Page 15 of Regrets

“We need to go, Penelope.”

“We can take her home, man. No problem.” One of them grins, and I see him nudge his little friend with his elbow, both ogling P.

“She’s going home with me.”

“Not yet, I’m not.” She sounds like a fucking child as she moves to stand between the two guys, hooking her arms in theirs. “I’m going to have some fun first.”

“The hell you are, Penelope.” I stand in front of douchebag number one, puffing my chest out and looking him in the eye with warning. “She’s coming with me.”

He looks nervous, shifting from one foot to the other. “She doesn’t seem to want to go with you.”

“She doesn’t have a choice.” I look at Penelope. “We’re leaving.”

“You’re not my fucking boss, Linc. I told you a long time ago I don’t need you to protect me.” She unhooks her arms from the assholes and places her hands on her hips. “I’m a big girl.”

I’m so fucking annoyed, but I can’t leave her with these assholes no matter how bratty she’s acting. I move quickly, lifting her small body up and placing her over my shoulder, carrying her out to my car, kicking and screaming like a toddler.

If only it were true, and she didn’t need me to look after her.

There was a time when I couldn’t not do it, but now I’d kill for her not to be my responsibility.

9

LINC

THREE YEARS AGO

“Come on, P. Answer the fucking door!”

“Linc, maybe she’s not home.” My brother stands next to me outside Penelope’s shitty foster home. She hasn’t been to our house for two days, and that’s fucking weird for her.

I bang on the door again. “I know you’re here! Your bike’s out front.”

My parents offered to buy her a car, but Penelope wasn’t having it because she’s a real pain in the ass. She did, however, let them buy her a bike for her sixteenth birthday.

“We aren’t leaving until we see you.”

Colt looks around the shitty neighborhood, looking worried. I swear his face looks the same as it did the first day we met P. We come from the same privileged background, but this type of setting definitely makes my brother uncomfortable.

He likes to hold his girlfriend close in his world but rarely steps into hers.

“Maybe we should go.”

“No fucking way. We’re here.” I turn back to the door and raise my voice, “And we aren’t leaving until we see P.”

Colt grips the back of his neck anxiously, and then finally the door opens slowly. Penelope barely peeks her head out, only the left side of her face visible. “What are you guys doing here?”

“You in hiding or something?” I ask, and Colt stiffens next to me, probably having the same uneasy feeling I have, only he shows it on his face and I’m much better at hiding it.

“No. I’ve just been busy.”

“Too busy to come and see us?” Colt sounds almost hurt.

“Why don’t you come out here and hang out for a bit?” I try to coax her out, but she looks like a frightened kitten, unmoving and not allowing the door to open more.

“I can’t. You guys should go before my foster parents get home.”

She starts to close the door, but I stop her, placing my hand in and opening the door further.

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