“I’m not. Any girl would be lucky to be with you.”
“Oh, no, we’re not dating or anything. She actually just needed a ride to the west coast. We’re just friends.”
“What’s her name?”
“Hailey.”
“So you’re on a road trip with a relative stranger. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
He laughed again. “No, just learning how to live again.”
“You’re having fun then?”
“Yeah. I’m having lots of fun.”
“Good.”
“This was exactly what I needed.”
“Hailey or the trip?”
He was silent again for a second. “Both, maybe. I should go, Penny.”
“When do you think you’re coming back?”
“I don’t know. I’ll stay in touch, though. Tell James I said I hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
“I will. And don’t pick up any scary hitchhikers.”
“I think I’m good with just the one. Bye, Penny.”
“Bye.”
It wasn’t our normal flow of conversation, but he did sound better. I wondered what Hailey was like. Hopefully she was sweet and caring and loyal.
“Who was that?”
I almost jumped at James’ voice. I thought he had been sleeping. “Tyler. He wanted me to tell you that he hopes you have a speedy recovery.” I sat down on the edge of James’ bed.
“I shouldn’t have punched him.”
“Next time he calls I’ll tell him you’re sorry.”
“I never said I apologized. I just said I shouldn’t have done it.”
“What’s the difference?”
“I should have had enough control not to do it. It doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve it.”
“I don’t think you’re going to be getting into any fights for awhile.”
James smiled. The way the moonlight shining through the blinds hit his face made him look even more handsome.
“And it sounds like he’s met someone.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhm. Her name is Hailey. He didn’t actually say it, but I could tell that he really likes her.”
“That’s good.”
I lay down next to him. “James, you’re all that I think about. There’s never been enough room in my heart for anyone but you. You never had anything to worry about. And now that we’re married? It’s a done deal.” I smiled up at him.
“A done deal?” He yawned and kissed my forehead.
“I’m sorry that I woke you.”
“It’s okay. Actually, I almost forgot to ask you. How did you find out Porter’s first name?”
I smiled. I had been wondering when he’d ask me that. “I’m just very persistent.”
“He’s a rock. I know that’s not it.”
I shrugged. “He could tell how upset I was. He was trying to cheer me up.”
“Hmm.”
“He told me how you two met too.”
“He wasn’t supposed to divulge any personal details about his life.”
“Have you ever thought that you may have too many rules? It’s probably stressing you out.”
He laughed.
“I’m more comfortable with first names. And he saved my life. Calling him Porter is way too formal.”
“I haven’t gotten a chance to thank him yet.”
“It’s the middle of the night. Go back to sleep.”
“He’s out there, isn’t he?”
“Paul and him have been taking turns watching your door, yes.”
“And you’re calling Briggs Paul now?”
“That’s his name.”
“Well, if Porter is out there, he’s already awake. Go tell him to come in.”
“He was worried you were going to fire him, you know.” I slid off the bed.
“Really?”
“He probably thinks you don’t like him because you call him by his last name.”
“He asked me to call him by his last name. And I’d never fire him. He saved your life.”
The way James said it made it seem like there was nothing in the world that could outdo that. Because he felt the same way I did. He was my whole world. And I was his.
“I’ll go get him.” I opened up the door. The hallway was completely empty except for Briggs. And he was sitting on the floor. Crying. I let the door close behind me.
“Paul, what’s wrong?” I put my hand on his shoulder.
He cleared his throat and stood up. But he didn’t look any less exasperated.
“Are you okay?”
He shook his head. “Penny, I’m so, so sorry.”
“I already told you that there’s nothing to be sorry for. You couldn’t have known what was going to happen. Please don’t be upset about that.”
“No.” He pulled out a handkerchief as he shook his head. “I’m sorry for this.” He placed his hand with the handkerchief in it over my mouth and pushed my back against the wall.
I tried to scream, but his hand muffled my voice. A strange smell filled my nose.
“They threatened to kill my wife and daughter,” Briggs said.
I clawed at his hand.
“I know you understand that. I know you’d do anything to protect him. You have to understand.”
I kicked him as hard as I could and reached for his throat. He was so much bigger than me.
“Please forgive me.”
I thought my mind would grow fuzzy. Or I’d start to fall asleep. But nothing really happened. My body just felt strange. And the smell was everywhere.
He glanced over his shoulder and pulled out his phone. “It’s done.” He hung up the phone and looked back at me.
“I didn’t have a choice, Penny.” His eyes had never stopped looking teary. His face looked distorted as everything started spinning. He let go of my mouth. I tried to tell him not to leave, but nothing came out of my mouth. I tried to scream, but again there was only silence. My body slumped to the ground. The ground twisted in front of me and my eyelids grew heavy. The last thing I saw was Isabella walking toward me.
Friday
“He’s so handsome, isn’t he?”
I slowly opened my eyes as James’ hospital room came into focus. I had a terrible headache. I tried to lift my arms but I couldn’t. I looked down at my hands. My wrists were bound to the chair handles with duct tape. My eyes flashed toward the voice.
Isabella was smiling at me. Her hand was on the side of James’ face. “Wouldn’t you agree that he’s handsome?”
“James!”