Pandora
I lie with Penelope in our childhood bed at our parents’ house. Well, in Penny’s childhood bed. It might as well have been mine, too. We shared rooms when we were little, but when we hit our teens, Mom and Dad gave us each our own room. But every night I would still find myself slipping into her room and into her bed.
I rest my hand on her belly. She was up here taking a nap with Ivan, but when I slipped in he smiled at me and left us alone. It was like any other Sunday with the family. Lots of laughter, lying by the pool, and more food than anyone could eat. But I didn’t even feel like I was here for most of it. My head was far from here. I’ve been in another place, and it’s filled with Royce.
“Hey,” Penny says, her eyes fluttering open.
“Hey.” Her hand comes to rest over mine on her belly, our fingers locking.
“You ready to talk about it?” she asks.
“There’s this guy.” That’s all I get out before she has a giant smile on her face. “He’s driving me crazy.” She raises her eyebrows at me, and I let out a sigh. “Okay, maybe I’m driving him crazy, too.”
“He must be something if he’s got you all twisted. I’ve never seen you worked up over a man.” She smiles. “Unless he was hitting on me.”
I can’t help but laugh. Penny and I used to give the boys hell in high school. They all followed her around like lost puppies.
“He bugged me when I first met him. Or I guess my attraction to him bugged me.” I hated how much I liked the way he smelled. I hated how it made me feel when he got in my personal space. The way he kept asking questions about me.
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess because I thought he was just another rich guy in a suit—someone Henry hired. I was taken aback by the attraction. He just went for it, but not in a way I was used to.” I’ve never felt this way about someone, and I don’t know if this is what I want.
“How so?” She studies me.
“He was aggressive, but not. Well, not at first. I knew he wanted me, but he didn’t ask me out or anything. I kept trying to give him the cold shoulder, but he would still try to talk to me.”
Penelope is full-on smiling now.
“What?”
She gives a little shrug.
“What? Tell me.”
“He can tell you’re like a skittish cat. You’ve got claws like Mom does, and he’s slowly trying to move close to you. He’s trying not to spook you too much, but he keeps coming.”
I shake my head while a lump forms in my throat. “He stopped coming,” I admit, and watch her eyes go soft. Then they harden and narrow. “What’s his name?”
I can’t help but laugh at the sound she makes. “You really should have your husband teach you how to growl better.”
“Hey, I can still kick some ass. Don’t let the belly fool you.”
“There’s more,” I confess, and then proceed to tell her everything about the night at the bar.
“That doesn’t mean he’s done chasing.” Penny glares at me. “He wants you.”
“I guess, but still, it’s been days, and the only time he talks to me is when he has to. I mean, I’ve run into him, like, five times a day, and nothing. He stares at me with those eyes I can’t get out of my head.”
“Does he work on your freaking floor or something?”
“No. Why?”
“Because that building is so big that no one is running into each other five times a day. Not unless they work in the lobby or on the same floor.”
I think about what she’s saying, and I suspect she might be right. “He’s running into me on purpose,” I say, and the realization makes me smile.
“Yep. He’s trying to get you to finally admit you want him. He’s giving you chance after chance to make your move.”
I let her words sink in, and I bite my lip, thinking it over. Why does the idea of him softly stalking me make me happy?
“Oh my God, you’re blushing.”
“Shut up,” I scoff.
“Why are you running, Pan? You’re not a runner. In fact, if I remember right, you’re a secret cuddlebug.”
“I am not a cuddler,” I lie. I had every intention of coming in here to cuddle with her.
“Who do you think you’re talking to? I slept with you for more than half your life.” She gives me a look like I’m crazy.
“You’re different. You’re my twin.”
She shakes her head at me. “I love you, so I’m giving it to you straight.” Her face goes serious, and reminds me of Dad. “You’re running because you’re scared of a challenge that you might fail. That you could get hurt.”
“That’s not true,” I say, cutting in. “Look at where I’ve gotten in life. I worked hard for this.”
“I never said you don’t work hard. You always have. The problem is, you know you’re going to win. It’s why when things might have been hard, you pushed because you knew you could do it. You knew you wouldn’t fail because it was all on you. Nobody pushes like you do, Pan. You’re a warrior, and we all know it. Anyone in a room with you for a few minutes knows that.”
Her words start sinking in.
“You love on us, your family, because you know we love you. There’s no failure in us loving you back. You let us have the soft side that no one else sees because we are safe.” She reaches out, cupping my face. “This guy isn’t safe, because you don’t know what he’ll do with your heart. When I thought Ivan didn’t want me, I was a mess. You remember?”
I nod. I do remember seeing her in pieces. I also remember thinking I’d never let that happen to me.
“Love is scary, Pan. It’s hard and unpredictable. But I can tell you it’s worth every second. Step up to the challenge. I know you, and I know you want it. Go and get it.”
Her words rain down on me. “You’re right. Fuck.”
Her hand drops from my face. “Pan, I meant like right now. Why are you still sitting here?”
I laugh and pull her into a hug. “Okay.” I jump off the bed. “I love you,” I tell her, going for the door.
“Love you, too.”
I’m not shocked when I open the door and see Ivan standing there with a smile on his face. I smile back and head to the backyard to say my goodbyes. When I get to my car, I see Henry, in a suit, leaning against it. Only he would wear a suit to the family barbecue.
“Not avoiding me anymore?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Not now. It used to be Penelope we had to do this with.”
I tilt my head, unsure about what he’s talking about.
“Why is Royce Davenport asking me for your address?” His words make butterflies take flight in my stomach.
“When did he ask for it?” I try to play dumb, but the look on Henry’s face tells me he isn’t buying it.
“Called me about thirty minutes ago. He seemed pretty agitated. Then when I told him no he got pushy about it.” He straightens and puts his hands in his pockets.
“What did you say?”
“I told him to fuck off. Like I’m going to give him your address. I should’ve seen it coming. He asks about you every damn day.”
My cheeks warm at his words.
“Fuck me,” Henry says, shaking his head. “Not you, too. Pandora, you know what happens when you fall in love in this family.” He runs his hands through his hair just like his father does when he gets frustrated.
“Give me his address,” I tell him, not caring. I want this.
“Come on, Pan.” He gives me a look like I can’t be for real.
“I’m not messing around. I want it.” I pull out my phone and wait.
“Fucking hell.” He rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh. “I’ll text it to you. But only because I know you can take care of yourself.”
He pulls out his phone and taps out a message. I see it pop up on mine, and I nod. He walks over to me and pulls me in for a hug.
“I know we’ve been at each other’s throats the past few months with work, but I love you, and I just wanted to check in on this.”
“I love you, too,” I tell him. “But if I catch you leaning on my car again, we’re going to have another problem.”
He laughs, pulling away and walking into the house.
I hop in my car and put the address in my GPS. My hands are shaky, and I feel anxiety creep up my spine, but I’ve never been more sure of anything. I know I’m headed in the right direction.