Page 41 of If Our Hearts Collide

“I’ll be counting down the seconds, Not My Bodyguard.”

8

PENNY

As soon as Claire and Angie catch sight of me entering Plus None, they greet me with a group hug. At one point I would cringe over this level of affection, but considering the turmoil my emotions have been in all week, I am welcoming the comfort that their embrace provides.

These women love me. Not just because they are forced to as we are family—but because we all share a common bond.

Each one of us has been the carrier of pain, and with suffering comes understanding.

Angie and Clairegetme.

“Good seeing you ladies again so soon.” My words come out muffled, as my mouth is pressed into fabric. I try not to squeeze too hard, since Claire has mentioned how sore her breasts have become.

She has to be the cutest pregnant person ever. Despite my brother being overbearing on a good day, I understand why he is so. He just wants to keep her as happy and comfortable as possible.

From the looks of her swollen feet, I’m wondering how much relaxing she can possibly do here at HH. I mean, she has a freaking treadmill under her stand-up desk.

How she managed to get Nic not to veto that arrangement is pure magic.

“Plan to see more of us,” Angie chimes in. “We have a lot of discussing to do.”

“Oh boy,” I mutter, knowing full well what their intentions are in inviting me here today. I catch Collins dropping off the pastry box out of the corner of my eye. “You are welcome to help yourself before you go about your”—I wave my hand in the air while thinking about my next word—“mission.”

I honestly don’t know what he’s going to do for the next couple of hours. He’ll probably be bored out of his mind just hanging around loitering. I know I would. It takes everything in me not to snap at him to go home and learn some hobby—maybe even a musical instrument or second language—but I know he won’t. He is just too loyal and too disciplined to veer from his target—me.

“I appreciate it, but I’m good,” he calls back.

I wave goodbye at him as he slips from the room, quietly exiting our ladies’ brunch without a word.

Maybe that’s what his presence will be in my life, just a soft reminder that he is here to look out for me, but will not interfere in how I want to spend each of my days.

Surely, we can come to some type of understanding, because if I know anything about my brothers, they aren’t going to back down—even if I protest. That will just spur them on further and probably stick me with two guards instead of one.

I know they are worried about me. The thing is…

I’m also worried about me.

As much as I want to thrive, I’m concerned that everything outside of Soulful Mind will get sabotaged by my own inability to see the world for what it is.

I’m jaded. And jaded people have a hard time finding happiness.

The last thing I need is to feel like a failure before ever really trying.

“Please tell me there’s sugar in that box,” Claire groans with delight, eyeing what I brought. She always has a way of making those around her relax. “I’m at the stage in my pregnancy where eating an entire key lime pie is normal. And I’m starving. Feels like I haven’t eaten in a week.”

“Or an hour ago,” Angie teases, grabbing the box of pastries and moving it into another room that is an offshoot from the main office space.

“Hey, I’m making another human in here”—Claire points to her belly—“and the thing basically never sleeps and treats me like its Snack Bitch.”

Angie giggles, coming back out of the room. “Sure, blame the baby.”

“Oh, I do. For basically making its daddy want to trap me in some gilded cage for safekeeping.”

“I’m sure he’ll spare no expense on the cage though,” I tease, making Claire laugh. “Just sayin’.”

Angie places a hand around my back. “Come, check out the brunch setup. We have a lot of talking to do.”

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