Page 69 of Falling for You

“Thank you for allowing Avery to be a part of this,” Carl says as he stands beside me.

“Thank you for saying yes,” I reply, and he chuckles and then states, “It’s not the same, and you know it. From what Pen told me last week, Avery could have damaged your career and nearly succeeded.”

I'm not denying his words. If Xanthe had found out about Avery's allegations, she would have blasted it to everyone who would listen. I’m just lucky my girl noticed she was recording us.

“She’s Penelope’s sister,” I state, “while no I don’t think we’ll have a relationship, I’m willing to be cordial for my girl. She loves her sister, and right now, their relationship is strained, I hate it.”

“Avery made her bed, Taylor. She had no right to call you what she did all because you put your family before her feelings,” Carl sighs, “Since she divorced Harry, she seems to think she deserves everything she demands, and, in some way, she does. She put up with what he did…”

I cut him off, “Only because she wanted to keep her lifestyle,” I look his way, “She could have refused, but she didn’t despite knowing his reputation. While no one deserves to be hit and abused, taking her insecurities out on me was wrong. She knowsthat and she doesn’t deserve everything she demands because you gave her everything while Pen worked her ass off without any support.”

He nods, not disagreeing. “I think it hit home what she did when Tony decided not to share a bed with her, and I believe he’s only just moved back into their bedroom,” Carl admits, and I nod.

“I encouraged him, too,” I reply, and his eyes soften.

“You’re a good guy, Taylor. I’ll be proud to call you my son-in-law,” he says and I smile as the door to the entrance opens. I look in time to see Pen walking in, holding Hudson with Avery trailing behind.

Pen pauses when she looks in and takes in the scene while the room quietens.

“Taylor?” she whispers as our eyes connect, I swallow hard as I put my hand in my right pocket, fisting the ring while Carl pats my back and steps back.

Fuck I hope she says yes because I can’t live another moment without having this girl tied to me in every way.

Chapter 29

Penelope

I shake my head as I hang up, put my phone away, and then look out the window as Hudson babbles behind me while my little sister drives.

“I can’t believe his whole team wants to have a drink with me,” I say as I fight my urge to chuckle.

I want nothing more than to go home, put Hudson to bed, and have a bubble bath with Taylor before having take-out, preferably pizza. But when several men beg you to go celebrate a win, well, how could I say no?

Technically, I should have been at the game. I spoke to Kelly, ensuring I wasn’t put on shift, but early this morning, Doctor James called, claiming a nurse called in sick and the census was high. He guilt-tripped me into saying yes, and I fell for it hook,line, and sinker because I believed he preferred working with me because I didn’t fawn over him.

It turns out he liked that I didn’t fall for his charm and saw me as a challenge. He didn’t care if I had a child or was in love. He decided to meddle, and now he’s going to regret it.

I may have told Taylor that I threatened to go to HR, so he doesn’t get mad and lose it, but I did go because he also tried to corner me, claiming I wanted him.

Doctor James has been put on probation and will no longer be on shift with me and four other medical personnel because he was too touchy with them.

Shame, really, because he’s one hell of a doctor, just a shitty person.

“You're loved, big sister,” Avery replies, “They see how happy you make their captain and want to celebrate with you and him together.”

I smile and confess, “He makes me even happier,” and Avery sighs.

“I really messed up,” she admits, and I don’t deny her because she did. “I saw myself as entitled after what I went through with Harry.”

I remind her, “You didn’t deserve what happened to you, so don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way, but you knew what you were signing up for, Avery.” She squeezes her hands on the wheel, hating the truth, but I continue, “You knew Harry’s reputation, yet you still went through with it because you didn’t know how to fend for yourself, allowing our parents to pay for everything.”

I shake my head, look out the window, and utter, “You have had everything handed to you, giving you an easy life. You seemed to think you could deal with Harry’s abusive side, but you bit off more than you could chew.”

Avery sniffles and with a creaky voice says, “You sound like you resent me.”

I sigh and look her way, and admit, “In a way, I do because I worked my ass off to even get into college. I didn’t have any help from our parents while you lived a life of luxury. While, yes, you didn’t want to be a lawyer, you still went through it. You’ve never had to fend for yourself. I begged you not to marry him, Avery, I begged you to move in with me, but you thought you knew best. Even when you realized the guy you slept with was going to be your brother-in-law, you still married Harry and then had an affair. So yes, I resented you, but I still loved you. You are my sister, I’ve always defended and stood by you and your choices, even when our family left me behind I still supported you. Even when you sided with Dad because he was paying for your school, leaving me alone during my pregnancy with Hudson. But how you spoke to Taylor, accusing him of being a woman beater all because he put me and my son before you, well, you were out of line, big time. Now you’ve ruined the brother/sister kind of relationship you could have had with the best guy I know, and honestly, I have never been more disappointed in you for your unwarranted nasty words to him.”

Hudson begins to fuss, and I sigh, knowing he needs a feeding.

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