Page 89 of The Penalty

Oh no.

“He’s my brother’s best friend. We’re planning a surprise party for him.” That’s solid right? None of them know that Tobi’s birthday is in August. Fucking Virgos. Picky, judgy, know-it-alls.

“Ahh,” they all say in unison and relax.

“Blondie throws a mean party if you need any help.” Shredder drops his arm around his best friend.

“Good to know, thanks.” I grab the maple syrup and pour some on my food.

“You’re kidding me, right?” Rhys asks.

“What part of cookies and energy drinks for breakfast are you not remembering? Seriously, might be time to talk to your trainer about that short-term memory problem.” I cut into my fluffy as fuck pancakes and shove a huge bite into my mouth.

The boys snicker and find their own table. Luckily they’re on the other side of the room from us but it’s still too damn close.

TWENTY-FOUR

RHYS

If only Tobi were as easy as dealing with the guys on Teddy’s team but nothing I say seems to get him off my back.

Tobi: What are you doing tonight?

Ugh. I don’t have the energy for this.

Rhys: I have a lot of homework and I think the team is doing something.

Tobi: Oh. You sure?

I sigh. I don’t even know what to say to him. He’s been up my ass all week, insisting we aren’t spending enough time together since we started school and finding all kinds of reasons to come over. It’s making seeing Teddy that much harder.

Rhys: I need to focus. I feel like I’m behind already.

Between practice, games, classes, and balancing a relationship I have enough on my plate without my best friend being fucking weird.

Guilt punches me in the gut. Can he feel the change in me? Maybe he wants to hang out more because he suspects something?

Tobi: We could co-work on our homework.

Tobi: I can pick up takeout so you don’t have to waste time going to get dinner.

Rhys: The coach has us all on pretty strict meal plans with the nutritionist.

Tobi: scratch that. We could get dinner and study there.

He just isn’t taking no for an answer.

Rhys: I’ll let you know.

Tobi: I miss you.

I close my phone without replying. I can’t think about Tobi right now because on top of that Owen told me I need to go to this foundation gala Godfrey International is throwing.

He and Oliver both think the board needs to see me, which means getting Teddy in an actual suit and both of us making an appearance. I don’t even know how to talk to Teddy about it. I’ve ordered him a suit, but I don’t want to be dickish and tell him my brothers gave me a damn ultimatum. Well, almost an ultimatum from Oliver. Owen was nice about it. He told me that we have to be a united front with the board right now.

I don’t have Tobi to talk about it with either.

“You okay?” Cox asks.

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