“That’s terrible.”
“With nowhere to stay, I went back to my house to just look at the remains. I think I was in shock. Greyson came out to make a bid on the land, knowing it would be dirt cheap, and found me crying. He asked what was wrong, so I told him. Everything.He hired me on the spot, and if it weren’t for that, I honestly don’t know what would have happened to me. Everyone just…abandoned me.”
“Sweetheart, those feelings of rejection you’re harboring are interfering with your relationship.”
Tears flood my eyes. “What relationship?”
“Greyson isn’t going to give up just because you walked out on a fancy meal before the check came.”
Despite my misery, I smile. “But this isn’t the first time I walked out on him, and it may not be the last.”
“Then come clean. Be honest with him.”
“If only it were that simple.”
Karmen’s hand folds over mine. “Then let me help you.”
As I’m about to snap at her, I see how genuine she is. And then it hits me: I’m not just bad at romantic relationships. I don’t know what it’s like to have a friend.
I swallow a thick knot in my throat and feel my chest grow heavy.
“I’m scared, Karmen.”
“I know, but I’m here for you.”
“You’ve already done too much by letting me stay with you.”
“How about letting me do more? I could speak with Grey?”
“And tell him I’m not crazy?”
She giggles. “Oh, I’ll absolutely tell him you’re crazy. But I think he likes it.”
I shake my head from side to side. “That’s not going to work.” I think back to the haunting memories I have of my youth. Of my mother’s despondency and my father’s fury. Of all the ways I felt rejected, not just by them, but by everyone.
Kar starts to turn away, and I grab her wrist. “Wait!”
She turns back and lifts her brow.
“I know what I need to do, and I need your help.”
GREYSON
It isn’t often in my life that I feel true pain.
Losing my mother was almost too much to bear, but I got through it with the help of my kin, and we came out stronger on the other side.
But that won’t happen with the loss of Penny.
It doesn’t take a genius to know what happened. She must have come out when Eddy was on my lap, refusing to get off. I didn’t want to cause a scene, and eventually, a waitress intervened. But by then, it was too late.
For five long days, I’ve tried to give Penny the space she needed to figure things out, but the more time that passes, the harder it gets for me to cling to the last shred of sanity I have left.
I feel helpless. Like a damn child.
And there’s nothing I can do to make it better.
A knock sounds on my office door.
