Page 149 of The Penalty

I just laugh. “Thank you, Oliver.”

“I can’t promise you we will always get along, but I do want what’s best for you as my brother.” It’s probably the nicest I’ve ever witnessed Oliver.

Owen wipes away a single tear. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so in touch with your feelings! I’m so proud of you.”

“You’re making me regret it,” Oliver scoffs.

Colin snaps a photo. “I have to tell Isaac about this. He’s never going to believe me.”

“Shall I buy it?” Oliver asks.

“Do you like it, Teddy?” I turn to him.

He narrows his eyes, thinking really hard. “I do like it. But it’s a little far.”

“I can arrange a car service for you like I did for Rhys. And I expect you’ll keep your dorm room as well.” Oliver has thought of everything.

Teddy nods, getting very serious. “Is this a trustworthy car?”

“What?” We all ask.

“There are some suspicious ones. I don’t want to be kidnapped.”

I don’t even bother to ask him why he thinks he’s at risk of being kidnapped and I’m not sure I want him to give his reasons in front of my brothers.

Thankfully, after Oliver recovers from his initial shock, he speaks. “I can assure you, they are very safe. I’ve been using them for a decade.”

Oliver leaves the key with me and tells me he’ll send over the paperwork tomorrow but that we can start moving in whenever we want. The movers apparently followed us over with our stuff. It’s all so sudden I’m left reeling.

Before I know it, it’s just Teddy and me and a bunch of boxes.

“I guess I don’t have to live at home this summer…” But I know I need to go home. I need to figure things out with my mother, or I’ll hate myself.

“You should. We both should. Tobi needs it.” Teddy agrees.

Part of me thinks it might be better for Tobi to not have to see us, but I don’t want to lose him.

So we get a car back home.

It feels weird using my key after I’ve avoided coming home all semester. I step into the house and only hear the low hum of the TV Mom always has on.

“Mom?” I call out.

“Rhys?” she answers from somewhere deeper in the apartment.

“Who else would it be?” I laugh and it feels a little awkward. I linger by the door, rubbing a hand over the back of my neck when she doesn’t come out right away.

After a few minutes, she comes out of her bedroom looking a little disheveled. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I toe off my shoes and then hold my arms open. “How have you been?”

“Not too bad. How was moving out?” She wraps her arms around me, pulling me in close. How did she know? Maybe because I’m home? But I don’t have boxes or anything with me like when I moved out.

“It went well. My brothers helped.” I lean into her.

She pulls back a little to look me in the eyes. “Have they made peace with you?”

“Yes. We’ve worked it out.” I brace for her reaction.

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