Penny: Yes. On the plus side, I get to keep Goldie.
Me: Bonus. How’s the office?
Penny: Nice try, Mr. Bellamy. No shop talk
Me: Letting others handle things in my absence isn’t my best quality.
Penny: I’ve noticed. Need anything?
You,I wanted to say. But fuck… I held myself back again.
Me: Just your patience.
Penny: You have it. Always. I’m not going anywhere. Well, except to Vegas for Valentine’s.
Her words lingered… She was still there, waiting for me to be brave enough to meet her halfway.
My watch buzzed: gym time. Dr. Kramer had approved short outings, and today was my first session outside the penthouse. I’d put aside all thoughts of Penny, try to at least, for now.
The walk to Sambora’s gym was three slow, steady blocks. I’d bundled up for the chilly December air, but the sun on my skin felt damn good. I tilted my head up to it, grateful to be moving, and alive.
Inside the gym, while my trainer Sambora supervised my heroic effort at lifting two-pound weights, I spotted Griffin West stretching nearby.
“Bellamy.” He grinned, rushing over to me. “Heard about your scare. You good?”
“I’m here.” I set aside a weight so we could shake hands.
“That’s all that matters.” He nodded, then added, “Thanks for warning Holden about your ex. You probably saved him from a tabloid headline or from losing millions to another money-grabbing bitch.”
I swallowed. “Always.”
Penny had been the one who warned him, not me. That stung in a new way—she’d not only been protecting me, but a friend of mine, too. She didn’t have to do that for Holden, no real ties to him, but she did anyway because that’s the kind of big-hearted woman she was.
“Dating doesn’t get any easier, does it? Hard enough as a man with means. Even harder as a single dad.” He shook his head, and I felt bad for him. A good-looking man, great son Theo, more money than God…
“Can’t buy love or happiness, can we?” I couldn’t think of much else to say. Griffin had been a relatively recent addition to our friend group, only arriving on the scene after Sophie and Keaton got together. My impression of him was split between the hard-charging alpha male in business, which he’d need to be to run a mega corporation like West Games, and the attentive father to a growing boy who ran through nannies like they were water. Must be hard to work for.
Griffin clapped my shoulder. “Hey, I have a meeting to run to, but I envy you taking forced time from work. Don’t waste it.” He jogged off, leaving me with his words and more thoughts of Penny.
Shortly after I got home, I scanned inside my fridge for the latest meal my new heart-healthy chef had left me. Indie Jones came as a referral from Sambora, and right away the tall, militant woman scared the hell out of me in my kitchen.
While reaching for her Quinoa Special, whatever that was, Brooks let himself in.
“Brought my little man with me tonight,” he said, setting the baby carrier on the floor and the food on the counter. “And contraband Chinese.”
“Thank fuck.” I put the quinoa back.
Everett snoozed under a tiny hat while Brooks unloaded the feast. The smell of kung pao chicken overwhelmed me with guilt.
I devoured it. “Don’t tell my chef I ate this.”
Brooks chuckled. “She’ll sniff it out in your bloodstream, if she’s the bloodhound you’ve made her out to be.”
Afterward, we cleaned up, and Everett fussed. “Feeding time. Want to do the honors?” Brooks reached into the diaper bag.
“I don’t have a boob,” I quipped.
“Maisy pumped.” He produced a bottle.
