Page 66 of The Anaconda Downstairs

I moved towards her, my heart clenching at the fear in her eyes. She glanced around the room, looking like a cornered animal. “I haven't figured out how to handle this yet. And the playoffs, this is going to be a huge distraction to you and?—”

“Babe,” I said softly, taking her face in my hands. She put hers over mine, and I could feel them trembling slightly. “I know you're scared. But hiding isn't going to help. Not from my family, not from the world, not from each other. I promise I will do everything in my power to keep you safe however I can, and I will be there to soothe the hurts I can't stop.”

“But—” she started to protest, to pull away, and I couldn't let that happen.

I was raised to respect boundaries, to seek enthusiastic consent, and allow people to make their own mistakes and learn from them. But I was also raised in a home where love and family trumped all. I didn't think Penelope had that in her life.

This was just one more way I would show up for her. So even though I was about to push her boundaries, and she could smack me later for not asking for her consent, I showed Penelope, and everyone else in that room, exactly what she meant to me.

I kissed Penelope for them all to see. This kiss was not soft, not sweet, and not like anything but a man possessed by and obsessed with her.

I kissed her so that no one would doubt exactly how I felt about her.

Including her.

UNPRETTY AND THE SLAY SQUAD

PENELOPE

“You want to know how we're going to handle this? Together. That's how. Because I love you, Penelope Quinn. I'm in love with you, and I'm not ashamed of it. I'm proud of it. Of us.”

The room fell silent. I could feel everyone's eyes on us, but all I could see was Everett. He loved me. Everett Kingman, the man who could have any woman he wanted, loved me. And I couldn't even say it back.

“I love you, Penelope.”

He said it again. Out loud. In front of everyone. Like I hadn't heard him the first time. Since I didn't say a damn thing, be probably thought I didn't hear him or I didn't understand. No taking it back now.

I stood there, frozen, aware of everyone's eyes on us. The room was silent, but out of the corner of my eye, I could see Kelsey was beaming, Neith looked surprised but pleased, and even Declan had a hint of a smile on his usually grumpy face. But all I could focus on was Everett, his eyes full of hope and fear and love.

Love. For me.

Fear that I didn't love him back.

This couldn't be real. Men like Everett didn't fall for women like me. It had to be a mistake, a cruel joke. Any second now, he'd laugh and say, “Just kidding.”

I couldn't breathe. My chest was caving in.

Because while the traumas of my past were bubbling and boiling just under the surface, hurting me to get my attention, I didn't actually believe that.

Everett loved me.

And I loved him.

I looked into his eyes, saw the vulnerability there, and I knew this was all real, if I let it be. This was Everett, my Everett. The man who'd seen me at my worst, spewing verbal diarrhea all over poor unsuspecting men, who'd then snuggled up with me to watch rom-coms and eat popcorn so I wouldn't think about how I'd made a total embarrassment out of myself, who laughed when I'd spilled coffee on him while trying to hook him up with someone else, and who fell in love with me when I poured a beer over his head.

The man who'd never once made me feel less than beautiful.

I was the only one who made me feel unpretty.

I was tired. Tired of doubting. Tired of letting my insecurities win. I just wasn't sure how to change that.

But I never would fix my problems by hiding. And nothing in the history of the world had ever been made better by denying love. Especially not when it was right in front of you.

Everett opened his mouth, and I was sure he was going to say he loved me again. But I pressed my fingers over his lips and let my heart take over.

“I love you too,” I said, my voice stronger than I expected. “I love you, Everett, and I'm scared, and excited, and you're the only person I'd want to go through all of this with.”

Everett's face broke into a grin so bright it could have lit up the whole room. He pulled me into his arms, and I melted into his embrace, not caring that we had an audience.

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