The drive went by fast—probably because of my complete lack of attention to the speed limit. Once I got into Echo Creek, I peered into the dark as I drove down the main road through town, looking for Pen. Finally, I caught sight of her standing on the sidewalk outside Sage Bistro.
“I’m here,” I said as I pulled into the no-parking zone in front of the restaurant.
Without a word, she ended the call. I slammed my truck into park and unlocked the door. She climbed in and shut the door.
“Hey,” I said, keeping my voice soft despite the mix of worry and anger clenching my chest. “What happened?”
Her lower lip trembled, and it took her a moment to answer. “Sean proposed.”
My eyes flew to her hands, rage pouring through me at the mere thought of seeing that jackass’s ring on her finger. But it wasn’t there. Because of course it wasn’t. That’s why she was crying.
“Oh, shit,” I muttered. “You turned him down.”
Eyes on her lap, she nodded. “The whole restaurant saw.” Although she was no longer sobbing, her voice shook. “He was pretty mad. So he left.”
“He left you out there alone?”
Still not looking at me, she nodded again.
“Fuck,” I said under my breath. Yes, I was furious, but more than anything, I was concerned about her. I turned up the heat. She had to be cold.
“Thanks.” She held her hands in the warm air coming out of the vent. “I, um…”
It looked like she was going to start crying again, so I waited. I wanted to reach over and pull her to me, but the center console was in the way. What was I going to do, drag her into my lap?
I glanced at the space between me and the steering wheel. Actually, if I moved the seat all the way back—
Big tears rolled down her cheeks from beneath her glasses. “I don’t have anywhere to go,” she whispered quickly, as if it was almost too much for her to get the words out.
Of course she didn’t. She lived with him and had just ended their relationship. The piece of shit had left her there, alone in the dark, with nowhere to go.
“Yes, you do.” My voice was decisive as I put the truck back in drive. “You’re coming home with me.”
“I can’t ask you to let me stay with you.”
I pulled out onto the street. “You didn’t. I’m telling you, you’re coming to my place.”
She took a shaky breath. “Thank you.”
We spent the drive in silence. It didn’t seem like she was ready to talk, and I didn’t want to make her start crying again.
About halfway home I decided fuck it, and reached over to hold her hand.
Maybe it was weird to hold hands with your best friend when she’d just broken up with her boyfriend, but I didn’t care. I had to do something. I couldn’t let her sit there in misery.
I twined our fingers together and squeezed. With another shaky breath, she squeezed back.
It felt good. Really good.
When we arrived at my house, I parked and reluctantly let go. We got out and went inside, Penelope took slow steps into the living room, like she wasn’t sure where to go or what to do.
I set my keys on the counter. “Do you want to take your coat off?”
“Oh.” She looked down at herself as if she’d forgotten she was wearing it. “Sure.”
She untied the belt, and I stepped in to hold her purse and take her coat as she slipped it off. She still wore the black dress she’d had on earlier, and damn, it looked great on her. But I couldn’t start thinking about the way the dress hugged her curves when her life had just fallen apart.
I hung her coat and purse on the hook by the door. “Do you want something else to wear?”
