Page 41 of The Penalty

Tobi sits across the table from me, and I choke on the fruit. Oops. My phone lets out a loud, fake moan and lights up with a notification from Rhys, but I slide it in my hoodie pocket.

“I’m not going to ask why you’re deep throating your breakfast.”

“Probably smart,” I wheeze. “You feeling better?”

“How did the dedication go with Rhys?” he demands, eating a bite of what looks like oatmeal.

Shit.

Shame tightens my stomach and I’m no longer hungry. Should I tell him the truth? Will it make him angry? Is it better to not tell him? I’m not good at keeping secrets.

I shrug. “Fine, I guess. The twins are intense, but their husbands are going to be my friends.”

My phone moans again and I try to keep a straight face, but it’s coming from my crotch and it’s funny.

Tobi rolls his eyes. “Of course they are. What were they like?”

“Why aren’t you asking him this?”

Deflect, deflect, deflect!

“Because he’s biased and I need an unbiased view.”

“But for why? Are you doing an experiment on them?” I don’t know what to say.

Tobi sighs. “No, you troglodyte, it helps to be able to give advice to him on how to handle situations if I have more information.”

“Mom said to stop using science words to insult me.”

Tobi slams his hand down on the table. “Can you stop being insufferable for five minutes so I find a way to help my best friend?”

That’s a punch in the gut. He’s right. I should be trying to find ways to help, I thought I was, but maybe I’m wrong. Is it also wrong that I want to be the one to help him?

Rhys and Tobi have been friends for years. I’ve always stayed out of their business, so why do I want to be in the middle of it now? It’s not fair. Now that Ireallycan’t have him, he’s all I want.

“What do you want to know? His brothers are terrifying. Pretty sure one of them is into burritos, dominos, and shiitake mushrooms.”

He blinks at me a few times. “Excuse me?”

What the hell does it stand for? “You know that BDSM stuff.”

Tobi sighs and shakes his head. “Honestly, how have you learned nothing about sex being in locker rooms? Is that really what they told you it stands for?”

What does being in a locker room have to do with learning about sex?

“Sports teams aren’t giving us sex ed lessons.” I think back over to the years I’ve played. “At least, not for hockey. I don’t know about other sports.”

Tobi grabs his tray and stands. “I don’t know why I even bothered.”

He stomps away so I can get back to my breakfast and my phone. But he spoiled it. I take a sip of my energy drink and try to find a way to make me feel better. Mom always makes me feel better.

I pull up the family group chat.

Best Son Ever: mom tobi called me a science word to insult me

Momma: Tobi, we’ve been over this.

Party Pooper: FFS grow up, Theodore!

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