Page 26 of The Penalty

My brows pull together. “Know what?”

Her fingers tangle in those silky strands, twisting a lock around them as she thinks about whether she’s going to share her secret with me. I wish I could tell her to share all her secrets with me, but that’s an impossible dream. “I got in some trouble at the end of last year. That’s why I’m here at Lakeview. My father pulled me from Cornell. He sent me here, so Beau can keep an eye on me. Like I can’t look after myself. Men. Ridiculous. It’s fine. Next year I’ll be free.”

“What did you do?” She can’t pique my curiosity like that and leave me hanging. I shouldn’t pry, but I can’t help myself.

“Ugh.” The couch dips again as she flings herself backward, throwing her hands over her face. She separates her fingers for a moment, peeking at me before snapping them shut.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“No, it’s fine. Not like it isn’t all over the Internet. I was kind of drunk, and partying, and I ended up climbing Ezra topless. Someone took my pic and spread it all over, because you know, our family is not exactly under the radar.”

“Who the fuck is Ezra?” My back snaps me upright, and I turn to face her. I have zero right to the rage welling inside me at the thought of her riding some guy in public. But it’s there, anyway.

She does a double take, shock morphing into amusement. A laugh bubbles out.

“What?”

“The statue of Ezra Cornell on campus. Wait. Did you think I was getting it on with someone in public? Give me some credit.”

“Shit.” I duck my head.

The memory of her gorgeous tits flashes in my head, and I suck in another deep breath, reaching up to cover the still tender spot on my side. An angry red cloud descends over my vision at the thought of them on display for the entire world, but then I check myself. What about her? The impact it had on her. Having her privacy violated. I can’t stand it when someone touches my bag, but that. That’s unimaginable. Never knowing how many strange eyes have seen you in a vulnerable position like that.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry that happened to you.” It’s all making sense now. How edgy she got when I teased her about taking her picture.I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for her. Growing up with so many eyes on her.

Her laugh is nervous this time. “It’s fine. My bad. I should know better than to do careless shit like that. I’ve been in the public eye my entire life.”

“It’s not your fault. Have they caught the person who did it? It was their fault, not yours.”

“Oh.” The surprise in her eyes has an uncomfortable knot forming in my chest. “Most people roll their eyes and tell me I shouldn’t have been so stupid. Thank you for not...”

Fuck. Humans can be so crappy to each other. I nod, pretty tapped out on words by this point. It’s easy to talk to her, but hearing her voice makes it harder to resist reaching over to pull her into my side. Drop a kiss on top of her head to feel the silky strands against my lips. Ask her for one more night before I let her go. Because I’m not going anywhere near my best friend’s twin after today. I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself if I have to spend any more time around her. Especially when she’s looking so vulnerable. If I could even hug her. But no. Terrible idea.

She stares at me for a little while longer. The silence isn’t uncomfortable, but I think she’s expecting some kind of response I’m just not capable of right now. Too dangerous.

Her knee is bouncing double time, and she’s nibbling on her bottom lip. “You’re right.”

“About?”

“We should not let that happen again. As fantastic as it was, we both agreed it was just for the weekend. That doesn’t haveto change just because we’re going to the same school now. You don’t want to mess with your friendship. I’m already on shaky ground, and Beau’s already going to be keeping a closer eye on me than usual. Staying away from each other is the smart choice.” She nods her head, then leans in until I’m engulfed in her. Her scent surrounds me, her soft breath brushes my cheek, and her lips are so close I can almost taste them.

I drag in a lungful of her sweet aroma, locking it away in the part of my brain where I keep my positive memories. The scattered few from my childhood. The more frequent ones since I got to college. The ones I dredge up to chase away the darkness in my past.

“Maybe one last kiss...”

She leans closer until the space between our lips is paper thin, and it’s sweet agony, but I don’t make a move. Not wanting to destroy the moment.

The scraping of a key turning in the lock is like a gunshot, sending me flying back in my seat before I make contact.

“Shit.” Cece jumps up, running her hands down her sides, fussing with the already disheveled mess of a bun on her head.

I’m still slumped back on the cushion, heart racing again as she bounces over to the door. Her ass jiggles in those tight leggings, and I know I can’t see her again and definitely not alone. I would never be able to resist the temptation, no matter how much is at stake.

“Beau!” she calls out, voice overly bright and loud. The glaring opposite of her last whispered words. The promise in them is going to linger in my mind for the rest of the week oryear. Taunting me with the missed opportunity. “Let me help you.”

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