PENELOPE
The front door clicked shut behind Liam, the last guest, and just like that, the house was quiet. Too quiet.
I stood in the middle of the living room, my arms folded tightly over my chest, trying to keep the air in my lungs steady. I could still hear the echo of my own voice—“This party is over.” And yet it wasn’t. Not in my head. Not in my body that still shook from rage and embarrassment.
“I can’t believe he did that,” I said for the tenth time, pacing. “Why would he do that? And on my birthday? Seriously?”
Jess was curled up on the couch, head tilted at me as if watching a live show. “Do you want me to say something, or are we still in the monologue stage?”
I spun around to face her. “Christian is such an asshole. Like… like the biggest one. Who fights his brother at his w
