Page 70 of The Penalty

“You okay?” Rhys asks, looking skeptical.

“My arms don’t work.” I try to flop them, but I can’t. “It’s my circumcision not working right!”

“Circulation?” Rhys chuckles and offers me a hand up.

“That’s what I just said.” I take it and let him help me up. When I get to my feet, I’m in his space, still holding his hand. He tries to take a step back, but I don’t let him. I want to breathe him in for a second.

He’s so damn pretty. And smart. And talented.

I shouldn’t want him. Or I should have the control to not act on it. For Tobi. For the boys!

We have to stop doing this. Stop pretending or whatever this is. I shouldn’t text him anymore, either.

“What?” He’s looking into my eyes, probably reading my every thought on my face. Instead of answering him, I wrap my arms around him and squeeze.

The jersey tears with an audible rip and finally gives, allowing me to breathe and wrap my arms around him more.

Rhys chuckles and hugs me back. “You’re never boring, I’ll give you that.”

“My arms are so tingly. Is that bad?”

“I’m not a doctor!” Rhys glances at my arms around him and gasps. “Your arms are purple!”

“Is that bad?”

“Let me see your hands,” Colin says busting back into the room.

Rhys and I detangle, and I hold out my hands to Colin.

“How were you functioning? Your hands look like they’ve had the circulation cut off for hours.”

“Only about…” I try to do math in my head, but that doesn’t work. “As long as I’ve been here, plus… how long was the car ride, Rhys?” Time isn’t real.

“About an hour?” Rhys says.

“At least it ripped. Had you worn that any longer, you’d need to go to the hospital.” Colin steps back, shaking his head.

I wave him off. “I’ve had so much worse on the ice.”

“We can tell,” Oliver mutters when we join them in the dining room.

“Is it my face? My nose is a little off center now, isn’t it?” I take my seat and then whisper to Rhys. “This is fancy.”

Rhys laughs.

“Why do you laugh every time I whisper?”

“I told you, you’re not whispering.” Rhys kisses my cheek.

I look around at all the fancy food and cannot tell what any of it is. Good thing I like all food. We start to serve ourselves and I realize no one has answered me. “Is it my nose? The whole thing moved an inch to the side. I’m sure of it.”

“The whole thing moved an inch?” Oliver asks.

I nod vigorously. “Can’t you see it’s closer to this eye?” I point.

“An inch?” Oliver says again, but I can’t figure out why he’s repeating himself.

“That’s what I said, right…” I look at Rhys.

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