Page 74 of Penalty Kiss
"Fine," Scott says, throwing his hands up in defeat. "We dated in high school. She left for college. I thought she was gone for good. I guess, she's back."
"And?" Lily prompts.
"And nothing. She moved in next door to Tara's place two days ago. Today was the first time I've seen her in years."
"That's a long time to carry a torch." Vicky muses.
"I'm not carrying anything," Scott protests, but his voice lacks conviction.
"Right," I say. "And I don't have a concussion."
The room goes quiet for a beat, the kind of silence that happens when someone accidentally steps on something tender.
"Sorry," I add quickly. "That was—"
"True," Tara interrupts firmly. "And something we're dealing with together. Which is why we ended up here tonight instead of at my house."
She moves to stand beside me, her hand finding mine. It's a simple gesture, but it says everything:we're a team, we're handling this, we're okay.
The others take that in quietly. I can see the questions sitting on their tongues, the way Cedar Falls always circles the wagons—and sometimes even waits for permission before prying. Probably wondering if Tara and I are actually together.
But Mrs. Henderson doesn’t bother with permission. She never has. She settles into an armchair like she’s claiming athrone. “Speaking of which… what’s this I hear about mysterious packages and threatening letters?”
Trust Mrs. Henderson to skip right past the bait of our proximity and cut straight to the heart of things.
I glance at Tara, letting her decide how much to share. Her jaw tightens almost imperceptibly, but she nods.
“Someone from my past is trying to get my attention,” Tara says carefully. “Sent me something I didn’t ask for, with a note saying I should ‘come home.’”
“Someone from your past,” Vicky repeats, maternal instincts catching the careful wording. Her eyes are warm but sharp—everything a mother’s built to read.
"My father," Tara clarifies. "We're... estranged."
“And there’s a cousin,” I add quietly, because she shouldn’t have to carry the weight alone. “The kind of trouble that shadows a family.”
Scott’s easy grin fades, replaced by the firefighter who’s seen real danger. “Trouble how?”
Tara’s hand tightens in mine. “Lucien likes to think he’s intimidating. He puts on a show, but he’s tied to people who actually are.”
"What kind of people?" Mrs. Henderson asks sharply.
"The kind that make good people nervous," Tara answers evenly.
I can tell she's downplaying it for everyone's benefit, and perhaps for her own privacy, but the tension in her shoulders tells the real story.
Levi’s eyes find mine. He already knows the truth; Tara and I had told him and Lily. But he doesn’t press in front of the rest, doesn’t expose her.
He just tilts his head, tone steady, respectful. “So… real trouble.”
The word lands heavy.
"Well," Vicky says practically, "if he shows up here, he'll find out what Cedar Falls does to people who threaten our own."
"That's sweet," Tara says, "but—"
"No buts," Lily interrupts. "Vicky's right. You're one of us now. That means something."
"It means Scott will probably arrest him for disturbing the peace," Mrs. Henderson adds.
