Page 27 of Regrets

I know that too.

I stand up, holding onto her bare shoulders as the water starts to cool. “Get yourself cleaned up. My mother will be here soon, and you fucking owe me.”

I release her and climb out of the shower, stripping and wrapping a towel around my waist before going to my bedroom to change.

Hating this game with Penelope. Wishing that I could actually hate her and be done with it all.

15

PENELOPE

THREE YEARS AGO

Linc was right, money talks. It was less than a week after our talk in the park that I moved into his parents’ house, under the same roof as all the Sterlings, with the exception of Lola who is away at college.

I’ve only been here for a month, and I know it’s a terrible idea, but it’s safe.

From physical abuse anyway. Nora wasted no time decorating my new room that’s located on the basement level and making me feel right at home.

She was thrilled when I finally took her up on her offer to move in but absolutely horrified when she saw what was left of my black eye. She held me so close to her chest, I didn’t think she’d ever let me go.

And I didn’t want her to.

She didn’t look at me like I was disgusting or tainted, but I hated the look of sadness on her beautiful face, knowing she was aching for me.

I prefer to suffer in silence. I don’t want to transfer my stains to the people I’ve grown to love. I hate the idea of polluting their beautiful life with my filth. I know Linc said that they’re far fromperfect, but from where I’m standing after the things I’ve seen in sixteen years, I know they’re damn close.

Case in point, Mr. Sterling surprised Nora with a getaway for the weekend and whisked her off for two days of rest and relaxation at a couples’ spa. Why would he do that if he’s having an affair?

Maybe it was just something Linc said to try to get me to think they aren’t so perfect. Maybe he’s once again messing with me. Because that’s what Linc does. He loves to mess with my head, playing games with me since I was nine and he was eleven.

The house is quiet, Asher is asleep. Colt went to bed two hours ago and who the hell knows where Linc is. I should just go to bed, but I’m not really used to the big, quiet house still. I’m more accustomed to loud neighborhoods and chaos.

I decide to sneak up to the top floor where most of the bedrooms are located, being careful on the creaky stairs so I don’t wake Ash.

I walk past Colt’s bedroom and see the door is closed. I walk past the master bedroom that’s empty tonight, and as I’m passing Linc’s room I notice the door is open a few inches with a dim light on that catches my eye.

I guess Linc is home tonight.

He hasn’t been home much lately, already enjoying being eighteen and close to graduation.

I’m careful with my next step, not wanting to gain his attention sneaking to Colt’s bedroom in the middle of the night, but I freeze when I hear a soft whimper coming from his room.

I should just keep walking. I know I should, but curiosity is an evil bitch. So I peer into his room through the small opening.

My gasp catches in my throat when I see Linc standing by his bed.

Naked.

Completely and utterly naked. He’s faced away from me, but I can still make out his firmly sculpted ass and the muscles of his legs. From the side, I can see his toned arms and the cut and definition of his abs and a deep V of his hips.

Shit. Run, Penelope.

This isn’t right, and I know it. But my feet are planted to the floor because he’s not alone.

The whimper I heard was feminine.

I lower my eyes to the floor where a pretty blond I don’t recognize kneels in front of him. The room is lit only by a small lamp near the bed, but I can see the movement of her head near his groin and can figure out what she’s doing to him as his head slowly falls back with the sexiest deep, manly growl I’ve ever heard in my life.

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