HEALING THE SCARS

CHAPTER 18

PENELOPE

I need to stop crying over everything. The pain and humiliation from Dylan's rejection weigh heavily on me, but I know I have to be strong for myself. My eyes are puffy, and my heart aches, but I force myself to push past the hurt. When I'm certain Dylan has left, I drag myself back to the bedroom and sit on the bed, staring at the empty space where he once stood. I feel so small, so insignificant, like a shell of the person I used to be. My gaze falls on the new phone he left for me on the dressing table, a sleek device that symbolizes both a gift and a chain. My fingers tremble slightly as I pick it up, curiosity mingling with resentment. He set everything up for me, a gesture that feels too calculated, too controlled. But I can't help it; I dive into the virtual world, hoping to distract myself from the mess that is my life right now.

As I open Instagram, my mind races with thoughts of Mabel. I quickly type a message, praying she sees it and sends me her number. The thought of reconnecting with her brings a small glimmer of comfort. I scroll mindlessly through videos on TikTok, losing myself in the endless stream of content. I play a few rounds of Sudoku, but even that can't hold my attention for long. The games and videos are just a distraction, a way to numb the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

I wander around the room for another hour, doing nothing but trying to quell the humiliation of Dylan's rejection. The silence is deafening, the room too big and empty. I spot Dylan's laptop on the desk and consider snooping into his work, craving any insight into the man who confuses me so. But, of course, it's password-protected, another barrier between us. Frustration bubbles up, and I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall. Everything about him is locked away, just out of reach. Desperate for a distraction, I turn on the big TV. We hadn't touched it since we arrived, both too wrapped up in our own worlds. I tune into E-TV, diving into the mindless celebrity gossip. It's ridiculous, but it gives me something to focus on, a temporary escape from my reality.

I hear a phone ringing. At first, I think Dylan left his phone in the room, but when I check, I realize it's the new one he got me. I answer it, convincing myself it's the only way I can have a social life right now. The caller ID shows Dylan calling. I debate letting it ring, but I decide to pick up.

"Penelope," he says. Damn, his voice. I love the sound of my name on his lips. His voice is so deep and commanding; it comes off as incredibly sexy. What am I thinking? I mentally slap myself for being so stupid.

"Penelope! Are you there?" he asks, his tone more insistent.

Oh shit. I was daydreaming about Dylan and forgot he was on the phone. "I'm here. What do you want?" I ask, adding a bit of attitude to mask my embarrassment.

"I have a surprise for you. Please buzz a visitor in," he says.

"What? I don't want surprises from you, Dylan. I don't want anything from you," I respond, trying to sound indifferent, even though my curiosity is piqued.

"Well, you will love this one," he replies, completely ignoring my protest. I walk toward the elevator, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. I buzz the visitor in, still holding the phone to my ear. The door opens, and I drop the phone, my hands flying to my mouth in shock.

"Mabel!" I scream as soon as I see her familiar face. She's here. I rush forward and hug her tightly, feeling a flood of relief and joy wash over me.

"Hey, I can't breathe," she whispers with a laugh, her arms squeezing me back.

"Oh, sorry," I say, loosening my grip but not letting go. "Oh my God, I've missed you so much."

"Me too. We have so much to catch up on," she says as I lead her into the living room and help with her bags. The reality of seeing her here, in this luxurious hotel room, is surreal. I can't believe Dylan brought her here. I haven't felt this happy all day. Guilt creeps in as I remember how I treated him earlier. Maybe he's not as bad as I thought.