Page 97 of Lovestrung

Trouble.

I rested my head against her collarbone. “I have to. But I’ll make it brief, darlin’. I promise.”

Silently, she lifted her leg and shifted away, and I sat up and grabbed my phone on the coffee table.

“What?!” I barked.

“Shit has hit the fan, man.”

Frowning, I looked up at Penelope as she shrugged on her robe and tied the sash, her eyes turning unsure. I hated that look on her.

“Talk to me.”

“I’m sorry.” His words were tinged with regret, but I didn’t give a damn about that. I tightened my hand around my phone and tried to school my voice so as not to alarm the woman in front of me.

“What do you mean?”

“It means that I knew she’s a damn fine reporter, but I didn’t think she was that good. She hacked into my laptop while I was in the shower this morning and found everything.”

“And? What did you tell her?”

“I had to tell her about Privé. I’m sorry, Ethan, but it was either that or lose her, and the latter is not an option” He sighed in my ear. “Even though she is a pain in my fucking ass,” he muttered.

“What now?”

“I don’t know. She stormed out of here, calling me a slug, I might add, and I would’ve chased after her if it weren’t for the fact that you’re my friend and I felt it was best to warn you.”

“Appreciate it,” I answered drily.

Pen’s phone started to vibrate, and my eyes landed on the display showing it was Ella calling her, and it felt like my heart stopped beating.

“Ethan, listen to me.”

But I couldn’t hear Luke anymore. I raised my eyes to the love of my life as she picked up her phone and went to pick it up in the kitchen. My eyes trailed after her, my body tense as I saw her eyes turn from unsure to disbelieving. She raised her head in my direction, and I gritted my teeth as hers started to simmer with hurt. The guilt clawed at my insides, urging me to go to her, so that’s what I did, and I sprang from my seat. But the minute I took a step in her direction, she held her palm up, and all I could do was to obey. I’d do whatever she needed me to as long as it meant she’d stay and hear me out.

“Pen,” I choked her name, begging her with my eyes to stay, but she shook her head and walked past me, almost running, in the direction of my bedroom.

“Ethan, are you there?”

Luke’s raised voice made me remember I was still holding my phone to my ear. My body was on edge, jumpy even, and it itched in my entire being to get rid of him.

“I’ve gotta go,” I told him.

“Wait!”

“Better make this fast, Luke.”

“This means my secret’s out. Yours, too, which also means I’m guessing you’ve got about thirty seconds to tell your woman everything, or your hide is going to get skinned.”

“Too late,” I murmured and ran a hand through my hair.

“What?”

“She’s on the phone with Ella now.”

“Fuck. Look, I’m really sorry.”

“Yeah, so am I. Gotta go.”