Page 87 of The Penalty

“Cecelia!”

My mother’s shrill screech rips me out of the deep sleep I was enjoying.

I jerk upright, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it thumping against the wall of my chest.

“What are you doing with that boy in your bed?”

No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening. I could have sworn I locked the door last night. I did, right? Or maybe not. It doesn’t matter. I’ve got to stop her before she brings the whole house in here.

My feet stumble under my frantic attempt to get up, but I pull myself back up, racing for the door.

“Joanne. Could you not.”

“What’s going on?” My father’s voice booms down the hall as he comes racing up the stairs.

“She has that boy in her bed. Under our roof. It’s disgraceful.”

“What?”

He storms over to the door to my room, jerking it open. Dev is yanking a pair of sweats over his boxer briefs, but he’s still all shirtless and ruffled. It’s obvious he just climbed out of bed. My bed.

My father’s face deepens from a blotchy red color to a purple shade that I’ve never seen before. The vein in his neck is pulsing.

“We didn’t do anything.” The defense sounds weak, even to me.

“Cece? Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Beau comes tearing in wearing a similar outfit as his friend. His eyes narrow when they land on Dev. “Lucy? What are you doing in here?”

“He was in your sister’s bed, Beau. What do you think of that?”

“This is why playing hockey is no good for you. Puts you in the path of unsuitable people. And your sister too. Did you know about this?” Dad steps toward my brother.

Unsuitable. What a bowl of crap. What a complete asshole.

“I’m a twenty-one-year-old woman. What I choose to do is nobody else’s business. Get out of here. All of you.”

“This is my house, Cecelia. You don’t get to tell me to leave this or any other room.”

“Fine then. I’ll leave.” The righteous anger pushes me toward the door. “Dev?” I turn back to him, hoping he’ll follow, but he’s standing there frozen in place, looking at my horrified brother.

“You’re not going anywhere, Cecelia, but you. You can leave, Mr. Connell. I didn’t invite you into my house to take advantage of my daughter.”

Dev nods, trying to step around my brother to make hisescape, but Beau won’t allow it. He yanks his arm back, winding up to send his fist crashing into Dev’s nose.

It’s like it happens in slow motion. There’s a thumping noise. I scream at my brother. Dev’s hands whip up to cover his face, while bright red blood oozes between his fingers.

Tears well up in his eyes, and he backs away, hands held out in front of him. Beau steps toward him again and my body finally unfreezes. I leap in front of Dev.

“Beau. Stop it. Leave him alone. We weren’t doing anything last night. I was upset. I asked him to come.”

My brother doesn’t even turn to look at me, eyes still locked on his friend. “Last night? How long has this been going on? How long have you been sneaking around behind my back?”

I shake my head. This is not the time or place for this conversation. I’m standing here all vulnerable, with my legs exposed beneath my short PJs. The entire family invading my room, and my boyfriend bleeding behind me. That’s right. He’s my boyfriend. Not some fling.

“Beau don’t. Please. We can talk about this later.”

“What’s there to talk about?”

My fingers are going numb, and my legs are turning to jelly, but I stand my ground. Beau will regret hurting his best friend. I know he will. I’m not going to let him make it worse.

---