Page 43

But here she is, tears as clear as the floodlights around the compound running down her cheeks as she makes her way to her bike. Because the woman is so badass in her own right that she rides to a biker club on a motorcycle herself.

“Penny,” Billy calls as she runs to catch up with her from the backyard.

I hunker down as Viv steps in front of me, blocking me from view as we wait in the darkest part of the parking lot by the SUV we’re planning on using.

“Penny, wait,” Billy calls out again, and while Penny gets on her bike, she doesn’t start it up. “Where are you going?”

“Away.” Jack—or Penny, I guess—looks toward the open gate.

“On my engagement day?” Billy cries out in disbelief.

“You’ll be fine. You have him now.” It’s dark, but I can still see the sneer on Penny’s lips. “He” can only be one person: Casper. Does Penny have a thing for him?

I look at Viv, who seems as engrossed in the conversation as I am.

“But I’ll always have you too. Right?” The hope in Billy’s voice has me cringing. I’ve felt that kind of hope and despair before. The kind where you’re almost begging to still belong to something.

But Penny doesn’t answer as she keeps looking away.

I watch Billy. A tear falls down her cheek, which she aggressively brushes away. “Right, of course. How stupid am I? You don’t need anyone. That’s the truth, right?”

Still nothing from Penny, but I see her head tilt. Just enough to let me know that Billy’s words are affecting her, even if her tears have dried. Proving once again that she’s human, normal like everyone else, despite how much she tries to pretend she’s not.

“Why?” I barely catch Billy’s whispered word as the wind carries it between us.

“Why what?” Finally, Penny turns toward the woman she openly calls family.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Penny huffs. “What did you want me to say? That you were right? Fine, Krista, you were right. Happy?”

Krista shakes her head. “No.”

Another huff from Penny. She looks down at her bike as she puts the key in but still doesn’t turn it on. “Typical.”

Movement to the side pulls my eye, but I doubt the women arguing see. They’re too lost in their own world to notice Casper coming to his woman’s aid. But he stills, close enough to hear, but far enough to keep them from seeing him, it seems.

My heart beats in fear at seeing him, wondering if anyone else will show up. Viv and I should have been gone by now. But if we make a move now, our plans will be over before they begin.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Krista’s body jerks as if she’s been slapped.

“You had everything. Everything!” Penny screams, pulling my attention back to them and away from what I should be focused on. “Still, you wanted more.”

“No, I didn’t. I never wanted anything.”

“Yes, yes, you did. You had the family. The home. The boyfriend. Hell, even the kid on the way.”

Krista shakes her head in denial. “I don’t know what you’re saying.”

“You had it all. But somehow you wanted him too. The only thing I had, you wanted.”

“I didn’t. You have to believe me.”

“You spoke to him. I saw you. You… you flirted.” Penny tosses her hands out, gesturing to her sister. “You had everything, but you kept talking to him. Making him laugh. Sharing a smile.”

“Are you serious? I spoke to him because you liked him. I wanted him for you.”

“He still asked you out, though.”