James looked at Penny and then back at me. “Is this about Kennedy? Because I really think it’s too soon. You’re just going to freak her out.”
Penny stopped spinning in circles. “Too soon for what?” she asked.
“He’s going to propose to her.”
Penny raised her eyebrows. “Matt, I know I said you were going to regret not living your life…but I didn’t mean you should propose to someone you’ve known for two weeks.”
“I’ve known her on and off for 16 years.”
She kept her eyebrows raised as she placed Scarlett back down on the floor. “There’s a pretty big gap in there between high school and right now.”
I knew she was right. But she and James couldn’t possibly understand the situation. I knew Kennedy. I got her. And she got me. I had been struggling for so long and Kennedy made me feel lighter. She made me feel like I wasn’t so broken.
None of my friends realized just how much I’d been struggling. And I didn’t have to explain myself to them. I knew proposing to Kennedy was the right choice. To show her how serious and committed I was to us. I just had to win her back first.
Which meant her not seeing what was sure to make its way into the tabloids tomorrow morning. And not just because she’d probably be pissed about people thinking I was going to be engaged to Poppy. The real problem was that I’d have to explain it. And ruin the surprise that I was at the jewelry store because I was going to propose toher. Which she probably wouldn’t believe because I hadn’t found a ring yet.
“I really appreciate the advice, but that’s actually not what I’m here to talk about. I need James’ help making sure some pictures of me don’t make it online.”
Liam started making those cute little noises he made when he was happy. I smiled down at him and he did it again.
“What kind of pictures?” Penny asked.
“One of the jewelry stores I visited today must have tipped off the paparazzi. They cornered me outside the last jewelry store I visited and with all that buzz about Poppy and me being in a relationship…”
“You’re worried Kennedy will be pissed,” James supplied.
“And my only explanation will be to tell her I was there for her. And it’ll ruin all my plans.”
James nodded. “Okay. I can help with that.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, you’re a lifesaver.”
“Here, let me take him so you two can get to work.” Penny lifted Liam out of my arms. “Thank you for watching the kids.”
“No problem. Next time you guys can just call me if you need some help.”
Penny smiled. “I might just have to take you up on that.”
I followed James down the hall and into his study.
***
I walked over the weird little moat to Tanner’s apartment, doing my best to ignore the tarp shifting beneath me. Seriously…what was in that thing?
There was a splashing noise and I jumped. That moat gave me the willies. I quickly let myself in with my key.
I pulled out my phone as I walked down the hallway. Still nothing new from Kennedy. I was lucky I looked up at the last minute, because I almost ran right into the new chairs placed in the middle of the hallway. It was definitely a weird place for chairs. They were right in the way. Also from what I could see of the back of them, they looked like desk chairs with really high backs. Which made even less sense since there was no table. And why would there be any of that in a hallway? Luckily the hallways were quite wide or they would have completely blocked my path. I was about to sidestep them when they both spun around perfectly in sync.
Tanner was sitting in one and Nigel was in the other. And they both looked very stern. Actually, Nigel’s sternness looked more sassy than anything.
“I’m very disappointed in you, young man,” Tanner said.
“What?” I just stared at him. “Tanner, you’re younger than me. How many times are we going to have this conversation?”
“Right, of course I am. But I act much older than you. Clearly.”
Did he? Because this wasn’t the first time he’d accosted me in a weird way in his apartment when he was “disappointed in me.”
