Page 157 of Loved
“It would make up for those terrible things your ex-wife said to us,” Matt agreed.
“Absolutely not,” I said firmly. “Penny is my fiancée. Which means she’s off-limits.”
Rob shook his head. “How many times do I have to remind you that an engagement ring is more of a yield sign than a stop sign?”
“More like a green light really,” Mason said. “The diamond is practically a beacon, calling out to get triple-teamed.”
I rolled my eyes. I knew they were joking. But still.
Matt rubbed his hands together. “The only question is how we decide who goes where. I’m thinking we play rock, paper, scissors.”
“I’m already rock hard just thinking about it,” Mason said.
Penny sighed.
We all turned toward her.
“I just knew it,” she said. “I knew you’d all be like Rob.”
Mason laughed. “Like Rob? Never.”
“A little like Rob,” she said and set down a huge platter of waffles, eggs, and bacon. “Because you’re all clearly joking around at my expense. Just like Rob.” She gave Rob a fake stern look.
I was glad she wasn’t actually upset. She knew it was just guy talk. And I was surprised how seamlessly she fit in with my friends. I shouldn’t have been surprised though. Because she already got along great with Rob.
Mason grabbed a plate. “You seriously think we’re just like Rob? That is the worst thing you could ever say to someone.”
Rob elbowed his side and they both laughed.
It felt like old times. For real. The four of us. Well, the five of us now. I definitely preferred it the five of us.
I pulled Penny onto my lap. “Thank you for this, Penny.”
“You’re welcome, Professor Hunter,” she whispered into my ear.
Matt choked on his waffle. “Did she just call you Professor Hunter?”
Ah, for fuck’s sake.But it was strange. I didn’t actually feel angry. I expected to. Normally I would have lashed out. But…I loved when Penny called me Professor Hunter. I loved the way we were together. And all I could do was smile. I didn’t even have to remind myself to breathe.
I promised myself I’d be a better man for Penny. And I was better when I was around her. I was better when I was with my friends.
I’d put so much pressure on myself for as long as I could remember. Trying to please my parents. Trying to be something I wasn’t meant to be. But really, life was simple when you really looked at it.
It wasn’t about being a CEO. Or a perfect son. Or a great friend all the time. Or even about being a professor.
I was just a man. Who’d fallen in love with a beautiful woman. She knew all my demons. And she chose to love me back in spite of them.
I kissed the side of her neck. “I love you,” I whispered.
She turned to look up at me. She looked so happy. So carefree. So fucking gorgeous.
“I love you,” she said and pressed her lips against mine.
She wasn’t asking me to be better. She wasn’t asking anything of me at all. She just loved me. For me.
I guess even some monsters deserved to be loved.
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