Page 99 of Penny & Royce

Then, faintly, “Royce, you can’t be here.”

He closed his eyes.

“I know.” His hand rested on the doorframe. “But I need five minutes. Please.”

More silence.

Then, so quiet he almost missed it, she said, “Five minutes.”

Royce opened the door.

The desk was empty, and with a cursory glance, he found Penny lying on the loveseat with an arm draped over her eyes. Beside her was a small garbage bin.

The sight nearly undid him.

“Penny?”

She slowly pulled her arm from her eyes. “Royce…”

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, leaving it cracked. Then he crossed the room and crouched beside the loveseat. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Are you sick? You’re so pale.”

His hand lifted, wanting to check her forehead, but he stopped himself.

“You shouldn’t be working if you don’t feel good,” he said quietly.

When he turned his attention to her eyes, his stomach soured.

They were guarded.

Penny had closed herself off to him. In fact, she looked angry.

“Royce, you can’t be here.”

“I know.” The words nearly scraped his throat raw. “I just needed to see you.”

“Royce, no. This isn’t good for either of us. Look at yourself.”

“Look at me?” His voice cracked. “Look at you.” His brows pulled together, and emotion clogged his throat. “You’re making yourself sick over this. Something isn’t right. Is anyone taking care of you?”

She scoffed and turned away from him. “I’m fine. I just have to get those divorce papers?—”

“Please don’t say that.”

Penny met his eyes, her mouth pinched tight.

He studied her, searching those magnificent, sad eyes for just a glimmer of what he’d seen when they’d been at their happiest. She blinked rapidly and looked away.

His voice cracked, and his heart floundered as he whispered, “I’ve missed you, Penny.”

Her exhale was wrought with so much pain.

He couldn’t understand why she was doing this to them. Why did she think it was for the best? She shook her head, her eyes closing.

“I know you don’t understand, Royce. You can’t see what I’ve seen. What you’re willing to sacrifice isn’t worth?—”

“It is.” He kept his hands to himself, even though everything in him wanted to reach for her. “You are.”

She was crying now.