Page 91 of Penny & Royce

Royce chuckled as he brought his soda to his lips. “I’m not making any promises.”

23

PENNY

One week.

One week of restless nights.

One week of fighting the triggers of her anxiety.

Penny couldn’t seem to keep anything down. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make herself eat. Her appetite was completely shot. She had taken to carting around ginger ale and saltine crackers, but nothing seemed to be helping.

She couldn’t focus at work, which was probably the worst side effect of telling Royce they were over.

Except it didn’t feel like they were over.

Penny had reached out to a lawyer and discussed her options regarding her marriage. Apparently, they didn’t have grounds for an annulment. They’d consummated the marriage, and they’d both been of sound mind when they’d said their vows. Nothing illegal had been at play. According to her lawyer, the terms for divorce required them to agree that the marriage was irrevocably broken.

That was one of the biggest reasons for her anxiety.

Penny didn’t want a divorce. She was very much in love with Royce, and she knew he was aware of her feelings. Combined with the fact that he more than likely felt the same, the process for a divorce would be difficult.

Royce was stubborn, and she had no doubt he’d stick to his final word from the day he’d left her apartment.

That thought had her reaching for the wastebasket beneath her desk and losing the contents of her stomach right then and there. Sweat dotted her forehead, and she closed her eyes as she pressed her head against the soothing, cool wooden surface of her desk.

Her nausea was getting worse.

She hadn’t thought it possible, but now she was getting worried.

A quiet knock at her office door had her lifting her head with effort. “Come in.”

Penny’s eyes widened when River entered.

Mathew’s fiancée gave her a once-over, then frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Penny smoothed her hands down her blouse as she stood and forced a smile. “Nothing. Everything is great.”

Did her voice sound tight? Absolutely.

Hopefully, River wouldn’t point out that the words didn’t sound like they had an ounce of truth to them.

“What can I do for you? I didn’t see you on my schedule.”

In fact, she’d rearranged her schedule so she could have a day to relax. Heaven knew she needed it.

“That’s because… I’m not.” River glanced over her shoulder, then quietly shut the door behind her. She pressed her back against the wood and continued to study Penny. “You look… Sheesh, Penny, are you feeling okay? You look really pale.”

Penny placed the back of her hand to her forehead and fought the instinct to grimace. “Just dealing with some stomach trouble.”

River nodded and glanced away. Then she brought her attention back to Penny. “Mathew mentioned something the other day.”

Groaning, Penny settled into her seat. “Of course he told you. I should have known better than to believe he’d keep the secret.”

“So you and Royce, huh? That was the guy from the wedding, right?”

Penny stiffened.