Page 55 of Penalized Love

Oh no. The way he says the words sends a chill down my spine. This isn’t good. “What is it?”

“Was the bathroom incident planned?”

My face falls into my hands because I can feel myself turning red. I had a feeling this would be his question, but I was also hoping that we could just not talk about it—ever.

“No, it wasn’t. I let Selene and Hailey get into my brain and let my intrusive thoughts win. I didn’t even know you were going to follow me to the bathroom.”

“Hailey? You’ve hung out with her?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes. We got lunch just before the team bonding night at my house and have texted a few times since then. I can have friends, you know.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t. Do you regret the bathroom incident?”

His reference to it again has me doing a slight double take, even though we haven’t switched topics. “I love that you’re calling it that.”

Asher tucks a piece of my hair back behind my ear as if he has the right to do that. “Don’t avoid the question, Isla.”

His tone reminds me of the way he told me I needed to be quiet while he made me climax for the first time in three years. “I don’t. Do you?”

“Absolutely not. That’s why I said you can call me anytime if you want to redo or take things up a notch.”

Good to know. “This isn’t a date, by the way.” It’s childish, but I need to make that clear.

“Never said it was.”

I don’t know what else to say, so I take another bite of the sandwich Asher bought me. We enjoy a comfortable silence, and I’m struck by how we’ve fallen back into our old pattern of justenjoying each other’s company. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure how good of an idea this is.

I clear my throat when I finish my last bite.“We should probably head out soon if we want to get some more filming done today.”

Asher nods before checking the time.“Why don’t we head up to the gym, and you can take some footage of my gym workout?”

“Sounds good to me,”I reply, gathering up my things and shoving them into my backpack.“Then I’ll spend the evening finishing this math homework and editing photos and video footage.”

Asher helps me pack up before grabbing his book bag. Once I’m done, we leave the library and go to the gym. As we walk, Asher fills me in on his workout routine, explaining the different exercises he’ll be doing and how they help with his hockey performance. I make a note to ask him some questions related to the exercises he’s performing to get him on camera talking about it.

When we arrive at the gym, I set up my camera while Asher changes and then warms up. I try to stop myself from staring at how his muscles flex and shift under his tight t-shirt as he stretches. It takes everything for me to focus on adjusting the settings on my camera.

Once Asher is ready, I film him as he begins his workout routine. I zoom in on his focused expression as he does a set of weighted squats. Despite the strain, he maintains perfect form—or so I think, because, if I’m being honest, I don’t have the slightest clue.

“Today is leg day, so that’s what we are going to focus on,”he says as he walks over to get a set of dumbbells.

“Sounds good.”

Between sets, I ask him a few questions about the specific exercises and how they translate to his performance on theice. Asher’s responses are thoughtful and insightful, giving me a glimpse into the mind of a serious athlete. Perfect for the audience that will be viewing this.

“Squats and lunges help build explosive power in my legs,”he explains, wiping sweat from his brow.“That burst of speed can make all the difference when I’m chasing down the puck or trying to beat a defender.”

I nod, impressed by his knowledge and the way he articulates it. I know it will come across perfectly on the Crestwood Red Wolves’ social media channels.

As Asher continues his workout, I circle around him, capturing different angles and close-ups. I want to showcase not just the physical effort, but also the mental focus and determination that goes into his training. He has the look of someone who’s driven to be the best, no matter the cost.

After a grueling set of deadlifts, Asher takes a break to hydrate. I lower my camera and hand him his water bottle.

“Thanks,”he says, taking a long swig.“How’s the footage looking so far?”

“Fantastic,”I reply honestly.“You’re a natural on camera. The fans are going to love seeing this side of you.”

Asher grins, a hint of pride in his expression.“Well, I have a pretty brilliant photographer/videographer to thank for that.”

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