Page 18 of The Penalty

“Whatever. We can go over there if you want. But I don’t know how to get there.”

“Are you still getting lost?” Tobi holds back a laugh, chugging the rest of his drink.

“Fuck you. That was one time, and I wasn’t allowed in Manhattan my entire childhood!” I give him the address and finish my cup.

“Have you spoken to them at all?”

I shake my head, getting my coat. “No. I’ve been avoiding them. One of them reached out, Owen. But I just can’t imagine it’s anything good.” I keep replaying the conversation we had in the lawyer’s office. I’m going to have to deal with it at some point because of the shares and the seat on the board, but I’m just not there yet.

The alcohol hits me on the walk over and I should not have drank so much.

Did Teddy really go to sleep? I look at my phone again. I have a bunch of missed messages. I hadn’t felt my phone going off. Shit.

Cum Caller: i dn’t orgasm when i shit!

Cum Caller: thats not wut i said

Cum Caller: where did u go?

Cum Caller: i was the 1 going to bed

Cum Caller: u cant be ignoring me i was ignoring u

Cum Caller: ? did u fall into a manhole

I try not to laugh because I don’t want Tobi to notice.

Cuddle Snake: I fell into a manhole. I live with the gators now.

I can’t help myself.

We get to Wolfe’s and are greeted by the guys. I shove my phone back into my pocket.

More drinks are pushed into our hands and we’re introduced to a bunch of bunnies. My phone vibrates in my pocket over and over, but I can’t whip it out while I’m with the guys. There isn’t a good moment. I try to leave for the bathroom, but I’m grabbed by another teammate to talk about my goal.

Finally, I make a break for it and slip out the door, pulling my phone out only to slam into a wall of a person.

I stumble back, muttering an apology, when his face comes into view. “Teddy? What are you doing here?”

“I thought you were in a manhole!”

I slap a hand over my mouth, holding back a laugh. “I was joking.”

“How would I have known that!? You stopped responding.” He looks pretty adorable standing there in his sweats with his hair a mess.

I shouldn’t be so attracted to him right now. It’s hot he came all the way here to check on me…and why do I want it to keep going? “You know what jokes are, right?”

“Falling into a manhole isn’t funny! That’s a real thing that happens to people. They get eaten by gators!”

“Is it?” I take a step closer.

“It is! I was really worried the gators would get you.” Concern is written all over his face.

I shove him backward.

“What are you doing?” he asks but I don’t answer, not wanting anyone to hear us.

I get him out of view of the door and into the alley, needing a round two. I pin him against the brick, and he finally gets the idea when I brush my lips over his.

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