Page 222 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 2
“Very funny. Daphne hates me.”
“That’s definitely not it.” He touched the side of my face. “Penny, are you crying?”
“I love her apartment. And she thinks I’m an elitist monster. And I’m not. I just want to be her friend. And I freaking hate being hormonal. I’m acting like a crazy person. People don’t get along with their sisters-in-law all over the world and I’m acting like it’s a huge problem. God, Iamelitist!”
“Baby.” He pulled me in closer. “Everything is going to work out. I promise.”
“What if we never see Rob anymore because she turns evil and keeps him away?”
James laughed. “They come to every hangout we have and every party we host. They’re family. We’re all family. Nothing will change that. Just don’t scream ‘rats’ next time you see her.”
I punched his arm.
“Ow,” he said with a laugh. “Wow, mothers really do gain super-human strength.”
I laughed too.
He cradled my face in his hands. “No more tears. Not over this, anyway. If they want us in their wedding party, they’ll ask. If they don’t, that’s fine too. But you will not shed another tear on someone else’s opinion of you. Especially someone who doesn’t even really know you yet. Once she gets to know you, she’ll love you. I promise. How could she not? You’re amazing, baby.”
God, he was so sweet. “I just…I like when people like me.”
The corner of his mouth ticked up. “I think that’s normal. But you’re a Hunter now. And a lot of people hate us.” He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “Because we’re elitist monsters.”
I laughed. “You’re not. I didn’t mean that. You’re really not.” I wound my arms behind his neck and stared into his dark browneyes. “But…there is this new restaurant and the reviews look really good…”
“So you’re saying you want to get out of this rat-infested borough and use my last name to score us a table at the last minute?”
I smiled. “Exactly.”
He turned to go back to the car, but I grabbed his hand.
“We can walk,” I said.
He raised his eyebrow. “So we’re not leaving this borough?”
“Don’t you trust me?”
He shrugged. “Whatever, I’m starving.”
We started walking down the block.
“Here it is,” I said after a few minutes.
He looked up at the glowing neon sign. “Baby, I don’t think you need a reservation here.” He smiled down at me. “There aren’t even any tables inside.”
“I know.”
“What were the rave reviews even about?”
I tried to hide my smile, but I couldn’t. “Apparently they have really great pickles.”
He laughed. “Let’s go get you some pickles then.” He pulled me inside the restaurant that was indeed new, but not at all high-end.
***
“Just a fair warning…you’re going to have to pee all night.” He climbed back into bed with the bowl of watermelon he’d just fetched me from downstairs.
“It’s worth it.” I pulled the bowl to my chest like the little watermelon gremlin that I was.
