Page 88 of The Penalty

“Cece. I can’t believe I have to do this again, but that’s it. You’re leaving that school. You can stay until the end of the semester, and then you can finish your education elsewhere. I thought I could trust Beau to keep you safe, but I was wrong.”

“What exactly did I do?” I’m swiping at the angry tears streaking down my face. “Have a mature, consensual relationship with a fellow adult?”

“You call it mature to sneak around with your brother’s teammate behind his back? Sleep with some nobody. He’s only in it for your money and status.”

“Why? Because nobody would be into me for my personality or my looks? Am I that unappealing? Gee, Dad. Thanks.”

“That’s not what I was saying. You just have to be careful, Cece. With our family name, you can’t be spending time with just anybody. Especially after what you did last summer.” And there it is. Another reminder that underneath it all, I’m an embarrassment to the family.

“Is this how you feel about it, Beau? I’m too good for your best friend? Or do you think he’s too good for me?”

Beau moves in closer to me, but I shake my head at him. “Neither. But I trusted you both, and you’ve been lying to me. I can’t believe either of you would do that. I asked him to look out for you. Not fuck you.”

“Beauregard! Language.”

My brother winces at his full name.

“News flash. I’m capable of making my own decisions. This isn’t the nineteenth century. I’m not some heiress you can sell off to the highest bidder.”

“But I’m still your brother and I still have to look out for you.”

“Honey. Let’s let these two figure this out. I need to look after the party details.” I’d almost forgotten my mother was in the room’s been so quiet since she started this mess with her screams.

“Fine. But this isn’t over. I mean it, Cecelia. You’re done with that school.”

Dev. I’ve been so wrapped up in this argument I forgot to check on him. He’s bleeding. In pain. I spin around to find he’s vanished and rush out of the room ahead of my parents.

“Dev!” I call out, racing into the hall. He’s not there. I take the stairs two at a time, but there’s no sign of him. The house is as empty as my heart.

Thundering footsteps echo through the foyer, and Beau skids to a halt beside me.

“He’s gone, Cece.”

My knees give out and I sink to the floor. I can feel his presence when he joins me, but I refuse to look at him. My chest heaves with silent sobs.

“I’m sure we can figure this out. You don’t have to leave Lakeview if you don’t want to.”

“What’s the point?” I sniff, dragging a hand across my face.

“You’ve got friends there. You don’t want to start over at another school for your last semester.” He drops a hand on my shoulder, but I shrug it off. The sight of his fist connecting with Dev’s nose is still replaying in my head.

“Yeah, but I can’t have Dev, so what’s the point?”

The only sound in the large room is him clearing his throat, and when he talks again, it’s in a low tone as if he’s scared of frightening me away.

“He means that much to you?”

“Yes.” I hiccup. “I... I... love him.” It fills me up, and I know the words are true. I don’t want this to be temporary. I want him by my side, but why would he want to be with me? Myfamily is so unbearably fucked up. They’ll never accept him. Beau hates him now. I’ve screwed that up too.

“Wait... you love him?” I’m too tired to shrug off the hand that lands on my shoulder this time. “Does he love you back?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. We’ve never talked about it. We spent so much energy keeping it a secret from you.”

“I’m sorry, Cece.”

“It’s fine.” I sniff, leaning into his comfort. My heart is in a million painful pieces, but I’m sure they’ll mend. Eventually. One day.

Chapter 28

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