The weight on my chest triples.
“If she decides to never forgive you, we’ll support her one hundred percent.You messed up.”
Awe overflows my heart.
This.This unyielding devotion and unshakable dedication is exactly what I expected from Penelope’s friends.She drew them to her with her pure aura and brutal honesty.They embody the unabashed curiosity and impertinent logic she possesses, which I became enamored with back in high school.
Penelope was still a child—she must’ve been only twelve or thirteen my senior year—but her sharp mind and wicked insights never failed to capture me.She’s the only reason I passed my computer classes and graduated with a GPA high enough to attend Columbia.
She’s not a child anymore.I almost didn’t recognize her when she walked in the room.
“You really messed up,” the second lady interjects.“I think this is—what, only the third or fourth time?—in five years we’ve managed to convince her to meet us somewhere other than the gym, and you scared her away.Maybe we should talk to Audrey and discuss your involvement in her wedding.”
Every muscle in my body tightens.
These ladies are vicious.
“I’ll apologize,” I vow.
“You’d better.In fact, you’d better grovel,” the tall woman snarls.
“Of course,” I say.
I may have the physical strength to crush the entire gang with ease, but I’d never survive the guilt of knowing I hurt Penelope’s friends.
Connor Pen, a successful businessman I’ve spoken to in passing at several conferences throughout the years, leans forward in his chair and narrows his glare on the tall brunette.His eyes flash from fiery hot to deathly cold when he shifts his gaze to me.
He stands and stalks toward us, but by the hard expression on his face, it isn’t to back me up.
“We’ll be watching you tomorrow, Sebastian,” the tall woman promises.Her emphasis on my name and the warning in her tone make her threat obvious.
If they convince the bride to kick me out of the bridal party, I’ll lose my only opportunity to reunite with Penelope.
Connor’s glare sharpens on the woman.
I step back, drop my hands to my sides, and nod.
“I won’t disappoint,” I say.
Before the ladies bore holes in my face with their angry eyes, and before Connor reaches his target, I turn and stride down the hall and into the elevator.After riding down to the parking garage, I find my SUV and cram myself into the driver’s seat.
Needing a moment to process the last few minutes, I drop my head back onto the headrest and close my eyes.
Not only would I rather face an entire football team of testosterone-laced jocks in a fight than any number of small, fragile females in a verbal altercation, but running into Penelope shocked me to my core.
My cock throbs as I recall how perfect she looked when she first walked through the door.With her hair a beautiful mess and her curves apparent even through her long, stylish coat, my body responded.
Her figure piqued my interest as no other woman has in my entire life.She fidgeted and stood uncertain for a moment before rolling her shoulders back and greeting her friend.
The mix of shy and stubborn reminded me too much of the little girl I knew in high school.Younger than everyone else by at least two years—which is a massive gap when the population in question is all teenagers—she was always awkward in a group but brilliant and sweet one-on-one.
Her piercings threw me off for a moment, but her bright hazel eyes, delicate features, and naturally strawberry-blonde curls are unmistakable.
She’s gorgeous.
I sigh and adjust myself as my underwear grows uncomfortably tight.
I’ve considered Samuel my best friend for most of my life.Lusting over his little sister is wrong.
