Page 104 of The Penalty

“I promise.”

“Super promise? Swear it on the Frozen Four?”

This time he does laugh but he kisses my forehead. “I swear it on the Frozen Four.”

I sag in relief. The Frozen Four is sacred. I can trust this.

Rhys cups my jaw and kisses me soft and sweet. As much as I love the rougher stuff, I really like when he’s sweet too.

He kisses my nose and steps back. “Did you call a car?”

“Nah. Unlike you, I know how to navigate the city.”

“It’s snowing out there and I won’t be able to warm you up when you get home. If you don’t call a car, I will.”

“I’ll be fine.”

I turn to leave but he blocks the door and with his phone in hand, I watch him order a ride.

“You’re ridiculous,” I tell him.

“I can’t have you losing a toe to gangrene. It’s like two miles.”

“That’s not real.”

“It really is and it’ll be real hard to play hockey with no toes.”

I huff at him, and he grabs my pocket to pull me against him. “I’m not letting you hurt yourself because you’re being stubborn.”

“I get more injuries on the ice and you know it.”

“But this is preventable.”

I don’t have a good response to that, so I lean into him and kiss him against the door instead. We get lost in the kiss, enjoying the connection and playfulness of the moment until my stupid phone goes off again. That’s the reminder to leave.

Rhys sighs and opens the door. “I’ll walk you out.”

“How do you wear these pants? My ass is going to split the seam.”

“My ass is smaller?”

“I’m going to have to change before the boys see me or I destroy these. I don’t think I can sit in these. I don’t need my brown eye making an appearance.”

“Especially since your trouser snakeallegedlymade an appearance last night.”

Teddy changed Rhys’ contact to Breeder

My Glory Hole: the driver was playing dad music

Breeder: What is dad music?

My Glory Hole: 90s emo stuff or wutev

Breeder: I honestly don’t know if you’re fucking with me right now.

My Glory Hole: blink 182. lighthouse. dad music.

Breeder: We need to have a serious talk about music.

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