Page 63 of Penny & Royce

A freaking double date?

Mathew couldn’t be serious. He was going to pay for this. Although in all fairness, he didn’t know about her and Royce.

What was Royce going to say?

Her thoughts continued to be a jumbled mess even as her brother led her to the table where Emerson and River waited.

River had a bright smile on her face. “Penny! I’m glad Mathew could convince you to come to lunch with us.”

“Believe me, no one is more surprised than me,” Penny said.

A flicker of discouragement seemed to pass behind Emerson’s expression, but he hid it so quickly that Penny wasn’t sure she even saw it. She sat stiffly beside him and picked up the menu.

“Hello, Emerson.”

He cleared his throat and leaned in close. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”

She shook her head but couldn’t bring herself to speak. He’d been a pawn in this game as well. She wasn’t upset with him. She was upset with the situation.

Jason appeared shortly after to take their orders, and he grinned at her like he knew about this plan as well.

Something told her this had more to do with the fact that her brothers were now taken and she was the only single sibling.

Except they couldn’t be more wrong. She was involved with someone. More than involved.

She was married.

“So, Penny, the wedding is coming up,” Mathew hedged. He glanced at River and took her hand in his before bringing it to his lips. “You figure out who your plus-one is going to be?”

She’d been in the middle of taking a sip of water and nearly choked on it. When she managed to catch her breath, she murmured, “I don’t think I’ll be bringing anyone.”

Of course that was what this was about.

It was more than a double date. This was a setup. Her stomach twisted even worse the longer she sat at the table. Her palms were clammy, and she just wanted to get out. She was itchy and felt sick.

Suddenly, she was on her feet.

“I’m sorry,” she said to Emerson more than anyone else. “I’m not feeling well. I don’t want to get you sick.”

Then, with that, she grabbed her purse and rushed for the bathroom for a moment before leaving the café.

Mathew could take care of her food when it arrived. She was fully aware that they likely thought she was crazy, and at this point, she would have agreed.

Unfortunately, she didn’t get far. She’d only made it past one storefront when Emerson called for her.

She stopped short, her hand flying to her chest, as she turned around. “Emerson.”

He held out a to-go carton of food, which made her even more suspicious that Jason was in on everything and had takenhis sweet time getting their food out to them. Emerson offered her a wan smile.

“Sorry you’re not feeling well. I thought you could save this for later.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

Emerson didn’t move after she accepted the carton. He rocked back on his heels and glanced away. “I was thinking… if you don’t have a date to the wedding, I could?—”

“I’m going to stop you right there,” she said with a lift of her hand. “Remember? I told you before, I’m… involved with someone.”

“Involved? Like you’re dating involved? I didn’t realize it had gotten serious.”