Page 102 of The Love Penalty

I tell him pretty much what I told Lani, but this rendition is peppered with a lot more profanity as I let my anger spark and flail. I had to keep that in check around Lani. I didn’t want to scare her, but with Ethan I go for it, letting out my angst in growls and terse statements.

Ethan stands quietly through my rant, looking like a Navy SEAL as he calmly soaks it all in.

I end up slumping against the counter with a sigh. “And the worst part is that it doesn’t just affect me. You guys would get caught up in this drama too. It won’t just be me losing Hockey House.”

“It’s not about the house,” Ethan growls, his eyes sparking with anger. “It’s about Lani and doing what’s right for her.”

“I know that.” I wince. “And of course I’ll support her. She’s everything. I just… I wish I didn’t have to choose. I wish Harvey had never touched her. I wish?—”

“That little fucker,” Ethan spits.

“I know.” I clench my jaw, shaking my head and staring out the kitchen window. The night is black, broken only by the soft glow of the streetlamps outside. “He deserves to go down hard, but it’s complicated, you know? I stand to lose a lot. We all do.”

“Not us.” Ethan’s sure voice makes me spin to face him. “You won’t lose us.”

I can’t help a skeptical frown. “Come on, man. I know you only hang with me because we live in the same house. If I can’t provide you with this anymore… are you seriously gonna want to know me? I drive you insane.”

“Yet we’ll be friends for life.” His grin is broad, his eyes glittering with amusement.

My lips part in surprise. I was not expecting him to say that.

Moving around the counter, he comes to stand beside me, looking me right in the eye. “You’re not my bro because of this house. Yes, you piss me off sometimes.” He lets out a dry laugh. “But I wouldn’t want to do life without you, man.”

My throat swells with emotion, and if I fucking cry in front of him, I’m going to kick my own ass.

Blinking, I sniff and try to play it cool, like those words didn’t punch me straight through the heart.

Ethan studies my expression, then lets out a soft “Aw. Did I get you in the feels?”

“Shut up.” I sniff, slashing my finger under my nose, then flicking his hand away when he tries to poke my chest.

“I totally got you, dude.”

“Fuck off,” I grumble, annoyed that he can say something so meaningful, then shit all over it by hassling me.

Unless he didn’t mean?—

I quickly check his expression.

“I meant it.” He gives me a sincere smile, which only grows a little wider when he says, “I love you, man.”

A soft laugh punches out of me, and I have to give him the finger as he walks away or else my balls might shrink to unrecognizable raisins.

He glances over his shoulder and grins, flipping me off just before he disappears through the archway.

“Love you, too, bro,” I murmur, his words sinking all the way into my core.

Looks like I’m not going to lose it all.

I stand to lose a whole fucking lot… but not the most important stuff.

Gazing into the dark living area and dining room, I picture hours of good times spent in this place. If this goes sour, all of that will go away.

But not my bros.

And not my girl.

I shuffle back to bed, slipping in beside Lani and draping my arm lightly around her waist. She lets out a pleasant moan and burrows back against me. I inhale the sweet scent of her shampoo and soak in the feel of her body pressed against mine, forcing my brain to focus on the things that matter most.

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