Page 64 of Cowboy Devil's Embrace

And yeah, it was ugly.

“Oh my God, Penelope. Don’t cry! I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset,” she said, running around to where I stood so she could hug me.

“Hush now, Pretty Penny,” she tried, but it was too late.

My nose had already started running, and I didn’t even get to the snorting part.

God, I hated crying.

“Things were going so well. H-he even knocked B-Burt on his ass. I ran into him and K-Kelly at the snack stand. But after a couple of light kisses, he stopped. We literally just sat in the back of his truck, which he took time to decorate, and we watched the movies?—”

“Both movies?” she asked, eyes wide.

I nodded, blowing my nose in my apron.

Shit. I needed to change that.

I took it off and walked to the other side of the kitchen, throwing the soiled apron in the dirty linens bin.

Last night I’d been disappointed but happy. Hopeful even. Maybe that date would lead to others.

But now, well, now I felt like shit.

“Maybe there is something wrong with me,” I muttered and stepped away from Avery with my arms wide, fully aware I was being dramatic.

“No, Penny, there is nothing wrong with you.”

“Really? Cause Burt thought there was. I mean, he sat through two long ass Alfred Hitchcock movies, and he didn’t try anything,” I told her, and now, I was hiccuping again.

“Maybe he’s just a super Hitchcock fan,” she said lamely.

“What’s wrong with me, Avery? I mean, I never wanted to believe the negative things Burt said about my lack of sex appeal, but maybe he was right. Maybe I let myself go. I mean, I’m chubby, and short, and I am not getting younger,” I said and sniffled.

“What? No! God no! Burt is a turd, Penny. Now, move over, I am going to give that jerk a piece of my mind!” she snapped and pushed by me to grab my cell phone off the charging stand on the far counter.

“What are you doing?”

“I am calling your date to give him a piece of my mind,” she said.

“What? You can’t yell at Max for being a perfect gentleman,” I sputtered, but it was too late.

She’d dialed, and I was across the kitchen. By the time I got there, Avery was on a roll.

“You miserable louse!” she screeched.

I was so stunned. I didn’t know what to do. And I couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, which was pretty dang annoying.

“Avery? What are you—oh my God!”

“How dare you take my best friend out and then leave her at the door! You think you’re too good for her or something?”

Pause.

“I am standing right here with her, and she isn’t even having a hard time walking. Just what kind of man are you? You know I just updated her dating app profile, and she’s had six men ask her out in the last ten minutes.”

Pause.

“What dating app?” I whispered, because as far as I knew I had zero profiles on any dating apps whatsoever.

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