Page 87 of Penny & Royce

Royce shook his head as he pulled on his shoes.

“I’ll have my lawyer get in touch,” she finally allowed herself to say.

His head snapped to hers, and he straightened to his full height before walking toward her.

He didn’t touch her.

Somehow, that made it worse.

“This isn’t over, Penny.” His voice was low and wrecked. “Clearly, you need space. You need to think things through and decide if this is really what you want.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“I know what I want,” he said. “I want you. I want our marriage. And I’m not signing paperwork that says otherwise unless you can look me in the eye and tell me, after you’ve had time to breathe, that you don’t want to be with me anymore.”

She sucked in a sharp breath.

He looked like he wanted to kiss her.

For one awful, aching second, she wanted him to.

But he didn’t.

He only held her gaze as if memorizing her.

Then he turned and left.

It was only after Royce had closed the door behind him that she allowed herself to crumple back to the couch and sob for everything she’d lost, for a future she couldn’t allow, and for the piece of her heart she wasn’t sure she’d ever get back.

22

ROYCE

Rain.

How fitting.

The quiet rhythmic thud of the drops colliding with the window seemed to echo in the Uber he’d called. It added to the pounding in his head, reminding him that he was a fool to believe he’d have any sort of control when it came to his life with Penny.

He wasn’t thrilled with the fact that he had to get a ride. Penny had brought him to her place after his accident, and he hadn’t had a chance to get his truck. Going home was the last thing he wanted to do, but there wasn’t anywhere else for him to go.

The last couple of days had been heaven.

Until they weren’t.

In truth, he’d thought he wouldn’t have to step foot on Meyers property for a good long while. Unfortunately, he never could have foreseen what had happened that morning. It wasstill unclear how his family and Penny’s family had managed to show up at the same time. But based on the anger and surprise Royce had witnessed firsthand, he had to believe none of it was planned.

This was just the universe’s way of messing with him.

The car pulled to a stop, and Royce couldn’t bring himself to move. His limbs were leaden. Even if he wanted to drag himself from the car at this moment, he wasn’t sure he could.

Someone cleared his throat.

The driver.

He turned toward Royce with a concerned look on his face. But it was a mask. He didn’t really care beyond getting Royce out of his car. “You okay?” he murmured.

Royce nodded, reached for the door handle, then forced a small smile. “Yeah, man. I’m good. Thanks.”