Page 183 of The Penalty

The two of them danced around the elephant in the room until Victoria finally broke the impasse and asked, “So how did you meet my sister?”

It was an easy ice breaker seeing as she already knew and just wanted to hear his version.

Adam’s stunned silence only lasted a few seconds before he launched into the story.

By the time we sat down for dinner, I’d unraveled my nerves and started to enjoy myself.

It’s funny how one person could change the dynamic in a room. Victoria’s light dazzled as she talked about American football and volunteering at the animal shelter, the latter being something she wished she had more time to do.

Even my dad engaged in the conversation.

“This might be the quietest Xavier’s ever been,” Adam chided. “Surprised you let someone else have center stage.”

“A true gentleman knows when to be seen and not heard.”

His burst of laughter ricocheted through the house. “The rubbish coming out of you.”

“Try not to talk with your mouth full.” I tilted my glass toward him in a fake toast before taking a sip.

I caught a glimpse of Rebecca trying, and failing, to suppress a smile.

When I turned back to Victoria, she was huddled in close with my dad, pointing at her phone screen. Dread flitted through me. As pleasant as this dinner has been, I wasn’t prepared to start fixing all my relationships at once.

“Is this the original wood paneling?” he asked, turning the screen for me to see.

“Yeah. I used a medium-grit sandpaper on it. Wanted to keep the rustic, distressed look.”

His little mouth shrug and head bob spoke volumes. For those fluent in the body language of James Maddox, that meant he was impressed.

Leaning back in my chair, I moved my eyes around the table, taking in every detail. A casserole dish with only a serving of cottage pie remaining, rumpled napkins, an empty soda can, and a basket of bread. Nothing about it seemed extraordinary. Just a normal Monday night at home.

But when I saw Victoria, Adam, my stepmother, and my father all gathered in one place, the same unrecognizable emotion I’d felt last night consumed me.

Only this time, it wasn’t so unrecognizable.

Cade and Bennet have always been like brothers to me. Like family.

I’d closed myself off to my actual family years ago. Maybe this was the first step to allowing them back in.

Victoria

New Year’s Eve

Killian and Max’s wedding was a madhouse. Totally on brand for them but some of it was thanks to my date for the evening.

Press lined up in front of the venue, hoping to catch a glimpse of Xavier when he arrived. We’d offered for him to come in through the underground entrance. Never one to shy away from attention, he’d declined and spent a decent amount of time chatting with reporters and posing for pictures.

Killian wanted to let some of the media inside for exclusive coverage of the wedding. He was immediately shut down by Maxim.

The venue they’d chosen, Sky Raven, was breathtaking. Normally the boys pooh-pooh anything near Times Square. They don’t like to be too close to touristy areas but this lounge won them over.

It fit their personalities. Floor-to-ceiling windows, magnificent panoramas of the city, including picture-perfect viewing for the ball drop, and a multi-level interior that boasted cozy, private areas along with glamorous open spaces.

Plus, it sat on top of a hotel where we all had rooms to spend the night.

I gazed down into the heart of Times Square from thirty stories high, watching the massive crowd of people waiting to celebrate the new year. Only forty-five minutes remaining.

“See anything you like?” Xavier slipped a hand around my waist.

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