Page 136 of The Penalty

“How have you seen a brain in real life?”

I shrug. “My mom is a science person.”

“She’s a chemist! Why does she have brains?”

“I don’t know! I don’t do the science stuff, and I don’t ask questions I don’t want the answer to. I’m not going to be implicated in a murder.”

Rhys leans forward and rests his forehead against my chest with a groan.

“You’re stressing your skull jello again,” I tsk.

“Stop calling it that or I’ll never be able to eat jello again.”

“You shouldn’t eat it anyway. It’s gross. It’s made of like bones or horse’s hooves or something.”

Rhys lifts his head and looks at me. “Jello is gross? I think that’s the only food I’ve ever heard you dislike.”

“Nope, I also don’t like cinnamon candy. That shit is an assault on my mouth.”

He laughs this time, and I love that smile.

Fuck. I should tell him I love him. But what if he doesn’t love me back? Then I’ll just be here, in his lap, with an awkward stiffy.

“I’m pretty sure my dick has assaulted your mouth more than my gum has.” The smile on his face drops and now he looks concerned.

“What?”

He shakes his head, and I hate all the sadness smooshed into his face. I kiss him and wrap my arms around his neck wanting to make it better.

I like being with him. I love having sex with him. I love making him laugh and when he smiles at me. I like talking to him and spending time with him and texting. I love that we both play hockey so we don’t have to explain the schedule or what’s happening in the games.

Just say the words. I love you. Just say it.

I kiss him, but his energy is still sad. “I have a present for you.”

“Oh no,” he groans. “What is it?”

“You’ll have to open it and find out.” I grab my bag and pull out the gift bag I shoved in there.

“I was wondering why you had a duffle bag. I see it was for nefarious purposes.”

I hand him the slightly crinkled brown gift bag with green tissue paper sticking out the top, and he looks at it like it might bite him. Silly man, I’m the only thing allowed to bite him.

“What is it?”

“Just open it! Don’t ruin this for me!” I’m too excited to sit. My entire body is tense as I try to hold the energy in.

Rhys pulls out the paper, looks inside, and freezes. “You’re kidding right?”

I burst forward, no longer able to hold still. “They’re awesome, right?! I didn’t even know you could get college branded Crocs until you bought mine!”

I rip them out of the bag and hold them up. The top of the shoe is dark blue, and the bottom is a sparkly silvery white with the Gods’ logo in silvery white over the middle. I added a green snake charm to the top of one too.

“Try them on!”

“What?!”

After ripping all the tags off, I drop them on the ground and pull him to his feet. “Come on! You’ll see how comfy they are. Try them in comfort mode first. Trust me, these are life changing.”

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