The taxi pulled out into the driveway behind a brand new Land Rover. That must be her car, although why does she have such an expensive car for someone who is “broke” because she can’t find a job? Something about Penny’s mom makes me cringe.

“Penny, you alright?” I watched her as she sat in her perfect posture, staring at the car while tightening and loosening her jaw.

I knew she was dreading getting out of the cab. She’s been stalling this whole car ride especially when we dropped Kendall off. Then again, I can’t blame her. To be honest, I don’t know what I will do when I see her mom. Now that I know the truth, I don’t want to let Penny and her in the same room.

“Do you think we can go around the block?”

“Penny, it’s going to be alright. I’ll be there and so will your dad. There is nothing to worry about,” I placed my hand on her thigh.

Her posture loosened up a bit, “Yeah, you’re right.”

Penny stopped and looked at the door before she even dared to turn the knob. We walked in to Brad greeting us with a warm hello.

“So, how was the trip?” Brad grabbed Penny and gave her a tight squish.

“Where is she?” Penny asked in a cold tone, ignoring Brad’s question.

“She’s in the bathroom. She is just about to leave so you can go to your room if you want too.”

“No, it’s fine,” she smiled at me and took off her shoes and jacket.

“Remind me next time I go to Miami to bring you along, I think you would really love it there,” I smirked as I took off my winter clothes.

“Maybe next time —”

“Hey, Bradley. You need to get new soap. This stuff smells way too fruity.”

My heart dropped as I looked at this woman's eyes. Her familiar uncomfortable disturbing predator eyes that still had the same effect on me. My memories began to overfill as my rage bubbled.

It was her.

Without a doubt, it was her.

“It’s you . . .” I gritted. Penny looked at me with her wide eyes.

“I’m sorry, have we met?” she handed me her hand while biting her lip. She eyed me as if I was some piece of meat.

“You’re the financial advisor that tried to fuck me,” the words spilled out of my mouth like burning lava.

“What?” Penny looked at her mother with shaky eyes.

“What . . .” Brad was terribly confused.

“I think you’re mistaken, Sweetheart,” she said in her sweetest high voice, trying to come off as innocent.

“No, I’m not. When I came to you for help with my tuition at Ball State you — you tried to fuck me!” I raised my voice.

Her eyes darted at me and then back at Brad who was more confused than ever.

“What? Tiffany, Is this true . . .” Brad looked over at Tiffany who was taking a few steps back.

“Bradley, you know me. You know that isn’t like me,” her voice cracked

“You didn’t get fired because of me, did you?” Brad spoke softly.

“I-I,” Tiffany’s worried face turned into a wide smile. “No, shit,” she tossed her hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms while staring me down again. She had showed her true colors in less than a second.

“What the fuck is going on!” Brad shouted.

“You never got me fired, Bradley. I just moved on when I get bored. And I got bored of my husband, you, the other men, and my job.”

Brad’s nostrils flared and he shuddered with fury and disappointment.

“You said you were divorced. You said I was the only one,” Brad clenched his jaw tightly. I could hear him grinding his teeth from five feet away.

“I also said I loved you,” Tiffany scoffed.  There was a painful silence in the room as Brad’s rage towards her grew. Tiffany giggled as if it was some kind of joke. “I said a lot of things to get my way. Don’t get so hurt about it —”

Brad silenced the room by slamming his fist down on the table. “Don’t you dare fucking say another word unless I tell you too,” he inhaled deeply. “I want answers!” Brad slammed his hand down on the table again.

Tiffany flinched and took another step back, her face finally looking fearful.

“Why did you bring Penelope that day? What happened that you finally brought my daughter to me?”

“Ted found out it wasn’t his! I didn’t want to take care of something that was a mistake!” Tiffany inhaled sharply. “The only reason I kept her was because my husband thought it was his.”

“You would have never told me about her . . . if your husband didn't find out . . .” Brad’s voice broke up the sentence.

“OF COURSE NOT!” Tiffany snapped. “Shit, if you didn’t take Penny then I would have just put her up in foster care,” she darted her eyes at Penny who was hiding behind me. “You know, she ruined my life Brad. I had a perfect life before her . . . and now I have no husband —”

“ENOUGH!” Brad stomped toward her only a few inches away from her. His whole body was rising and falling as he tried to contain all his anger, “Give me my check and get the fuck out of my house.” Brad’s said in an angry calm voice.

Tiffany grabbed a check from her pocket and threw it at him. She swallowed loudly and lowered her head. This was the angriest I had ever seen Brad in my life, even I was shocked by his fury.

