Page 89 of A Whirlwind of Color (The Light to My Darkness 2)

“You can go if you need to,” I said.

He pulled his phone away from his ear. “Yeah, I’m not leaving you out here alone. James would kill me.”

“It sounds like Jen will kill you if you don’t. I talked to James about it earlier. He thinks that crazy doctor is long gone. You’ve seen no sign that he’s around. Trust me, I can take care of myself.” I thought about when I'd kneed Tyler in the balls in the chapter I had read. I was kick ass. “And I’ll head back now if it makes you feel better.”

He glanced at his phone and then back at me.

“Really. Go.”

“Are you sure?”

I looked around. It was late, but there were a few people still walking through Central Park. I was safe here. “I’m sure.”

He put his cell back up to his ear. “I’ll be there in a few minutes, baby. Love you too.” He hung up. “Let me just walk you back real quick.”

“Ian, I’m fine. See?” I started walking backwards in the direction we had come. “I even know the way.”

He laughed. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. And thank you. You’re right, she was probably going to kill me.”

I smiled and waved before he turned and started walking in the opposite direction.

This was what I had wanted anyway. A little time to myself and some fresh air. I took a deep breath. The air didn’t seem as stale in the park. I slowly walked back toward the apartment.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I glanced over my shoulder, but no one was there. Why did I keep feeling like someone was watching me? Usually I could dismiss it because I knew the security detail was tailing me. But tonight? Ian was gone. No one else knew I was out here.

I picked up my pace. So much for a relaxing stroll. But I had gotten everything I needed from this walk. Talking to Ian was exactly what I had needed. I’d always had issues with self-confidence. It made sense that they plagued me into adulthood. But it didn’t mean I was depressed. If anything, it would have just made me want to prove that I was worthy of James. I smiled to myself. That was probably what the book was for. And the pen name. All of it. I wanted to show him that I wasn’t just some stupid trophy wife. But James already knew that. I could tell by the way he looked at me.

“Penny? Penny is that you?”

I turned around, expecting to see Ian. But it was an older man jogging up to me. His gray hair was slightly askew and looked in bad need of a cut. Really, he looked disheveled in general. But he also looked familiar. Just like the scenes in the book felt familiar. And the dreams I’d been having.

“Oh, it is you.” He smiled. He had a perfectly white, straight smile that did not at all fit with the rest of him. I would have guessed he was homeless before he smiled. But now that he was closer, I could tell he definitely wasn’t homeless. He was just a little dirty. Like he had accidentally fallen asleep out here. Or rolled around in the grass. Or something. I studied him as he brushed a leaf off his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” I asked.

“Yes, yes. I’m a good friend of Jon’s. We’ve met before but it’s been several years.”

“Jon?” I racked my brain. “James’ father?”

He nodded. “Indeed. I’m so glad I caught you. I heard about what happened, dear. How are you feeling?”

“Better now.”

“Good.” He smiled. “Do you want to sit and catch up for a moment?” He gestured to a park bench off to the side of the path.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t. I really must be getting back.”

He coughed. “I understand.” And then he coughed again. And again.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He kept coughing.

“Do you want me to go get a water bottle?”

“No,” he wheezed. “I just need to sit down.”

“Here.” I helped him over to the bench he had pointed to before.

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