Page 40 of Where We Promise

I knew Wanda knew and might even tell me if I asked, but I was extremely reluctant to drag her into anything. Mostly because I didn’t want anything getting back to Penny that I had been asking about her.

She didn’t need to know that I couldn’t sleep at night because I was so worried about where she might be. Or that sometimes I felt sick when I thought about how our last interaction went. How I had lied and hurt her.

She was gone, and I deserved the way her absence felt.

Days turned into weeks.

Each new day I’d stare at Miles’ house, seeing Wanda’s car, wondering if I should just ask.

I’d scoured social media for her accounts, and found nothing.

All I had to do was walk over and ask…but each and every day, I’d get as far as their gate and then chicken out.

It was the third week of being a complete and total chicken shit when Wanda must have caught on to what I was doing because her screen door slapped open the second my feet neared the chain-linked fence bordering Miles’ front yard.

“Jameson King, what on earth are you doing?”

I froze, my hand about to grip the fence but dropping half way. My face burned.

“Sorry, nothing. Didn’t mean to bother you.”

She waved me off. “You’re doing no such thing, but I have noticed you hesitating around the property these last few weeks. Why don’t you come in and tell me what’s going on.”

I glanced up the drive, toward the clubhouse. Maybe I should just take off, leave it. Wherever Pen was, she was likely better off. I wanted her to leave, and she had.

I just didn’t want to be shut out, not knowing anything about where she’d gone.

My jaw tensed as I considered.

“You want an update on Pen?” Wanda asked quietly, her arms crossed over her chest.

Her words were like a rope tossed around my numb, bruised heart. I opened the gate and followed her inside.

Wanda bustled around her small kitchen; it was tidy and clean. The whole house was clean and well-cared-for. The table caught a few glaring strands of sunlight peeking through the tall tree in their backyard.

“How’s your dad feeling these days?” Wanda asked, setting a glass of ice tea in front of me.

“Thank you. He’s okay…tired and weak but in good spirits.”

Terror seemed to flicker in her gaze for just a singular second, but it was gone with a quick blink and a returning smile.

“Well, he’s strong. We’re still praying he pulls through completely.”

Gene and Wanda had suddenly become very religious, finding God in nearly everything and working him into every conversation. I was curious how it worked with Miles, or if it was just something he let her have, like a hobby.

“Penny hasn’t reached out to you then, I take it?” Wanda finally asked, carefully sitting in the chair across from me.

I sipped my tea, keeping my face blank.

Wanda smiled. “She’s mad at you. You hurt her feelings.”

That was almost a year ago. She’d given me the silent treatment for months. Dated Ryker for a few months, then she moved on to some jock from school. I watched, letting the laceration in my chest grow to agonizing lengths because I deserved it.

I had stolen her first kiss, and it was only because at the time, I refused to accept that another would claim it. She’d likely go on to kiss tons of other men, have sex, even one day become a mom if she wanted to…but that first kiss would always trace back to me.

I’d be branded on her forever, whether she wanted me or not.

“I know she’s mad…I just wanted to know if she’s okay.”

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