“If I ever see you near me or my daughter — so help me god,” Brad clenched his jaw and followed Tiffany to the door. She got toward the door where Penny and I were, but then she stopped. She gave Penny a devilish smile and looked toward Brad.

“I think this would be the best time tell you that your old roommate is fucking your daughter.” Tiffany looked over to Penny’s pale face as her tears welled up in her eyes, “You should hide your journal in a better place next time, sweetheart.”

She brought her hand up to Penny’s face and tapped her cheek.

I grabbed her hand forcefully as she let out a yelp, “Don’t you ever, fucking touch her!” I threw her hand down as if it wasn't attached to her body.

Tiffany was ready to hit me but she knew it wasn’t going to help the situation. She snarled at me and stepped back toward the door. The door slammed shut, leaving the house silent except for Brad’s heavy breathing.

“Is that true?” Brad inhaled all the oxygen he could before he yelled, “Is that fucking true Penelope?”

Penny took a step to the side to face her father, “Dad I —”

“Go to your fucking room!”

“Dad, please —,” she begged for him to listen to her while streams of tears ran down her face.

“Penelope. Quinn. Rye.” Brad clenched his jaw with each name. “Get to your FUCKING ROOM NOW!” His voice exploded throughout the house.

Penny looked up at me and stormed off to her room. She stood in the doorway and watched us carefully. I took a few steps toward her room to be closer with her.

“Don’t you fucking move,” Brad controlled me with his fatherly rage.

“Listen, Brad I was going to tell you once —”

“I fucking trusted you! I told you how much Penny meant to me. How I want her to have a better life . . .” his eyes soften but then realized the situation and went back to his blood fueled hate. “You are NOT better. You CAN’T give her a better life. You’re just going to use her like every woman you’ve ever fucked.”

“You’re wrong. She is more than that to me. I love —”

“You love her . . . Is that what you were going to say?” He let out a harsh laugh, “Is that what you were going to lie about so you can dodge a bullet?”

“Dad, he isn’t lying —”

Brad shot one glare at Penny and she shut up. He focused all his attentions at me as he took a step closer. I could practically feel his level of hate toward me rising.

“I told you. I told you she is too young. I FUCKING told you I don’t want her to throw away her life over some guy that doesn’t give a SHIT about her. A guy like you.”

I clenched my jaw, trying my hardest to stay cool and relaxed, but it was getting harder by the second, and each second that ticked by meant that Brad was assuming the worst of me.

“Brad, let’s cool down before this gets worse. We don’t have to talk about it right now. You’re still angry about what just happened with Tiffany,” I spoke calmly with all my willpower.

“Get the fuck out of my house!” he shoved me with all of his strength.

“STOP IT!” Penny came between us, pushing us both away with all her might. “You can't act like this, Dad!”

Brad took a deep breath and walked toward Penny’s door. He rubbed his nose and bit his lip hard as he looked his daughter in her red face.

“I’m not fucking allowing this to happen. Not after this week —,” he tightened his jaw as he opened and closed his fist. “I am not allowing this. You have to choose?”

“Choose?” Penny looked up at me for a millisecond.

“Yes, choose between Cedric . . . or me?”

Penelope froze in her posture, not even breathing at that shocking question.

“You can't ask her to do that!” I grabbed Penny’s shoulder, but she instantly pulled away. She looked up at me with tears running down her face as she mouthed the words ‘I’m sorry’. Penny walked over to her room and shut the door, while taking a last peek at me.

“Penny isn’t your property,” I shoved Brad like he shoved me. I walked around the living room toward the front door.

“Excuse me?” Brad’s voice became higher with disbelief that I just said that.

“You heard me. She can't be your little girl forever, because guess what?  She’s all fucking grown up and she doesn’t belong to you,” I smirked giving Brad a final touch of my ego.

“You make fucking Kendall look like a saint,” he spoke through his teeth.

“You can’t make her choose,” I turned around only a few inches from his face. “She’s going to come back to me whether you like it or not, Bradley.”

“Get the fuck out of my house!” He walked away knowing that if he stayed near me he would have probably thrown a punch. “If I ever see you near my house or Penelope. I will personally beat the living shit out of you,” Brad pointed his finger at me.

I grabbed all my things and headed for the door until Brad’s voice stopped me.

“You were supposed to be loyal. The whole reason we were ever friends was because you stuck to your word. No matter what,” Brad looked at me with his painful eyes as he let his shit of a day unravel. “You were supposed to take care of her.”

“I did, and I will,” I growled.

I gripped the door tightly to slam it closed behind me with all my might. I heard the whole house shake with the force of the door hitting the frame. I looked back into Penny’s window, but she wasn't there.