Page 85 of Penny & Royce

Because she knew what she was going to lose when she told him what had to happen.

Why was she so emotional today? Why couldn’t she dig up that calm she was so good at using when times got tough?

Because nothing in her life had been as good as the last several weeks being married to Royce.

“It’s going to be fine, sweetheart,” he assured her, which only made her cry harder. She gripped his shirt in her fists and allowed herself this moment.

After this, she’d have to be the strong one.

Penny wasn’t sure when it happened exactly. All she knew was that one moment Royce was holding her by the bathroom and in the next, they were curled up on the couch together.

The apartment felt cold and empty, as if it were preparing her for how things would be when Royce was gone.

Royce was quiet, locked in his own thoughts, when she finally gathered the courage she’d needed all morning.

She’d been warring with her own perspective on things. Deep down, she knew both families showing up was a complete coincidence. Fate. The universe. Whatever someone wanted to call it. Maybe it was all telling her they could never work.

Maybe if she hadn’t been bombarded by both families at once, she would have been able to cope with the fallout.

But seeing them side by side?

The utter venom they shot at each other with not only their words but their eyes?

It wasn’t something that could be fixed overnight.

Maybe not ever.

“We should talk,” she whispered.

He reached for a strand of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers. “Whatever you want to talk about, I’m here to listen.”

She screwed her eyes shut and focused on not getting emotional again. She couldn’t fall apart, or he wouldn’t believe her when she told him he needed to leave. Her breath shook when she sucked in the needed oxygen.

“You know I love you, right?”

Royce hummed, his cheek resting against the top of her head.

“Then you know this isn’t an easy decision for me.”

At that, he stiffened. Then he pulled back, and the flash of fear in his eyes nearly made her gasp.

“Penny.”

She placed a finger to his lips to stop him. “Our families are going to tear us apart, Royce.”

“Not if we don’t let them.” His voice was low, and she shivered at the hurt beneath it.

Penny closed her eyes, praying she could remain composed, at least until he was gone. “I’m not going to be the reason you lose your family. You need them just as much as they need you. It’s rare for a family to be as close as you are with?—”

“Penny.” His hands came to her upper arms, not forceful, but desperate enough to make her open her eyes. Pain burned in his heated stare. “You are my family now. That doesn’t mean they stopped mattering, but please don’t decide that I have to lose you to keep them.”

Against her will, the tears fell. “You and I both know what it’s like to lose a family member. Now imagine if you lost that times nine. I can’t let that happen.”

“This isn’t just up to you.” Desperation seeped into his voice. “You love me. You said it yourself.”

“And it’s because I love you that I can’t let this continue.” She shook her head, forcing the words out before she lost her nerve. “I have to let you go. You heard your family. They were devastated?—”

He pulled back as if her words had physically struck him.