Page 130 of The Penalty

I stab my chicken breast. “I hope not. Owen seems genuine. But I never know with Oliver. Everything he does is calculated but Owen says he only does stuff he believes is for our own good.”

“That has to be exhausting.”

“It is. All of it is. I feel so emotionally overwhelmed the last few months.” I sneak a glance at Tobi, wondering if he cares.

He lifts his gaze to meet mine, brows pulled but I can’t read him. “Maybe you’re taking on too much.”

“What do you suggest I drop?”

“Maybe you shouldn’t be putting so much energy into your brothers.” He shrugs like it doesn’t matter, but I know it does. “They aren’t the ones who’ve been here for you.”

I search his face, at a loss for words.

We fall back into silence.

I move my chicken breast around my plate, so fucking sick of protein and rice.

“Why do you care so much?” Tobi asks after a while.

“What about?”

“Them? Their approval? I thought you didn’t care?”

I rub my face. “I don’t know.”

I really don’t. The only thing that feels stable is Teddy. My chest warms at the thought of how amazing he is. He’s so easy to be with and always there when I need him.

I’m falling for him and hard.

With everything else in my life out of control, I need Teddy.

But will that mean trading my best friend for him?

My phone rings and I pick it up discretely in case it’s Teddy calling. I don’t want to have to explain that to Tobi.

But it’s not. It’s Owen.

He hates the phone more than he hates this mortal coil so if he’s calling me, it can’t be good.

“Hello?” I answer, holding a finger up to Tobi.

“I don’t want to say too much on the phone. But Oliver and I need to speak with you at your earliest convenience. Which means right now, I’m just trying to be polite. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

“What about?”

“I’ll tell you when I get there. Where are you?” Owen sounds cold and clinical.

“Did someone die?” I ask.

“No.”

“I’m at the Gods’ cafeteria in the main building,” I reply.

“I’ll be there in fifteen.”

I hang up and Tobi seems pissed. “That was Owen. There is some sort of emergency he needs me for.”

“What kind of emergency?” Tobi asks.

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