Page 5 of Mr. Swoony

Penelope and I stumble through, and Conor joins us on the sidewalk, flagging down a cab. I stand on the sidewalk as Penelope sinks further into my hold.

“Why are you still here?” I ask.

“You already forgot?” He moves his hand from left to right on his chest. “I’m a fixer.”

“The earth is spinning,” Penelope whispers. Her eyes fall closed, and her body goes limp right before she sways.

Conor rushes over, catching her before she crashes her head onto the cement.

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do now. I can’t possibly carry Penelope around once it’s time to get out of the cab. I consider calling Tristan for only about half a second. He’ll be pissed if I interrupt his bachelor party with the guys, regardless of the situation.

Conor opens the cab’s back door and gets Penelope inside. Though I try not to, it’s impossible not to notice all those muscles he has to use to push her to the other side. Then he straightens beside the car and holds the door open for me. “Your chariot awaits.”

“I have always dreamed of a yellow taxi, thank you.” I cover my heart with my hand and slide in. “Really though, thanks for helping, and I hope you have a great season next year.”

I reach forward to grab the handle of the door, but he rounds the open door and moves to slide in next to me.

Panic flares in my chest. “What are you doing?”

“Coming with you.” He says it simply, as though it’s obvious he would.

“No, you’re not.”

He chuckles. “How else will you get her to your hotel room?”

Though I know he’s right, I still put up a fight. “I’m resourceful.”

“I think I’m going to throw up,” Penelope pats the window with her open palm over and over again. “Open! Open!”

I reach over her to press the window down button, and Conor uses the distraction to sit beside me and shut the door.

Once Penelope’s head hangs out the window like a dog with her tongue out of her mouth, though without the excited car trip energy, I turn back to Conor. “You’re not coming to our room.”

“Where to?” the cab driver asks.

“Hurry,” Penelope groans.

Conor raises his eyebrows at me. I growl and give the hotel name, then the cab driver moves away from the curb into the Chicago nighttime traffic.

“Just so you know, I know Henry Hensley,” I say, interrupting the silence.

“You know Daddy?” he asks.

My forehead wrinkles. “Daddy? Is that another hockey name?”

“Yeah… Daddy.” His shoulders lift. “How do you know him?”

“He’s my maid of honor’s soon-to-be husband.”

“Jade?” His voice goes up a few octaves. “Now I have to help you.”

“I have it handled.” Liar. I feel as though I don’t have anything about my life handled these days.

He leans forward and inspects Penelope. I follow his line of vision to find her eyes closed, and she’s completely still. Unless I use a luggage cart, there’s no way I’m getting her up to our room. “Do you really think so?”

I huff.

He laughs. “Listen, I’m not going to lie, you’re hot as shit. But I get that you’re about to marry some lucky bastard, so I’m not here to convince you to give me a shot. Hell, I’m not a relationship guy anyway, and I sure as shit wouldn’t want to ruin someone else’s happiness. Henry’s a great friend, and I love Jade, so let me help you get your friend to your room. Then we’ll part ways, and maybe I’ll run into you at a wedding or baby shower or something, and we’ll share a laugh about tonight. But you don’t have to worry about me trying to get in your pants. I’m honestly here just to help.”

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