Picking up the phone, I dialed Fenelope''s number, my heart racing as I wondered how to start this conversation.


    "Hello?” she answered. Her voice sounded sad and defeated, like a puppy left out in the rain.


    "Penelope, are you okay?" I asked as I sat down, already knowing the answer.


    "I''m fine. Just taking it one day at a time." Her voice was almost lifeless, like an empty shell.


    "Penelope, I love you, but please don''t lie to me," I said gently but firmly, hoping she would open up,


    "I''m sorry!" she started crying again. "I-"


    "Penelope, stop. You have nothing to apologize for. I know the pressure you''re under. Where''s Logan?" I asked, worried she was facing this alone.


    "I''m right here," he said. The phone must have been on speaker.


    "Good. Listen, I know you asked Ama to take over the prom stuff," I said, getting straight to the point, wanting her to know it waspletely okay.


    "I didn''t want her to tell you. I can do it! I just..." Penelope''s voice was filled with frustration and self-me, which made my heart


    ache.


    "Penelope, stop. It''s okay. I''m not mad at all! In fact, I think it''s pretty amazing that you know when to ask for help. Asking for help doesn''t mean you''re weak." I noticed Ryder pointing at me with his pen. I flipped him off and continued: "I''m calling to tell you that I love you, but I know you need a break. You need to focus on yourself and your rtionship with Logan right now."


    "What do you mean?" Penelope asked, confusion and a hint of hope mixing in her voice.


    "I''m going to take over my shop. Basically, you''ve done all the work already! You''ve done such an amazing job that I just need to see the finishing touches. This isn''t punishment; it''s a reward. You helped me so much when my world was dark, so let me do the same for you now," I said sincerely, hoping to lighten her burden.


    I could hear Penelope''s sobbing on the other end, making my heart clench.


    "Thank you, X. This will really help her take the pressure off right now," Logan''s voice carried obvious gratitude.


    "Of course. If there''s anything else I can help with..." I offered, willing to do whatever I could to support them.


    "Just keep yourself safe," Logan sighed, concern evident in his tone.


    "I will," promised, knowing they were worried about me too.


    "Okay, love you," Logan said to me, warm affection traveling through the phone line.


    "Love you both too!" I responded before hanging up, feeling a smallfort that at least I could do this for Penelope.


    A knock sounded at the door. "Come in," I called.


    Ama and William entered, with Ama carrying the materials.


    Here''s a list of everyone who has RSVP''d and their plus-ones. I''ve divided them


    into four categories, Ama presented a list that separated members of each pack and some humans. "This is what I''ve arranged so far."


    Ama


    pulled


    out a


    map to


    and


    Ama had drawn


    a line


    show me.


    dividing


    them


    It disyed


    that could scat circr tables


    into four different sections


    six people


    each. The tables


    appeared


    to be


    staggered,


    "Hmm,


    four of us, have the


    she''ll think


    eventually


    him to promote


    each section needs head table. I suggest we put


    ver ourselves here Tatum


    and


    and his crew far away.


    and his mate. plus Mike


    At Logan''s table, he''ll


    and Have him


    Leonard and Penelope, then


    to ount for her


    Let''s


    I''m and his mate anyway. we need


    put Vander


    Logan''s table.


    Gamma or


    it makes


    For Beta, so


    sense. the


    We rest, let''s


    on who


    At our


    table,


    we''ll


    Vi. Though


    don''t


    at arrange based


    Logan guessing


    will


    know


    gets along


    with


    whom."


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