Devotion

34

"Maybe we can keep the divorce to ourselves? I don't want...my mom doesn't even know."

"I wasn't going to tell anyone anyway."

"Thank you." He continued to hold me. "Do you want to just stay here tonight? I already had to sleep without you last night."

I tilted my head back. "One last night apart. And then after that, you never have to fall asleep without me again."

He leaned down and placed a soft kiss against my lips. "If that's what you want."

"It's tradition."

"Okay, baby. How's your stomach feeling?"

"So much better, thank you. I was just nervous and hungry and," I sighed, "nervous."

"You said nervous twice."

"That's because I'm super nervous."

He smiled. "Nothing to be nervous about. Let's get you and your heavy dress to your hotel room. Porter is going to stay outside your room tonight to make sure you're all safe."

"Is that really necessary?"

"I'd feel better if you'd let him."

"Okay. If that's what you want."

"What I want is to stay here." He gave me one of his smiles that was hard to say no to.

I laughed. "I'll see you at the altar tomorrow, James."

"What, you're not even sharing a car to the hotel with me?"

"No, because I know you'll end up convincing me to turn it around and come back here."

He laughed. "Well in that case." He grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me hard. His other hand slid to my ass as he pulled me against him. I ran my fingers through his hair as his kiss deepened.

"Stop having s*x you guys!" Rob yelled from downstairs. "We're all waiting for you."

James groaned into my mouth. "I feel like we just wasted time. They all thought we were having s*x anyway."

"Tomorrow." I patted his chest.

He kissed me once more. "Tomorrow."

***

"Truth or dare, Daphne?" Jen asked.

"Um. Truth," said Daphne

Jen smiled. "Are you in love with my brother?"

"Which one?" Bee asked. "You should really be more specific." She grabbed the bowl of popcorn out of Jen's hand.

Jen laughed. "Rob of course."

"It's so soon," Daphne said. "I mean, that's crazy."

"I didn't ask if it was crazy or too soon. I just asked if you loved him. Yes or no?"

Daphne pressed her lips together. It looked like she was trying not to smile. "Yes."

Jen squealed. "I know I said it was just a yes or no. But now I need to know everything. How serious are you guys?"

"I don't know. He's talking about moving to New York. I mean, he wanted me to meet all of you. I know it's fast, but," she smiled, "I can't stop thinking about him. He just has this positive energy about him. I really need that in my life. He just makes me so happy."

"I'm so happy for you guys," I said. "You just seem so nice and sweet and understanding."

"Can I ask you something personal, Penny?" asked Daphne.

"Of course."

"Before you dated James, did you date Rob?"

I laughed. "Wait, what? Why would you ask that?"

"He just talks about you in a weird way. Like super flirtatiously, I guess. I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just wondering."

"No, I never dated Rob. We're just like...the best of friends. That's just the way he is."

"It's true," Bee said. "You should hear some of the inappropriate things he's said to me. But he doesn't mean it. He's just being funny. We barely notice it anymore."

Daphne laughed. "Oh, good. I was just worried you had all slept with him. I mean, not you Jen, obviously."

Jen pretended to vomit.

Melissa shoved a huge handful of popcorn in her mouth and nodded along. I was hoping she wouldn't mention the fact that she had slept with Rob a few years ago. Especially since it meant nothing to Melissa or Rob. Surely Rob would tell her eventually, but it wasn't necessary right now. I wanted us all to be able to be friends.

"Okay, truth or dare, Penny?" Daphne asked.

"Truth." None of us were choosing dare. We all just wanted to talk. This was just a fun way to do it with a new person in our group.

"Are you nervous at all about tomorrow?"

I had some unanswered questions about James. But the answers wouldn't affect my decision to marry him. I had wanted to be with him ever since I had run into him in that coffee shop. It had always been us. There wasn't a doubt in my mind about that. "Not about marrying him. More so just about everything going smoothly. It's silly, but I don't want him to be thinking about his first wedding at all. I want it to be perfect so that there is no comparison."

"He won't be," Jen said and squeezed my knee. "I'm pretty sure he was stoned when he married Isabella."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I doubt he even remembers it. He was mess."

I thought about that for a second. "And even that makes me a little nervous. I'm worried he's going to change his mind at the last minute and not show up. I know it's ridiculous. But you know, like if he realizes he's making a mistake again."

"I don't think you have to worry about that," Melissa said. "James has been obsessed with you ever since you first met. He wanted to marry you as soon as you moved to New York. The only reason it took this long was because you wanted to graduate first."

"I know." I shrugged my shoulders. "It's still scary."

"Mason would never let him skip town," Bee said. "I actually made him promise not to lose track of him tonight after what happened this morning. "I got your back, girl."

I laughed. "Thanks. I have no idea why I'm nervous, I just am. I feel like my stomach is filled with butterflies."

"That's why you should be drinking with us," Jen said and raised her glass.

"No way. I don't want to have a hangover for my wedding."

"I sure do."

I laughed. "Okay, Jen. Truth or dare," I said.

"Since everyone is being super lame, dare!"

"I knew you'd say that. I dare you to ask Ian on a date tomorrow."

"Ian? As in, your driver Ian?"

"What other Ian would I be talking about?"

She laughed and took a sip of her drink. "Ian's not interested in me. Besides, even if he was, I live on the other side of the country. And it would just never work."

"See. You didn't say anything about not liking him."

"Of course I like him. He's sweet and funny. And he always goes out of his way to help me. But that's his job. He doesn't like me like that."

"Trust me, he likes you."

"Did he say that?"

"You should hear how excited he gets whenever you're coming to visit."

"Stop messing with me, Penny."

"I'm serious! Besides, you have to ask him out tomorrow. You can't break a dare."

"Fine, I'll ask him. But he's going to say no. And then I'll be mortified and never be able to come back to New York."

"He's going to say yes and then you'll be the first ones running about with grandchildren for your parents."

Daphne laughed. "Good. That was too much pressure for me."

We all laughed.