Page 95 of Rival Season
I breathe a humorless laugh. “Yeah, I am.”
Spinning on my heel, I stride out of the restaurant, leaving my parents gaping behind me.
I hear Chadwick mutter a snide comment, but I pay no attention. I know exactly what I want…whoI want.
Because just like I belong with Penn, he belongs with me, too. No matter what, and I need him to know that.
Rushing out of the restaurant, I look left and right along the busy downtown sidewalk. I don’t immediately spot Penn, and my heart races, unsure what direction he might have gone in.
But then I see him, towering over everyone else. He’s waiting at a crosswalk a block away, his hands in his jean pockets. I take off in a sprint, hoping to catch him before he gets further away from me.
My lungs burn as I run down the sidewalk, zigzagging through the pedestrians in my way. I keep my eyes trained on Penn’s head so I don’t lose track of him. The light for the crosswalk switches towalk,and I groan as he strides across the street.
I really need to do more cardio, my legs are screaming at me.
As I reach the crosswalk, I try to yell over the crowd. “Penn!”
He doesn’t slow, clearly not hearing me.
“Penn! Wait up!” I try again.
He keeps walking.
My pace slows as I grow tired. Why are his legs so long? Even walking, his stride is faster than my sprint.
“Playboy!”
He stops finally, turning slowly to look over his shoulder. When he sees me running, his face lights up.
I reach him and bend at the waist to catch my breath, resting my elbows on my knees. “Why…are you…so fast?” I huff and puff between each word.
“Sorry, being fast is kind of my job.”
Standing back up, still breathing heavily, I meet his gaze. His blue eyes are soft and warm as he patiently waits for me to regulate my breathing.
“I’m so sorry about everything my family said. I don’t know what happened in your past, but I’ll listen whenever you’re ready to share it with me, and I won’t judge you.”
Penn hangs his head. “Youshouldjudge me for it. It didn’t go down quite like Chadwick said, but he wasn’t lying. I royally screwed up and I let everyone down. My team, my coaches, Cassie…myself.”
“Did you kill someone?”
“What? No.”
“Horribly maim or assault them?”
“No, but?—”
“Then I don’t care.” I take a step closer to him. “I need you to know, there’s not one thing you could tell me that would make me doubt you. You’re kind, caring, and thoughtful.” Reaching out, I slide my hands into his. “I don’t care what you’ve done in the past, I love the man that you are now. I love that you always put me first. I love the way I feel when I’m with you. I loveyou, Penn.”
His eyes widen in surprise, and I wonder briefly if I said too much, too soon. But then his face breaks into a slow, delighted smile. “I love you too, Hazel.”
Penn’s hands release mine, then one rough palm is sliding against my cheek as he leans in and kisses me. Penn’s other hand wraps around my waist, landing on my lower back then pulling my body against his. His kiss starts soft and sweet, but then I reach both arms around his neck and he slides his tongue against mine. We stand there on the sidewalk, lost in each other and not caring about the hustle and bustle around us. Nothing has ever been so perfectly imperfect as the two of us here in this moment, together.
Penn finally leans back, gazing down at me like I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. “I’m sorry I stormed out back there.”
“Don’t be,” I tell him.
“Good. Because I’m sorry I left, but I’m not sorry for anything I said in your defense.” Penn’s mouth slides into a smirk. “I figured I wasn’t getting into your mom’s good graces anytime soon, so I might as well give her a piece of my mind.”
