“Please don’t call me that.” He scrunched his mouth to the side like the name Robert disgusted him.
“Look, I’m pretty sure I can ignore a few harmless paparazzi.”I hope.Yesterday had been stressful. The blinding camera flashes. The questions I didn’t know how to answer. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll be back in half an hour. I’m clearly out of shape.”
I turned to start walking back up the steps.
“It’s not the paparazzi we’re worried about.”
“Then what is it?”
“I should probably call James.”
“Rob, just tell me. What possible reason does James have for locking me up in here?” I felt like I was Rapunzel, locked in a tower. Except I was in a sky rise in the middle of the worst city ever. And my hair wasn’t blonde.Minor details.
“I’m going to call him real quick.”
“You do that. I’ll be looking for sneakers.” I jogged up the stairs.Ow.I touched the side of my stomach. When was the last time I exercised? I couldn’t possibly already have a cramp.
I ignored the pain as I rummaged through the closet. It had taken me awhile to find the spandex shorts, sports bra, and tank top I was currently wearing. But sneakers were easier. They were on the bottom row of the shoe rack. I lifted up one of the pairs. They were as light as a feather. Why wasn’t I in better shape when I had such amazing workout gear? I quickly laced them up and headed back downstairs.
“James is on his way home,” Rob said.
“Cool. I’ll catch him when I get back.”
“Please don’t leave. You’re going to get me in so much trouble.”
“Then tell me why I’m supposed to stay,” I said.
“God I hate you sometimes.”
“Ditto.”
He laughed. The sound reminded me of James’ laughter. Albeit, much more frequent. “Fine. You win. You can’t leave because you’re in mortal danger.”
“What is this, an episode of Power Rangers?”
“Well now you’re acting like you’re 10 instead of 19.”
I wanted to tell him off. But every rebuttal I thought of did make me sound like a child.Damn it.“You’re the 10 year old.” Really? That was the response I chose?
He laughed. “Penny, just trust me, okay?”
“Not unless you tell me why I’m in mortal danger.” I put ‘mortal danger’ in air quotes.
“That’s something James wants to discuss with you.”
“Great. And I’ll see him when he gets back.” I walked toward the front door.
“Penny, you can’t go.”
I ignored him and threw the door open.
Two men were standing in the hall facing me. Their arms were folded in front of their chests and their large frames blocked my path.
“Excuse me,” I said and tried to sidestep them.
But neither of them moved.
“Mrs. Hunter, we have strict instructions to not let you leave the premises.”
