Devotion

19

"So," Tyler said. "The police think I stole money from James? Is that about right?"

"Yeah. But it was Isabella. Don't worry about it, okay? We're going to clear it up. We went to the police station to try and get her arrested and it just...they twisted everything around." I moved the phone to my other ear so I could finish my hair.

"I don't really understand why my name came up. Should I be worried about this?"

"No. I promise I'll take care of it. I'm sorry you got dragged into this. I just wanted to call to make sure you knew it was going to be okay."

"Yeah. Hey, it's 5:30. Don't you have to get going to your rehearsal?"

"I have a few minutes."

We were both silent for a moment. I unplugged the curling iron.

"Penny, I said I couldn't be your friend anymore. We can't...I can't do this." His breathing sounded heavy.

"I know." I walked out of the bathroom. I couldn't stand to look at my reflection in the mirror. It was hard being so happy when Tyler was so sad. Because of me. "Okay. Thank you for taking my call."

"Penny." His voice sounded pained. "I'm sorry that I'm not going to be there. I just...I need time."

"It's okay. I understand." I was blinking fast so that I wouldn't start crying.

"Maybe one day down the road we can try this whole friend thing again."

It was at least a small shred of hope. Time could heal this. Tyler would find someone and she would heal him. He'd know what true love really was.

"Call me when that happens. I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too."

There was another awkward pause.

"Good luck tomorrow," he said.

"Thanks, Tyler."

"Bye, Penny."

"Bye." I listened to the phone disconnect on his end before hanging up. He was going to be okay. He just needed time. I took a deep breath as I walked into my closet.

I moved my dresses around until I found the one James wanted. I lifted up the hanger and held it out in front of me. James was right. That night had been wonderful. And this dress would be perfect tonight too. I quickly changed into it. Luckily it still fit just right. It was a strapless white dress that stopped mid thigh and had a teacup-like skirt. I had thought the poof of it looked sophisticated and fun at the same time. I grabbed a pair of white high heels. As I put them on, I spotted a pair of red ones. That would be more fun. Tonight was all about celebrating me and James. It was supposed to be fun. I slipped on the red stilettos instead. James will like these.

I ran back into the bathroom and applied some red lipstick and a pair of dangling diamond earrings. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Tomorrow morning I would be marrying James Hunter. There was no dwelling on the past. There was no worrying about the future. I was focused on this moment. Because I wanted to remember tonight for the rest of my life.

Friday

James was talking to two men in the foyer as I made my way down the stairs. He turned his head when he heard me and a smile broke over his face. It was easy to live in the moment when he looked at me like that. My heels clicked on the marble as I made my way over to him.

"May I formally introduce you to Penny," James said to the two gentleman. "Penny, this is Porter and Briggs. Our security team."

"Are those your first names or last names?" I asked.

"Last names. I'm Porter, ma'am," the one on the left said and stuck out his hand for me to shake. His grip was like iron. He was the taller of the two and had a shaved head and steely gray eyes.

"Briggs," said the other. If possible, his grip was even stronger. He had a buzz cut and blue eyes. They were both impossibly intimidating.

"It's nice to meet both of you. So, what are you first names?"

"That's classified, ma'am," Briggs said.

"Oh. Well, you can just call me Penny, if that's alright."

"We prefer last names, Miss Taylor," Porter said.

These guys were so serious. And, now that I was looking at them, they seemed familiar. "Actually, I do recognize both of you."

Briggs gave Porter a nervous glance. James had said he paid them to not be noticed. I wasn't trying to get them in trouble.

"I mean, only because I walk past you every day. Porter, you're always sitting on a bench outside Central Park drinking...tea not coffee. Because there's a little tea tab sticking out of your cup. And Briggs, I always see you sitting outside James' office building after work. Eating a hot dog and reading the newspaper."

"I thought you were laying off the hot dogs," Porter said. "You know that's incredibly unhealthy."

"I'm not always eating a hot dog," Briggs said defensively.

Porter cleared his throat. "Sorry, ma'am. We'll try to be more discrete in the future."

I pressed my lips together. I certainly hadn't meant to get them in trouble. "I never would have guessed you were security. And, hot dogs are delicious, I totally get it."

Briggs gave me a small smile.

"Mr. Hunter, we'll work on it," Porter said with a very serious nod.

I was surprised to see James smiling. "No, that's fine. I'm glad to know that she's being perceptive. I debriefed them on the Isabella situation. They'll be looking for her. If you don't notice her first."

I sighed with relief. "Great."

James put his arm around my shoulders. "We should probably get going."

"Did everyone else already head over?"

"Mhm."

"What about your detective friend?"

"Already taken care of."

"And Officer Kemp?"

"It's all taken care of. Let's go enjoy our night." He let go of my shoulder and slipped his hand into mine as he led me to the door.

"So everything went smoothly?" I asked as we stepped onto the elevator. I was surprised that Porter and Briggs didn't follow us on.

"Yes. You can stop worrying about it. It's going to be fine."

I nodded. If he thought it was fine, then I believed him. "Aren't Porter and Briggs supposed to be watching us?"

"They'll get the next elevator. It's not very discrete if they stay a foot away from us all the time. Besides, Isabella can't get into our apartment building, the front desk knows about the situation."

"So...what are their first names?"

James laughed.

"No, really, I'm dying to know."

"I think I should let you wheedle that out of them."

"You're seriously not going to tell me?"

"I don't want them to be mad at me," James said. He held my hand as we walked out onto the busy street and stopped on the crosswalk.