I sit back and unlock the screen, my eyes widening as I read the headline.
Penelope Dawson and Kristophe Lansdown call off their engagement.
I scan the article, but it offers no further information, only that they’ve asked for privacy at this time.
What the hell?
It’s a month until their wedding.
What the hell happened?
I pick up the phone and dial Pen’s number.
There’s no answer.
I try again, only this time, it goes straight to voicemail.
Fuck.
My heart is racing as I pick up the phone and dial Kat’s number.
“Hello, big brother,” Kat says, not sounding at all surprised I’m calling her.
“You know?”
“Of course, I know. Pen’s one of my closest friends.”
“She was my best friend first,” I hear myself say.
Kat harrumphs. “How old are you? Before you answer that, may I point out you blew that friendship when you got your girlfriend pregnant and pushed her and everyone else you loved away,” Kat snaps.
I ignore her. This isn’t the first time we’ve had this argument.
“What happened, Kat?” I say, lowering my tone. “When I last spoke to Pen, she was all in. The whole nine yards—marriage, kids, settling down.”
My chest constricts, and I pause as I try to draw breath into my lungs.
“You need to ask Pen,” she says, her tone dropping.
“She’s not taking my calls,” I admit.
“You find out the same day everyone else does and call her, expecting her to simply pick up? Have you thought she might be busy, not want to speak to anyone?” Kat sighs. “Have you even tried to speak to her since she saved your ass?”
I stop. “I picked up the phone several times, but…” I say, realising how ridiculous I sound.
Of course, Pen doesn’t have to answer my calls. Why would she?
There’s a pregnant pause.
“I’ve fucked up,” I say.
“Don’t you dare hold a self-pity party! All I’m saying is Pen might have a reason for not answering. Think,” she says. “You, of all people, should understand that. Did you answer your phone when news of your divorce broke? Like hell did you.”
“I threw it in a drawer with silence mode on.”
“Exactly.”
I know she’s right. But it hurts to know I’ve lost my place in Pen’s inner circle. My siblings and mother now hold those positions.
