Natalie
I was nearly asleep on the flight to Charleston when it hit me. I sat up straight in the first-class seat that Penn had insisted on purchasing for us to return to my home. I’d thought it was a frivolous expense. He’d just ignored me.
I yanked out my laptop and connected to the wifi. I’d been waiting all week to hear back about the restraining order about Lewis. The attorney had said that I’d hear Monday at the latest. But while I’d been waiting, there had been something itching at the back of my mind. Something that I should remember but couldn’t.
Apparently, I’d had to get to thirty thousand feet before I would remember.
Anselin-Maguire.
That was the business deal that Lewis had been working on when we were dating. His father had brought it up over dinner because he had to close the deal over the phone at night. There was also that weird point where he’d had to do business at a party. I’d thought it strange then but hadn’t put much thought into it.
Now, I could see the red flags.
Maybe there was something here to go on.
The name didn’t pull up anything in particular. Maguire was really generic and wouldn’t get me anywhere. So I searched for Anselin instead. I skimmed through a few articles about the company but didn’t see anything out of place.
I huffed. Maybe it was just coincidental that he’d had weird business hours. It had felt like a lead.
I kept searching through the most recent articles until we hit a bout of turbulence, and Penn woke from his slumber. I slapped the laptop closed.
“Are we almost there?” he asked.
“About to descend into Charleston.”
“I didn’t think we were supposed to have bad weather.”
“Afternoon showers are pretty common,” I told him with a smile as I stuffed my computer back into my bag. “Won’t ruin anything.”
He stretched out and opened the window shade to the dark sky beyond. “Why did I decide to take the last flight in? And why do airplanes make me so sleepy?”
“For most parents, when they can’t get their kid to go to sleep, they drive them around the neighborhood. And now, those kids always fall asleep on long car rides. Your parents probably flew you around the neighborhood.”
He rolled his eyes at me. “Hilarious.”
“I thought so.”
The flight attendant came over the intercom, informing everyone that we were about to land and to stow our belongings. It was a rocky landing with the storm overhead, but we landed safe and sound and found Amy waiting for us.
She squealed and rushed me. I laughed, dropping my bag, and pulled my best friend into a hug.
“I missed you like crazy,” Amy said.
“Missed you, too,” I said. “I’m glad to be home.”
“Only because you brought your big hunk of a man home with you,” Amy said, releasing me and hugging Penn. “Glad you could make it.”
“As if I would miss it.”
Amy snorted. “Let’s get the bags.”
Luckily, our suitcases appeared first, and then we loaded up Amy’s Tahoe. It was a lot of car for one person. But if it worked for anyone, it worked for Amy. She chattered the entire way to my parents’ house about the bedroom that she was renovating.
“Did you really have to renovate my old room, like, this week?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t know you were going to come visit or that Mel would get engaged like an idiot. Do you think she’s knocked up?”
I choked. “Dear god, I hadn’t thought of anything worse than her marrying Michael. You succeeded. Congrats.”
“Well, why else would a freshman in college get engaged?”
“Love?” Penn piped in.
“Shut it,” I said at the same time Amy said, “Yeah, right.”
We both burst into laughter. It was so good to have the easy banter of being with Amy. We talked on the phone, but it wasn’t the same. I hadn’t realized how draining it was to constantly be on when I was in the Upper East Side until I let it all roll off my shoulders. No lessons, no cameras, no expectations. I could see why Penn wanted to get away. It was exhausting.
We pulled up into the driveway of my parents’ two-story yellow Charleston-style home with the colonial columns and balconies on both floors. While it looked large, I knew that looks could be deceiving. I’d spent four years of high school in this little house, but Melanie had basically grown up in it. I knew it would always feel more like home to her than me.
But there she was, waiting to greet us on the porch. She vaulted down the stairs in her heels and miniskirt and straight to my car door. I was barely out of the passenger seat when she squeezed me around the middle.
“You made it!”
I beamed like a fool. “Sure did. And I brought a friend.”
Penn stepped out of the backseat. “Hey, Mel.”
“Friend or boyfriend?” Melanie teased.
“Boyfriend,” Penn confirmed.
Melanie shrieked in excitement and attacked Penn. I just shook my head and grabbed my messenger bag.
“Good to see you, too.” Penn patted her back twice before extracting himself. “Let me get the bags, Amy.”
“Aww, a gentleman,” Amy teased. She passed Penn his suitcase and then my bag. “Okay, kids. As much as I want to stay and hang, it’s late, and I have to open the gallery in the morning.”
“Such an adult,” I joked.
“Hey, one of us needs a real job.”
“What’s that?” I asked, poking her in the ribs.
“I hope you’re writing up there,” Amy said. She tugged me in for a hug. “Because, otherwise, I guess good dick is a decent enough reason.”
I cackled and released her. “You’re the best ever.”
“Don’t I know it. See you tomorrow for the party,” Amy said. She waved at Melanie. “Congrats, Mel! Hope you’re not knocked up.”
Melanie’s face turned bright red. “Oh my god, I’m not!”
I giggled. “I mean, you can’t blame her for asking.”
“Why did I even invite y’all?” Melanie grumbled before grabbing a bag and helping Penn with it up the stairs.
“Better go rescue him before my dad meets him.”
Amy scrunched up her nose. “I think it’s too late.”
“Oh boy.”
“Good luck with that.”
I waved good-bye and hurried into the house to where Penn was currently introducing himself to my father. Penn had straightened to his considerable height and was currently shaking my dad’s hand.
“Daddy,” I said, peeking around the corner. “Oh good, you met Penn. Let’s get you inside.”
He made a disgruntled noise like he was about to say something about the fact that he owned a gun—it wouldn’t be the first time—but I ushered everyone back inside. My father had served more than twenty years in the military and was now a local cop. He’d had a gun in his hand most of his life. And he liked to intimidate every guy who walked into our house. Poor Mel had had it worse than I ever had since our dad still hated Michael despite practically helping raise him. I knew better than to bring guys home.