Page 116 of Loved

I couldn’t stop smiling.

“But what should I tell her when I go back into our dorm? She’s going to wonder why you called.”

“Just say I butt dialed you.”

“Seriously? That is definitely not going to work.”

“Well, if she gets suspicious, tell her that I seemed wasted.” I didn’t think Penny had told Melissa about my addiction issues. But hearing that news would worry Penny. She was concerned about me this morning. I could just lean into that. She’d be so worried about me that she’d never see the proposal coming.

Melissa laughed. “Classic. I can do that.”

“Thanks, Melissa.” I hung up the phone and turned back to the guy working there. “She’s a size five.”

“I knew it,” Brendan said.

I just shook my head.

“So who’s Melissa?” Rob asked. “And is she hot?”

“It’s Penny’s best friend. But don’t get any ideas. She has a boyfriend. And she’s…a lot.”

Rob laughed. “Exactly my type. Speaking of girls with boyfriends…I can’t wait to kiss Penny tonight.”

I was going to kill him. Luckily for him, I still had paperwork to fill out. I finished ordering the ring and we all headed outside. “I have another errand to run,” I said. “Well, two. And we’re going to need Ian’s help.” I shot Ian a text to come pick us up. We had a long night ahead of us.

Rob groaned. “But Ian didn’t let us have any fun last night.”

I laughed. “He didn’t let us set McCarty’s house on fire, but he did let us set McCarty on fire.”

“I’m sorry, what the hell did the two of you do last night?” Brendan asked. “I overheard you punched some guy on the phone. But you set him on fire? And who’s Ian?”

“Ian is James’ bodyguard.”

“That only answers a fraction of my questions…” Brendan’s voice trailed off as my phone started to ring.

“Fuck,” I said.

“Who is it?” Brendan peered over my shoulder.

“It’s Penny. I can’t talk to her. I’ll give it all away.”

“I’ll gladly talk to her…”

“No,” I said. Brendan seemed like a fun guy, but I didn’t want him to be fun with Penny.

“Brother duties,” Rob said and grabbed my phone. “So you said you wanted her to think we were wasted?”

I nodded.

“Done.” He cracked his neck and hit speakerphone. "Hey, hot stuff."

"Umm...James?" Penny asked.

I tried not to laugh. Did she seriously think I’d answer the phone that way?

But Brendan tried and failed not to laugh. And for some reason, him laughing made me laugh too.

“Quit it,” I mouthed silently at him.

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