Page 127 of The Shake Off

“Um… sure. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, boss.” I hitched my bag further onto my shoulder. “What would you do if someone made your wife cry?”

“Lowe?” Panic flooded Penn’s face as he searched the tarmac for Lowe, forgetting she hadn’t been on this trip. She’d flown back to New York after Miami. “What’s wrong with Lowe?”

“Nothing, I don’t think. I’m asking you, what would you do if someone made her cry?”

“Oh.” Penn’s eyes widened, and he knew exactly why I was asking. “Um, I’d um…”

Holy shit. Tannerwasright.

Penn Shepherd’s poker face was not as good as he thought, because the only thing I could see right now was a Full House of guilt. I’d also never seen anyone look so uncomfortable.

“I’m asking because my girlfriend was very upset the other night, and someone had been the cause.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Yep, and she can fight her own battles, but this time I don’t want her to. I want her to know I will always be in her corner, and when someone makes her cry, it becomes a problem for me. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Penn frowned, but didn’t reply.

“When I find out who made her cry, there will be a steep price to pay. I’m sure you can understand.” I smiled at him, though it didn’t reach my eyes.

“I’m not sure I can help you.” Penn fixed me with the same stare he had earlier, only this time, he held it for a little longer while he forced a smile that mirrored mine. “It sounds like you’ve figured it all out already, Watson. Now if I’m not mistaken, Max is hollering for you two. I’ll see you in the morning.”

He turned and walked off toward his car.

Parker looked at me like I’d grown another head. “Dude, what the fuck was that?”

I shook my head. “I had the craziest feeling Tanner’s theory was right, so I wanted to see for myself.”

“You’re crazy alright,” he said as we picked up the pace to jog to the buses. “Crazier that Tan was right. Now what you gonna do?”

The answer to that was easy.

“First, I’m going to pitch my ass off so Payton can see I’m not dependent on her to win. Then I’m going to get her back. Shepherd can go fuck himself.”

TWENTY-FIVE

PAYTON

“What’s the plan?”

I shrugged at Kit. “I don’t have one.”

“But you have to have one.”

“Idon’thave one, though.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to wear a boyfriend shirt?”

“Fuck, no,” I shuddered, trying hard not to burn myself with the scalding iron I currently had curled around my hair. “No offense to Marnie, but this is not being put on the big screen. No fucking way. Besides, it’s a totally different situation. I’m just saying yes to him asking if we can see each other in daylight.”

Kit rolled her eyes, and put down the makeup brush she’d been dusting over her face. “How romantic.”

“Whatever, it’s a big step for me. I’m asking him to date me.”

She leaned over, planting a kiss on my head. “I know, babe. I know. I’m proud of you.”

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