned my heart. I’d always be hers.

“Well that’s good.” Penny smiled.