“I don’t think my fiancée would appreciate that,” I say, hoping she gets the point.
Her jawline tenses. “Fiancée?”
“Yes, now I’d like to get back to my meal.”
Her head tilts to the side and I see a glint of her teeth as she mumbles something under her breath.
Not caring a lick about what she has to say, I return my eyes forward, hoping she gets the point, but a startled gasp grabs my attention.
As I glance up, Eddy’s arms stretch toward me, wrapping around my neck as she falls, landing on my lap.
PENNY
This is happening.
Like really happening.
Me and Greyson are a thing.
And I don’t think it’s just because of the baby.
My cheeks hurt from all the smiling I’ve been doing, but I can’t seem to stop. Everything just feels good, from my overly-stuffed belly to the fluttering in my chest.
Greyson was right to take a step back before moving forward, because suddenly being around him twenty-four-seven made things between us feel disingenuous. We need time apart just as much as we need time together, so that one day we can merge our lives without doubting what we really want.
I dry my hands and walk back out into the dining area, but it’s not just Greyson I see at our table.
Perched on his lap is Eddy Rae, a local B-list actress who is very familiar with Greyson.
While they’re not dating, she makes a point of visiting the ranch a few times a year to hang out with Grey, and from the looks of it, she has no intention of stopping.
A sick feeling twists in my gut. A mixture of jealousy and despair that seems to swell, infecting other areas that were joyful just a moment ago.
I know Greyson didn’t invite her here. He’s not one for drama, and I know he’s giving us all he’s got.
But she’s here anyway, reminding me of Greyson’s past.
And it makes me feel small. Insignificant.
How can I compete with the likes of Eddy Rae, with her plush, pouty lips and perfect body? I can’t, and when she sees me waddling back to the table, she’s going to laugh, because that’s what girls like her do.
And while Greyson will no doubt shoo her away, there will be other girls like her. A long line of them. And I don’t know if I can take that brand of torture.
Before he can spot me, I back away, exiting the restaurant from a side door.
After three rings, Karmen picks up her phone.
“What’s up?”
“Do you think you can come get me from Big Blue’s Gas Station off of the main road?”
“Big Blue’s? Why the hell are you there?”
“Doesn’t matter. Can you get me or not?”
“Of course! I’ll be there in twenty.”
After I hang up, I pull up Greyson’s text box.
