Page 29 of Delayed Penalty

“Then you’d be wrong.”

“Bet you can’t even hit 180.”

Keller scoffs. “Bet I can hit 220.”

“Prove it, and I’ll buy drinks tonight. You lose, you buy them.”

“Uh,everyone’sdrinks?” Fox asks, raising his hand like we’re in a classroom or something.

Lawson nods, not taking his eyes off Keller. “Everyone’s.”

“Do it,” Locke says. “Take the bet.”

“I bet he hits 230,” Hutch adds.

Now, anyone other than Lawson would realize the entire room is against him and take itas a sign, but of course, he doesn’t. Instead, he holds his hand out to Keller, and they shake on the deal.

I can’t wait for my free drinks.

This is all completely ridiculous, but it’s the perfect distraction from thinking about Flora at home with Quinn. It’s the only thing I could focus on throughout the team meeting.Are they getting along? Is Flora just hiding away in her room? Is Quinn being nice to her? Is Quinn paying attention to her? Will Flora hate me for dumping her off on someone else and compare me to my brother?

Then we hit the ice, and my mind calmed the second my skate glided across the slick surface. I skated until my legs were tired, then I skated some more, and one thing was obvious—I’ve missed being out there. I’ve missed who I am on the ice. It felt like coming home, like how everything did before my brother fucked me over.

Now the guys are being idiots, and I missed this too. Keller smirks over at me before resting on the bench and gripping the bar.

Lawson adds some weight, then steps to the top of the bench, readying his hands to catch the weights if Keller can’t lift them. “That’s 150. We’ll start small.”

Keller grunts and holds his breath as he shoves the bar with a struggle everyone other than Lawson knows is fake.

“Dude, you’re already wobbling.” Lawson laughs,then adds another ten pounds. “No way you’re going to be able to lift this.”

Keller lets go of the bar, shaking his hands out like this is exhausting him. He repositions himself and pushes the weight up, again pretending to struggle. He sets the bar back on the rack, and Lawson stands over him with a satisfied smirk.

“You ready to tap out?” asks the golden retriever in human form.

“Nah. Let’s do 180.”

Lawson’s brows shoot up. “You sure?”

“Yep. Stack them on there.”

Keller sits up, putting on a show of being out of breath, grinning at me, Locke, Fox, and Hutch. Lawson whistles jauntily while he loads the bar with the new weight. He claps his hands when he’s finished, then rubs them together.

“All right. Whenever you’re ready, man. Don’t want to hurt you, so if you need to call it…”

Keller shakes his head. “Not a chance. Let’s do this.”

He settles back on the bench, grips the bar, and takes a deep breath. Lawson’s grin widens, his eyes bright with excitement like he just won a million bucks even though the bet isn’t over.

My favorite part? When that light extinguishes in asplit second the moment Keller lifts the bar like it’s a feather.

“What the fuck? H-How… W-What…” Lawson sputters.

“Add twenty,” Keller demands.

“Now wait a damn minute. I?—”

“Fox, add twenty.”

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