Page 77 of The Penalty

“I told you I’ve got it. Now I’ve got to go. I’ve got someone waiting to talk to me.”

“Will do. Bye.”

He smacks his phone on the desk a little too hard.

“Sup? Need some help?”

He shakes his head, locking his faded blue eyes on me.

“I’m glad I snagged you before you headed off for the day. We’ve actually got to close the rink over the holiday weekend. We’ve got the go ahead on the repairs the city has been promising for the last couple of years, but we’re going to be shut down until the new year. So that means. You’re free for Thanksgiving.”

I can feel Beau’s eyes on me, and I know what he’s thinking.

“Are you sure? There’s nothing you need from me to prep the place? Clean up? I’m not going to leave you stranded by yourself here. I was planning on being here, anyway.”

“No. I don’t even have to be here. My daughter invited me to her place in Boston, and I can actually go. You enjoy yourself.”

I nod, swallowing hard.

“That’s awesome, dude. You can come home with me for the holiday. That will be great. I could use you at my back.”

A smile deepens the creases on Syd’s worn face. “You’ve got somewhere to go? That’s great.” He nods at Beau. Syd is one ofthe few people who knows a little of my back story. He knows I work all the holidays because I haven’t got any family to visit.

“I’m glad you’ve got a place to go.”

“Come on, let’s get home. You can pack up your stuff after dinner. We’ll leave first thing Thursday morning.”

All of the fucks. I can’t get out of this. Working at the rink was my excuse. It’s always my excuse. I’ve never been able to take Beau up on any of his offers. In the past, it was more about not accepting charity and inviting myself over to my wealthy friend’s house. But now. Now there’s Cece. I can’t stay in the same house with her all weekend and not give myself away.

“It’s okay. Your family already has plans. I can’t insert myself in there at the last minute.” I protest, shaking my head as we leave the office.

“Nah, it’s all good.” He’s tapping away on his phone. “Sent my mother a text. She can make an extra reservation at the club and get an extra room ready. She’s always telling me to invite my friends home. She enjoys showing off for as many people as possible.”

“But.”

“No, buts. You’re coming. It’s done. You’ll be helping me out, too. My father will keep some of the asshole contained if we have company.”

I can hardly say no to that.

They managed not to burn the dinner or the house, but my stomach was in knots, so it was hard to enjoy dinner. I slammed it back, rushed through the cleanup, and raced up to my room. Now I’m sitting on my bed, eyeing my cell. I have to call Cece. I have to at least give her a warning that I’ll be there. Beau roped her into the trip home, too. It’s like he’s setting up an intricate trap even he doesn’t know about.

“Dev?” She’s all smiles when her face pops up on the video call. She’s got on some sort of white sheet on her face, and her hair is piled on her head.

“I thought we already did Halloween,” I say.

“What? Oh, this? This is a face mask. Moisturizing, you know. Maybe I’ll pick you one up. It’s good for your skin.”

“I’ll pass.”

“As you wish. What’s up? Is everything all right?”

“No.”

Her eyes fly open. “What? What’s...”

Shit. I should have been a little more verbose. “Nothing. Everyone is fine, healthy. It’s this weekend.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry I have to go home. I promised Beau, and then Dad called me to drive in the screws. I’m totally committed now. I couldn’t get out of it if I got hit by a train. They’d just send a wheelchair to roll me in.”

---