Page 49 of The Penalty

He gets me situated in their little common room, on their too short couch and goes back to his room. I curl up, looking at my undelivered messages with Teddy.

I wake up to a message, but it’s not the one I want.

Owen: Why don’t you and Teddy come to dinner at my house after your break. It would be a good way to smooth things over with Oliver.

Like I need one more thing to deal with. Now I have to tell my brothers I broke up with my fake fucking boyfriend. Fucking great.

FIFTEEN

TEDDY

“Happy Thanksgiving!” I holler when I open my parents’ front door. Tobi got here yesterday the lucky shit, but I have games this weekend, so I have to stay on campus. Which is probably better since I’m sure Rhys will be here at some point to hang out with Tobi.

We haven’t texted since the game and I blocked him. It sucks donkey balls, but it had to happen. I can’t want the enemy. Doesn’t matter how badly my dick wants to.

Mom is in the kitchen with Tobi, peeling potatoes when I walk in. Smells like food and home and comfort. The perfect combo.

If only Rhys was here too. He smells fucking delicious.

Guilt eats at me, gnawing and sharp in my gut. I shouldn’t want him. I can’t have him, so wanting him is useless.

Tobi looks up at me. His lip curls before he fixes his face and goes back to what he’s doing. Does he know I want his best friend? Does he know I kissed him? Fooled around with him?

Mom smiles at me, puts down the peeler and potato, and gives me a hug. “Hey kiddo. Come peel so I can dice.”

Great.

I get to work, eyeing Tobi who’s glaring at me. Mom watches the two of us with that look on her face. The one that says she knows something she shouldn’t. Mom magic or something. Pretty sure parents have special powers that only they know about. They’re all hush hush about it.

But I peel the potatoes while I listen to Dad watching the game. The Cowboys are playing someone, but I don’t know who. Football moves too slow. Give those guys some ice skates and I’ll watch it.

Mom is moving around the kitchen, putting flour and stuff in the stand mixer. She mixes it around, then puts some hot water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl.

“What’s that gonna be?” I ask her, just for something to say.

“Dinner rolls.” She mixes the yeast for a second, then covers it and sets it aside.

“What is the yeast doing?”

Tobi slams a potato down on the counter. “For fuck’s sake. Like you haven’t had Thanksgiving dinner before. You know what she’s making!”

“Tobias, don’t speak to your brother like that.” Mom points her knife at him. That should keep him in line.

“He asks the same shit every time! He knows the yeast is blooming. He knows yeast needs heat and sugar to bloom. Why are you allowing him to pretend to be an idiot?”

Jokes on him, I don’t have to pretend.

Wait…

Tobi storms off out of the kitchen to his room and slams the door. Mom looks at me, waiting for an answer to what the hell just happened.

The truth is, I’m not really sure.

I know he doesn’t like me. He’s never been shy about that. But it’s gotten worse since I started at Summerset, and I don’t know why.

The TV pauses and I can hear Dad going down the hallway. I love my parents. I love the way they deal with conflict. Since Mom is in here, Dad goes to talk to the other brother. Then once they have the story from both sides, they will talk to each other and switch siblings. By the time we’re brought back together, we’ve both calmed down and can talk it out.

But it only works if both parties want it to. Tobi no longer wants to work it out with me. I lost him a long time ago.

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