Page 58 of The Penalty

Ouch. That hurts right in the chestle plexus.

“Why not? I’m trying to help.” He can’t actually be thinking of taking Tobi. He would just make everything more awkward bytalking about stupid science shit that no one understands. Then throw a temper tantrum when no one wanted to talk to him.

Rhys growls and grabs a handful of my shirt, jerking me into the apartment behind him.

I wave at his mom as we pass her. “Happy Thanksgiving, Miss Cameron.”

“Thank you, Teddy,” she says skeptically.

What is she confused about? It is Thanksgiving, right?

“Don’t talk to her,” Rhys snaps and shoves me into his room, closing the door and leaning against it.

I don’t think I’ve ever been in here before. It smells like him and my dick is perking up because of it. It’s kind of messy, with clothes tossed on the end of the bed and on a chair. There’s hockey stuff sticking out of the closet. Team pictures, posters of his favorite players, and trophies are on the walls. It fits.

“I’m not fake dating you.”

My head whips around to look at him again.

“Why not? You want to fake date Tobi instead?” That bothers me in a big way. I don’t really know why.

Am I jealous?

Maybe.

He can’t kiss Tobi. Hold Tobi’s stupid hand.

That’s for me. Only for me.

I love Tobi but that would make me fight him for real.

I shove my hands back in my pockets, so I keep them to myself.

“No, I don’t want to fake date Tobi!” Rhys almost shouts and runs his hands through his dark hair. His bright blue eyes are shining, but I don’t know with what. I’m not good at reading emotions.

“What do you want, then?” I take a step closer to him. I want to comfort him, there’s clearly something wrong, but it’s like he doesn’t want me too.

“Why did you block me?” he demands, taking a step toward me but it’s more menacing than comforting.

I wince at the question. How much can I really tell him? Will he understand or think I’m dumb?

“You clearly don’t give a shit about me, which is fine, but you don’t get to turn around and pretend that you do when it’s convenient.” There’s pain in his voice, I think. I hurt him.

Fuck.

My heart aches at the thought.

I shake my head, not knowing how to say it. “You’re wrong.”

I grab the back of his neck, pulling his lips to mine. I care too much about everything. Why doesn’t he get that?

The kiss is hard. Me trying to soothe the sting of rejection while he punishes me for it. It’s biting teeth followed by a soft caress of a tongue. His hand slides into my hair and pulls, forcing a groan from my lips. Rhys leans his forehead against mine. I watch him, so fucking close he’s blurry but I don’t care.

“I do care.”

“You don’t block people you care about.” He clenches his jaw.

“I’m sorry.” I breathe him in and close my eyes. I don’t want to look at him when I admit the next part. Being vulnerable is, well, vulnerable. “I was scared.”

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