All Stars Fall (Seaside Pictures #3.5)(40)

“Oh, honey? What?”

“You know—” She clasped her hands in front of her then turned on her heel. “Never mind, problem solved. Have a good day, Penelope. I know I will!”

“’Kay.” I shook my head. Stupid actresses and models swarming the area to get a look at A list actors. I rolled my eyes and made myself a coffee, then ran to Subway to grab some sandwiches. I was about ten minutes late by the time I got to Trevor’s.

A car I didn’t recognize was parked in front. Maybe one of the guys whose expensive car I hadn’t seen yet.

This one was a nice red Maserati SUV.

I’d stopped knocking on the door by day three, but when I went to open it, it was locked.

Forced to knock, I set my things on the ground in front of me and did just that.

The door swung open.

Rude woman from the coffee shop stood there in her leather dress and black painted fingernails that matched her hair, bright red lipstick, perfect tan, and little booties hugging her what I imagined would be perfect feet. “Ah, the nanny’s here.”

“That’s me,” I said through clenched teeth. “I’m sorry, but what are you doing here? Oh no! The kids!” I shoved past her, worry about the strange woman gone as I saw each of the kids sitting at the table eating pizza.

“Penny!” they said in unison.

“Hey, guys!” They were fine. In fact, they looked more than fine. “Where’s your dad?”

“Oh, he went to the studio.” The woman crossed her arms. “You get the day off, yay.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not leaving you with the kids alone. I don’t know you.” I crossed my arms to mirror her. “Unless I hear it from Trevor—”

“Mommy!” Bella giggled. “Can you get me some more Sprite?”

“Sure, honey.” She winked and went over to the fridge to grab some Sprite, Sprite that I’d purchased for the kids for when they were allowed to have soda.

It was next to the gallon of milk I’d gotten because Trevor had forgotten.

A golf ball lodged in my throat as I watched this strange woman, Trevor’s ex-wife, move through the house like she’d been the one to make it a home. When I knew that in the last two weeks I’d done more than she ever had.

“What are you doing here?” I asked boldly.

“Being a parent,” she fired back. “And a wife.”

My jaw went slack. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure.” She gave Bella her pop. “Eric, help your sister open it. No spills.”

“Okay.” He was the only one who seemed mildly upset over the pizza. And suddenly the Subway I’d bought them felt pathetic and stupid.

So did my cheap leggings and my long-sleeve Henley.

And the stupid beanie I’d put on.

The lip gloss I’d purchased at Sephora.

Everything felt…less than.

And I hated it.

Trevor had never made me feel that way.

This woman did with not so much as a word.

“You can’t just say things like that,” I whispered in a low voice. “The kids, they miss you—”

“I’m going to stop you right there, Penny.” She held up her hand like I was a petulant child. “Those kids are mine, not yours. This life is mine, not yours. Got it? I’m their mother, not you. And Trevor and I are still working through some things.”

That was when I saw the ring.

On her left hand.

It was so many karats that I was sure it cramped the muscles on that side of her body because of the weight.

It was beautiful.

It was just like her.

I shook my head, tears filling my eyes.

“Sweetie, we’re talking about Trevor Wood here. Did you really think that he was going to go for—” She narrowed her eyes in disbelief as her gaze raked over me. “Whatever you have going on?”

I felt that stare all the way into my Nikes.

“That’s not—” I prayed for patience. “That’s not what I mean. Trevor said you guys are divorced, ergo, you can’t come in here randomly and give the children hope.”

There, that sounded good.

“Oh, sweetie, he didn’t tell you, did he? Shame.” Her grin was pure evil. “I haven’t signed shit. We’re legally separated. Not. Divorced.”

The room started spinning.

The kids laughed in the distance.

And she stared at me like she’d won, when I wasn’t even aware I was in a game. Let alone racing her.

“I’ll just…” I moved past her. “Kids? If you need anything, you have my number, okay?”

“Okay!” they chirped.

I shared a look with Eric, but he quickly averted his eyes.

Bella grinned at me. “Isn’t it great, Penny? Mommy’s back!”

“It’s…something.” I forced a smile that felt more like my face was on the verge of breaking into a million pieces and excused myself from the house.

I grabbed the Subway food and put it back in my car.

With shaking hands, I took a sip of coffee, only to have it spill down the front of my shirt.

And then I burst into tears and called the only person who could give me answers.

Only to have it go straight to voicemail.