Page 188 of If Our Hearts Collide

“That’s pretty much my permanent emotion at this point.”

“Good to know.”

She gives me a look. “Is it?”

“Yes. Now I’ll know not to try to get your impression of me to change—yet.”

I get another look and a small smirk. I might not even have noticed it if I wasn’t so tunnel-visioned toward this girl.

Then I hear her stomach growl.

“Let’s get you some food.”

Penny shifts her weight to her other foot. “I’ll have to go back to my apartment first. I forgot to bring my purse with my money.”

“I have it covered, Penny. You don’t need to ever worry about money.”

“But I can pay for it with my own money. I don’t need yours.”

“True. But if you pay for it now, I’ll just add it back into your account later. This saves me a step.”

Penny starts to talk but then quickly closes her mouth. And then she opens it again, but never says another word about my revelation.

We exit the gym and walk into a little cafe just a block from Sky View.

“What are you in the mood for?” I ask, scanning the menu.

At least Penny doesn’t seem to have many hang-ups when it comes to food options. She always seems to find something she likes.

“Umm, maybe the…”

An odd feeling hits me all at once, and I glance around the venue.

Something is off.

And if there’s anything I’ve learned in the past, it’s always to trust my instincts.

Reaching for Penny, I gently pull her by her arm to me.

“We have to go.”

Her eyes dart to mine. “What? Why?”

“Something doesn’t seem right. I need you out of here.”

Reaching for my cell, I call Chris. “Corner of Birchview and Norris.”

Wrapping an arm around Penny, I guide her outside and onto the sidewalk. We are really close to our apartment, so I opt to just walk her home.

“You are scaring me,” she says softly.

My eyes keep moving, looking for anything even slightly out of place.

We pass by several groups of walkers.

Why is it so crowded at this time of the day?

When I get us into the lobby at Sky View, I motion for a worker to come closer.

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