Page 17 of I’d Never Date my Best Friend…Again

“Hi.” She rises slowly, smiling at me.

“How have you been, Penny?” I ask. “Feeling okay?

“I’m still a bit sore, but overall I’m feeling good.” She meets my eyes, and I see a vulnerability there. “I wanted to give you a call to thank you, but I don’t have your number.”

I see the opportunity she’s laid out for me, and yet I hesitate to take it. Instead, I wave my hand to diminish what she said. “It’s okay, you don’t have to thank me.”

Her mouth falls open slightly, and disappointment crosses her eyes, but she recovers quickly. “I have to, though. You saved my life. Like a superhero.” She laughs, but I don’t. My heart tugs painfully when the laughter clears from her face, and she lowers her lashes.

A pregnant silence stretches between us, and I wonder when she’ll take the cue and leave. Instead, she looks up at me again, hope in her eyes. “I just left Espresso Yourself. I decided it was time to stop hiding, and I’m so glad I did.”

“That’s great,” I force a smile.

“I saw Evie. She’s amazing, and so very kind.”

“That’s nice.”

“Are you okay?” she asks, noticing my reluctance to talk. “I kind of feel like…” she falters. For a moment, I feel my walls drop. I long to hold her in my arms and tell her everything will be okay, immediately I feel myself recoil at the thought and put my walls firmly back in place.

“I’m fine,” I say neutrally.

She stares at me for a moment longer before crouching again and rubbing her hand across Tex’s sides. “You’re such a good boy,” she coos. “Thank you for finding me the other day. I owe you a treat.”

Tex licks her face, and she laughs before rising. When she looks at me, there’s no laughter in her eyes. “It was great seeing you,” she says politely. “Excuse me.”

She brushes past me, and I feel some regret for a moment. I immediately continue my walk. I despise how I acted, but I need to keep my distance. My brain supports my decision, telling me it’s the right thing to do, but my heart won’t stop bleeding.

As I walk away, an image of Penny and I watching the stars on the mountain crosses my mind. My chest clenches, and I feel my stomach dip. The physical pain is overwhelming. I pause on the sidewalk, shutting my eyes tightly against the image in my head. We were so young and happy. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to ever return to that place again. We are different now. I doubt things could ever be the same again. But there is a part of me that longs to be wrong.

Tex tugs on the leash, and I open my eyes. “You’re so impatient,” I tell him, but he isn’t paying me any mind. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I take it out, smiling when I see Sean’s name on the screen as I answer his call.

“This is Liam,” I say. “Not Jessica. You have the wrong number.”

Sean laughs heartily. He’s known world-wide for that laugh of his, and it makes ladies all over the world swoon. My team members would always tease me about my famous, movie star brother. “You’re so silly. Keep my fiancé’s name out of your mouth.”

I can’t help but laugh with him. “What’s up, brother?”

“I was just missing you and wanted to see how you were doing. Why do I hear—wait. Are you outside?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes. I am outside. I’m going to Evie’s to get snacks for Tex and me.”

“You finally got your butt out of that house. Is Tex with you?”

“He’s always with me.”

Sean laughs. “Are you going to thank me for Tex or what? I had to force you to accept the dog.”

“I’m hanging up the phone.”

Sean laughs again. “Okay, hold on. I spoke to Kieran,” he says, and I perk. Kieran Mitchell is the CEO of BattleBron Tech, and Sean had suggested speaking to him about job opportunities for me.

“Really?” I probe Sean. “What did he say?”

“He might have a job for you,” Sean answers.

“Truly? What kind?”

“It’s a coding job. They design video games and only employ veterans.”

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