I’m about to hang up when he says, “She’s not my girlfriend.”
I roll my eyes, “Her lips on yours say otherwise. Oh. A Ferris wheel!” I exclaim out loud. “Got to go have some fun of my own, Declan. Catch you back at home.”
I hear him growl my name but hang up before he can say anything else. I suck down the last of my daiquiri and pay for a ticket for the Ferris wheel. My buzz is strong and I’m happy as a clam now.
Declan can go fuck the redhead for all I care.
When I enter the observation cabin of the Ferris wheel and the doors close, the silence is all-consuming. I didn’t necessarily want to be left with my thoughts, so I try to pay attention to the view as we slowly move around.
My heart feels fragile, and I hate it. This was not how this was supposed to go. Declan is supposed to stay in the perfect little box I have him in and never come out of it. I’m not supposed to get emotional if someone else kisses him. He’s single and unattached. Just like me. Plus, he would never entertain the idea of being with someone like me. A mother.
I try my best to get Declan out of my head and decide I need to get another drink when I get off the Ferris wheel.
I’m usually a happy drunk, and I’m not going to let some man bring me down now.
When the ride finally finishes, the last person I expect to see when I get off is Declan. He’s leaning against the wall, looking hot and sexy, and I try to get past him without him following me.
It doesn’t work.
“You’re not going anywhere without me, Penny.”
I don’t say anything and find another slushie vendor near the Ferris wheel. I stand in line and ignore Declan like a child. I can feel the heat of his stare on the side of my face and swallow hard. Being near him right now is not good for my psyche. My nose starts to sting, and I flare my nostrils so I can get some air flowing and hopefully stop myself from crying in his presence.
“Will you look at me, Penny?”
I cross my arms in front of my chest, and luckily, the vendor calls me up next. This time, I order a margarita with an extra shot of tequila, and before I can pull my card out to pay, Declan hands over a wad of cash.
“I’ll pay you back,” I say numbly and grab my drink.
I try to walk away again. “Just stop.” He grabs my arm, and I flinch at the contact. I don’t feel the warmth I normally do when he touches me because it’s been tainted by some fake bimbo who claimed Declan in front of everyone. I guess that’s the kind of girl he likes. Not some homebody like me, who has a kid and dresses like a hippie half the time.
Shit. I need to get rid of this pity party thing I’ve got going on, right this second. It’s not like me.
“I’ll see you when we get back to Daybreak, Declan,” I tell him and take a hefty sip of the margarita.
“Please, Penny,” he begs. “Just hear me out.” Up until this point, I’ve been able to avoid eye contact, so when I look at him, I don’t expect to see the hurt in his eyes.
“Is this guy bothering you?” a group of three girls stops to ask. I look at them and they’re ready to go to bat for me. I almost say yes, but shake my head at the last second.
“I’m fine. But thank you.”
“We can walk you somewhere safe,” one of the girls whispers to me.
I internally smile because all hope is not lost in this world. “He’s just my idiot friend,” I tell them.
They look like they don’t believe me but shrug and walk away.
I turn and head into one of the hotel casinos, and Declan follows behind. I sip on my margarita while I take in all the flashing machines. I don’t know where I’m going, just that I’m trying to walk as fast and far away from the man behind me, with no such luck. I turn down an empty hallway and then turn back around as soon as I realize my mistake.
I run right into Declan. “Fuck,” he says and grabs my waist. “You have to talk to me, Penny. I don’t know what you’re thinking right now.”
I glare up at him. “I’m sorry. You don’t know what I’m thinking? I’m thinking that you embarrassed me in front of your friend by holding my hand and then kissing another woman. I’m thinking about how you were inside of me not twenty-four hours ago, and how you let another woman touch your lips, but were mad when another man touched my arm. I think I’m going to take Ky up on his offer to take me out on a date when we get back home. I think I need to redirect my priorities.”
His nostrils flare, and he slowly backs me against a door. His hand reaches around me, and he turns the knob. I almost fall through, but he steadies me by my waist. It’s an empty conference room. What are the chances?
“I am so fucking sorry, Penny. I didn’t know she was going to kiss me, okay?”
“Was she the girl you were going to hang out with this weekend? The girl you hung out with last night?” I ask.
