Page 41 of Some Like It Scandalous
“With or without tongue?”
“None of your business.”
“Definitely means without. Go on.” Something squeaked in the background, followed by a clicking noise and a long inhale.
“Penny, are you smoking again?”
“Nope.” She blew out a breath. “And we’re not talking about me, we’re talking about you and Charming Charlie. So we have one and a half kisses on his side. What’s next?”
She promised herself to get after her sister later. “Next Nikole let it slip in some interview that she and Charlie were engaged…” Even though she’d realized it wasn’t true, the words had hurt.
“That bitch.” God love a sister who immediately championed her cause. Anna summarized the rest—Sebastian’s confession, Armand’s dismissal and her confusion over it all.
She didn’t know whether they were coming or going. Less than a week ago, he was still a relic of her past—a huge relic—but that was where she kept him, safe and secure in a memory box that she could take out late at night. But now, he was here in her present, so alive, virile and strong.
“What was I supposed to do?”
“What do you want to do?”
Kiss him. Slap him. Scream. Leave. Stay.
I don’t want a death threat forcing him to keep me close when clearly we are better off apart.
But she said none of that. She hadn’t told anyone—particularly her family—about the threats, she didn’t want her family to know. “I don’t know.” Anna sighed. “I don’t know what I want. We were done—dead and buried.”
“Bullshit.” The flat tone cut off her self-pity. “You two haven’t been over since the day you came home.”
“Penny!”
“No, you know it was one thing when you were moping around and refusing to talk about it. Everyone danced on eggshells because you looked like hell. You missed him so bad,my hearthurt. But it was your business and we all took your side because he lied—but Anna, come on, you’re smarter than this. You want something, you go after it.”
“He’s ordering me around like I’m some servant, that doesn’t say he wants me, Pen.”
“No, it says you burned him and he doesn’t want to be burned again.” She didn’t mince her words. “You know what your problem is?”
“I’m guessing you’re going to tell me.” Were they really sending each other mixed signals?
“Yup. You think too much. You forget that half of a relationship is how good the other person makes you feel—and Charlie makes you feel great. You’ve sounded more like you in this last week with all the insanity than you have in years. You know what your other mistake is?” Penny continued without waiting for an answer. “You’re on the phone with me instead of going out there and making your prince come.”
Anna sat straight up. “Penny!”
“Yeah, you were thinking it, I just said it. So now I’m going to do you the best favor of your life. I’m going to hang up now?—”
“Penny.”
“I hear an orgasm calling your name. Ta-ta for now!” The phone clicked in her ear and Anna stared at it. Every time she thought her little sister couldn’t shock her more, she dispensed her own peculiar blend of wisdom and snark.
She could sit here and continue to feel sorry for herself or she could beard the lion in his den. Anxiety twined around the fear in her gut. What if he really didn’t want her anymore?
Then I’ll know—we’ll both know—and we can stop hurting each other once and for all.
Leaving the phone in the middle of the bed, she crossed to the door and headed out. This called for a bottle of wine and two glasses.
Time to rip the Band-Aid off…
Chapter 12
Anna
