Page 101 of The Love Penalty

The movies helped a little, transporting us into a world of hobbits and elves and orcs and the one ring, but…

Sleep is still eluding me.

Slipping out of bed, I make sure not to disturb her as I creep out of my room and head for the kitchen.

Maybe an herbal tea will calm me enough to help me switch off.

My brain won’t stop tormenting me. Everything from Harvey’s smug smile to Uncle Hayes’s fiery glare is spinning nonstop, overlaid with my parents’ demands and then harrowing thoughts of how they’ll react if Lani presses charges against Harvey. She hasn’t said if she definitely will or not yet, but if she decides to, I’m backing her all the way. It’s her right, and if it can stop Harvey from treating women like his personal sex toys, then she should. She definitely should.

The weight in my stomach gets ten times heavier as I play out that scenario and everything it will mean for me.

And not just me.

All of the guys at Hockey House. And Mick. And sweet Rachel.

“Fuck!” I mutter, yanking open the fridge, then slamming it shut again when I can’t see anything I want.

“Tough night, huh?”

Ethan’s voice makes me jump a mile, and I turn with a growl.

“You scared the shit out of me.”

He lets out a soft snicker.

“What are you doing down here? And why are you sitting in the dark?”

“Couldn’t sleep.” He stands from the table, shuffling toward the kitchen. “I come down here sometimes and just sit for ten minutes, do some deep breathing to try and relax. I’ll go back up in a minute.” He lifts his chin toward the stairs, then leans against the counter and crosses his arms. “What are you doing up?”

“Can’t sleep. Obvi.” I raise my eyebrows at him. I’m being a grumpy bastard, but Ethan doesn’t hightail it to his room like I would.

He sticks around, quietly standing there watching me while I boil a mug of water in the microwave, then give up on tea and grab the whiskey bottle.

I only fill my tumbler with a little. I just need a small hit.

Ethan watches me intently and it’s starting to piss me off, so I slap the glass down and glare at him. “Do you have something to say, because you’re starting to creep me out.”

His laughter is soft and throaty. “Just trying to figure out what’s eating you up.” He spins and rest his hands against the counter. “Liam said he saw you walk in with Lani earlier. Have you guys gotten back together or something?”

“Yeah.” I sigh.

He frowns. “So, why aren’t you happy about it? Why aren’t you lying in your bed right now enjoying the feel of your woman beside you?”

I swallow and try to smile. I should be fucking ecstatic about it. And I am.

It’s just all the other shit that’s weighing me down.

Will Ethan even want to hear it?

It’s usually Liam who sits there listening to our problems.

But he’s staying the night with Rachel and… fuck, soon she’ll be just as homeless as he is. I close my eyes with a heavy sigh.

“Today was shit,” I murmur. “I got her back, which is great, and I am really happy about that,” I assure him. “But… it’s gonna come at a cost.”

“What do you mean?” Ethan’s voice is deep with concern.

So I tell him.

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